Health Physicist (Radiation Safety)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 95,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework eligible

Job summary

Robley Rex VA Medical Center in Louisville, KY seeks a Medical Physicist to function as the Radiation Safety Officer and lead the radiation safety program. The role requires managing radioactive materials, surveys, calibration, and ALARA training to ensure compliance with NRC licenses, OSHA, and Joint Commission standards.

Qualifications include a health physics or related degree, English proficiency, and documented experience in health physics, radiology, nuclear medicine, brachytherapy, or lab

Qualifications

• English proficiency required by federal standards and able to communicate in written and spoken English.
• Bachelor’s or higher in natural science or engineering with 30+ semester hours in health physics, radiological science, or related fields.
• Education/experience must be documented; certification by ABHP preferred and noted in your materials.

Responsibilities

• Establish and oversee the radiation safety program to ensure compliance with guidelines and policies.
• Manage radioactive materials and waste, inventory, surveys, and calibrations.
• Provide ALARA training and oversight for staff and clinical activities.
• Investigate overexposures, incidents, and deviations; implement corrective actions as needed.
• Ensure facility-wide radiation safety standards align with regulatory and accreditation requirements.

Skills

Radiation safety

Regulatory compliance

Education

Health physics degree

Science/Engineering degree

Job description

Summary

This position is located at the Robley Rex VA Medical Center in Louisville - KY. The Medical Physicist functions as the Radiation Safety Officer and is responsible for the radiation safety program to assure that guidelines are followed and policy is executed.

Qualifications

English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. -AND- Basic Educational Requirement: Successfully completion of a bachelor's degree (or higher) in natural science or engineering that included at least 30 semester hours in health physics - engineering - radiological science - chemistry - physics - biology - mathematics and/or calculus. NOTE: If you select this option - you must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education will not be credited without documentation. -OR- A combination of education and experience that includes courses as shown above - plus appropriate experience or other education; or certification as a health physicist by the American Board of Health Physics (copy of certification must be submitted with your application materials) - plus appropriate experience and other education that provided an understanding of sciences applicable to health physics comparable to that described above. NOTE: If you select this option - you must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education will not be credited without documentation. Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title - duties - month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. In addition to the English Language Proficiency and the Basic Educational Requirement - you must also meet the Specialized Experience requirement: Specialized Experience Requirement: One (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) in the Federal Service that equipped you with the particular knowledge - skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. Specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: applying radiation safety and health physics using knowledge that consists of radiology - research - nuclear medicine - brachytherapy - and lab services; detecting and measuring the types of ionizing radiations used by a medical center - such as wide energy range of X rays - gamma rays - and beta particles; and managing a facility-wide radiation safety program - ensuring full compliance with directives - NRC license/permit conditions - OSHA requirements - and all applicable federal - state - and local regulations by maintaining current policies - procedures - and training that reflect the latest regulatory and accrediting agency expectations. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position. Your experience must be fully documented in your resume and must include job title - duties - month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Physical Requirements: The work requires long periods of standing - sitting - walking - and bending with occasionally carrying moderate to heavy items.

Duties

• ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION - YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Duties may include - but are not limited to the following: Establishes and implements written policy and procedures for: authorizing purchase of radioactive materials
• receiving and opening packages of radioactive material
• storing radioactive material
• maintaining inventory records of radioactive material
• using radioactive materials safely
• emergency actions in the event of loss or theft of radioactive material
• performing periodic radiation survey (area and contamination) - etc
• Manages waste disposal for all users of radioactivity
• Instructs as needed all personnel using sources of radioactive material - but not less than once annually - concerning the ALARA program - safety procedures - disposal policy and procedures and compliance with regulations and local policy and procedures
• Investigates overexposures - ALARA exceptions - accidents - spills - thefts - unauthorized receipts - uses - transfers - disposals - medical events - and any other deviation from approved radiation safety practice and implements corrective actions as necessary
• Maintains inventory records and performs required surveys and wipe tests for all facilities and sources assigned to the Radiation Safety Office
• Ensures all x-ray producing equipment in the VAMC is inspected for safe operation - compliance with applicable FDA performance and safety standards and compliance with other accepted standards - including The Joint Commission - and standards established by the VA NHPP for quality performance and quality control
• Maintains written records of all activities of the Radiation Safety Office including training - facility and equipment inspections - calibrations - and such other records required to meet regulatory requirements and demonstrate the implementation of an effective radiation safety program
• Provides radiation safety support for each clinical therapeutic case utilizing a radiopharmaceutical or brachytherapy including instruction to nursing staff - monitoring - surveying and source accountability - decontamination and release of facilities for general use
• Performs other related duties as assigned
• DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA
• Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received
• NOTE: Intermittent employment is defined as non-fulltime employment in which employees serve under an excepted or competitive service appointment without a regularly scheduled tour of duty
• A position with an intermittent work schedule is sporadic and unpredictable so that a tour of duty cannot be regularly scheduled in advance
• Intermittent positions offer health insurance only if the employee is expected to work at least 130 hours per month for at least 90 days
• NOTE: This is a TEMPORARY appointment (not-to-exceed 1 year)
• This appointment may be renewed for additional service in accordance with Agency needs for 1 additional year
• Temporary positions offer health insurance (if the employee is expected to work at least 130 hours per month for at least 90 days) but do not offer life insurance or retirement benefits and may be terminated at any time before the expiration date
• The appointment to a Temporary position does not confer eligibility for promotion or reassignment to other positions or the ability to be non-competitively converted to permanent employment
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Telework: This position may be authorized for telework
• Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.