Health Physicist Lead

Kansas Department of Health and Environment; Kansas; On-site; USD 97,012,000 - 101,091,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health benefits

Sick & vacation leave

Parental/military/jury/funeral leave

Job summary

Kansas Department of Health and Environment is seeking a Lead Worker for radioactive materials inspections and licensing. You will conduct on-site inspections, lead complex investigations, and coordinate licensing actions while ensuring safety and compliance across the state.

Responsibilities include data analysis, dose reconstruction support, and serving as Radiation Safety Officer. Strong leadership and health physics knowledge are essential for this role.

Qualifications

• Education: High School or GED.
• License: Valid Driver's License required.
• Minimum: physician-certified PPE use within 12 months of hire.
• Preferred: relevant health physics licensing and related certifications.

Responsibilities

• Lead worker for radioactive materials inspections and investigations; assign and track inspections.
• Perform on-site inspections of licensees and investigate environmental contamination or exposures.
• Coordinate licensing reviews, prepare documents for issuance or denial.
• Prepare health physics reports and training materials; calibrate radiation equipment.
• Serve as Radiation Safety Officer and emergency response team member.

Skills

Leadership experience

Health Physics knowledge

Radiological licensing experience

Inspection leadership

Data analysis

Project management

Education

High School

GED

Bachelor's degree preferred

Certification/eligible for CHP or similar

Tools

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Access

Job description

Important Recruitment Information

Job Posting closes: September 9th 2026

Required documents uploaded by: September 9th 2026

Verification of identity and employment eligibility to work in the United States is required by federal law. For a list of acceptable documents that establish these criteria, please refer to the federal Form I-9.

KDHE does not provide sponsorships for this position.

E-Verify: Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

http://www.kdhe.ks.gov/

About The Position

• Who can apply: Anyone (External).
• Classified/Unclassified Service: Unclassified
• Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm (Flexible schedules available)
• Eligible to Receive Benefits: Yes
• Veterans' Preference Eligible: Yes
• Sponsorship: KDHE does not provide sponsorship for this position.

Compensation

• Hourly Pay Range: $33.86 - $35.28
• Salary can vary depending upon education, experience, or qualifications.

Employment Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, mental, dental, vision, and additional coverage
• Sick & Vacation leave
• Work-Life Balance programs: parental leave, military leave, jury leave, funeral leave
• Paid State Holidays (designated by the Governor annually)
• Fitness Centers in select locations
• Employee discounts with the STAR Program
• Retirement And Deferred Compensation Programs
• Visit the Employee Benefits page for more information…

Position Summary & Responsibilities

The position (K0236438) serves as the Lead Worker for the radioactive materials inspections and investigations. This includes making and tracking inspection assignments and ensuring inspections are performed on schedule and acting as the lead inspector on complex inspections and investigations. Perform on-site inspections of radioactive materials licensees and investigations of environmental contamination or personnel over exposures. Act as project lead on complicated environmental investigations and facility inspections. Collect and analyze data from surveys, observations, records, environmental samples, and bioassay. Perform and validate dose reconstruction of patients in nuclear medicine incidents and individuals working with unsealed radioactive material. Conduct observations and analyze data from medical and industrial facilities to determine scientific significance between human activities and risks to public health and safety. Conduct naturally occurring environmental radiation surveys across the state and compile data into reports. Follow inspections with a written report and recommendation for enforcement action. Follow investigations with written reports that assess the public exposure and practices that contributed to an incident. Provide consultation to local agencies on radiation safety relating to local contaminated sites and incidents to mitigate potential harm. Obtain and maintain qualification as a radioactive materials inspector.

Serve as the Lead Worker for the radioactive materials licensing staff. This includes making and tracking license action assignments and ensuring license actions are performed on schedule and performing peer reviews on license actions. Perform technical review of radioactive materials license application and amendment requests and obtain necessary clarification needed for final evaluation of applications. Prepare license documents for issuance or written recommendations for denial. The review is based on guides, regulations, and professional judgment of the employee. Coordinate the program transition to Web Based Licensing, oversee staff training and ensure staff competency with the NRC licensing system is maintained. Obtain and maintain qualification as a radioactive materials license writer.

Prepare health physics reports and presentations based on observations and data provided. Prepare technical material relative to health physics, radiation safety, and regulations for licensees and responders. Responsible to maintain internal procedures and policies. Operate and perform calibrations of radiation detection/measurement equipment to identify and quantify radioactive material. Analyze and interpret results of health physics studies to determine threats and undesirable trends to the environment and public health. Complete special projects as assigned by supervision. Organize and direct training to sustain and improve capabilities of staff in health physicis.

• Based on direct observations and analysis of data assembled by other unit staff, prepare and provide oversight in the preparations relative to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission IMPEP audits, revisions to regulations, licensing guides and information for licensees.
• Perform calibrations of radiation detection/measurement equipment; cataloging of sealed source evaluations; and special projects as assigned by supervision.
• Serve as the Radiation Safety Officer for the program license.
• Act as an emergency response team member for the state for emergencies involving radioactive material and fixed nuclear facilities. Collect field samples, analyze data from tests, and determine dose projections for the public and responders in nuclear and radiological incidents.
• Validate data from automatic monitors. Respond to incidents of lost or damaged radioactive devices.
• Assist in developing and implementing GIS mapping capabilities, and dose projection methods and procedures for radiological emergency response.
• Participate in training and exercises to sustain and improve capabilities in radiological response operations.
• Assist with the development of radiological training modules and implementation of training as assigned.

Qualifications

• Education:
  • High School, GED
• Licensing & Certification:
  • Valid Driver's License - Incumbent is required to have and maintain a valid driver's license when operating a state vehicle, a private vehicle, or a rental vehicle for the benefit of the State.
• Minimum Qualifications:
  • Employee must be certified by a physician to utilize personal protective equipment including respiratory protection equipment within 12 months of hire.
• Preferred Qualifications:
  • A bachelor's degree in environmental science with an emphasis on biology, chemistry, geology or a related natural science. Experience may be substituted for education as determined relevant by the agency. Possession of a certification in Health Physics (CHP) may be substituted for education. An Associates of Science Degree and two years experience in any radiation/health physics/nuclear engineering field may be substituted for education. Six years experience in any radiation/health physics field may be substituted for education.
  • Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access
  • Proofreading, editing, attention to detail
  • Radiological Survey and sampling
  • Radiological Materials Inspection and Licensing
  • Experience in Health Physics and Radiological Health
  • Qualified under Nuclear Regulatory Commission for radioactive materials licensing and inspecting
  • Certification/eligible for certification by American Board of Health Physics
  • Certification/eligible for certification by Nat'l Registry of Radiation Protection Technologists
  • Certification/eligible for certification by ASRT
  • Certification/eligible for certification by societies/organizations dealing with radiation protection
  • Leadership experience.
  • Experience writing radioactive materials licenses.
  • Experience performing radioactive materials inspections.
• Post-Offer, Pre-employment Requirements:
  • Kansas Tax Clearance Certificate: A valid Kansas Tax Clearance Certificate is a condition of employment for all employees of the State of Kansas. Applicants (including non-residents) who receive a formal job offer for a State job, are required to obtain a valid Tax Clearance within ten (10) days of the job offer. A Tax Clearance can be obtained through the Kansas Department of Revenue who reviews individual accounts for compliance with Kansas Tax Law. If you have a missing tax return(s) or you owe taxes to the State of Kansas, please know that the Kansas Department of Revenue will work with you. The Kansas Department of Revenue can set you up on a payment plan to receive a Tax Clearance so you can get a job working for the State of Kansas. The Kansas Department of Revenue can be contacted at 785-296-3199. Kansas Department of Revenue - Tax Clearance Frequently Asked Questions

How to Claim Veterans Preference

Veterans' Preference Eligible (VPE): Former military personnel or their spouse that have been verified as a "veteran"; under K.S.A. 73-201 will receive an interview if they meet the minimum competency factors of the position. The veterans' preference laws do not guarantee the veteran a job. Positions are filled with the best qualified candidate as determine by the hiring manager.

Learn more about claiming Veteran’s Preference

How to Claim Disability Hiring Preference

Applicants that have physical, cognitive and/or mental disabilities may claim an employment preference when applying for positions. If they are qualified to meet the performance standards of the position, with or without a reasonable accommodation, they will receive an interview for the position. The preference does not guarantee an applicant the job, as positions are filled with the best qualified candidate as determined by the hiring manager.

Learn more about claiming Disability Hiring Preference

PLEASE NOTE: The documentation verifying a person's eligibility for use of this preference should not be sent along with other application materials to the hiring agency but should be sent directly to OPS. These documents should be sent either by fax to [phone], scanned and emailed to [e-mail], or can be mailed/delivered in person to:

ATTN: Disability Hiring Preference Coordinator

Office of Personnel Services

Landon State Office Building

900 SW Jackson, Rm 401

Topeka, KS 66612

Equal Employment Opportunity

The State of Kansas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential elements that create and foster a welcoming workplace. All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, political affiliation, disability or any other factor unrelated to the essential functions of the job.

If you wish to identify yourself as a qualified person with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and would like to request an accommodation, please address the request to the agency recruiter.