Radiation Safety Officer

UCSF Health; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

UCSF invites a senior Radiation Safety Officer to lead an enterprise-wide Radiation Protection Program across the medical center and research campuses. Reporting to EH&S leadership, you will serve as the institutional authority on ionizing and non-ionizing radiation safety, ensuring compliance in clinical, research, and academic operations.

The role requires a Bachelor's in health physics (or related field) and at least seven years of broad-scope radiation safety experience, including diagnostic

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in health physics or related field required.
• Minimum of 7 years’ full-time health physics experience with a broad-scope license.
• Experience with cyclotron production, lab, animal research, and clinical medicine.
• Knowledge of EH&S regulations including Titles 8/17 CCR and Titles 10/21/49 CFR.
• Strong leadership and communication skills for diverse stakeholders.
• Experience across Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Oncology.

Responsibilities

• Plans, directs, and manages multiple EH&S programs across disciplines.
• Provides personnel administration including training and evaluation of staff.
• Manages budgets and resources; ensures regulatory compliance.
• Develops policies to ensure awareness of EH&S requirements.
• Oversees training and emergency response planning.

Skills

Radiation safety

Regulatory compliance

Leadership

Emergency response

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor's degree in health physics or related field

Master's degree in health/medical physics (preferred)

Job description

Job Summary

The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) will lead and manage an enterprise-wide Radiation Protection Program within a complex academic health system operating under a broad-scope radioactive materials license issued by the State of California. Reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S), the RSO serves as the designated institutional authority and regulatory designee on both ionizing and non‑ionizing radiation safety and compliance across clinical, research, and academic operations.

Department Overview

UCSF’s Office of Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) is dedicated to fostering a safe, healthy, and environmentally responsible environment for all faculty, staff, students, patients, and visitors across the University and UCSF Health system. EH&S serves as the central resource for workplace safety, environmental stewardship, and regulatory compliance within a complex, multi‑site academic health institution. The department provides comprehensive programs and services that support compliance with federal, state, and local regulations while enabling UCSF’s mission of advancing health.

Responsibilities

• Plans, directs, and manages several small to moderately‑sized EH&S programs within multiple disciplines.
• Provides comprehensive personnel administration including selection, training, evaluation, and, as required, corrective action for multiple staff levels.
• Manages staff, and may manage budgets, facilities, and other resources.
• Administers and monitors budgets and expenses, ensuring compliance with budgetary allocations.
• Evaluates, recommends, and implements policies and procedures to assure awareness of and compliance with EH&S requirements.
• Through subordinate managers and/or supervisors, monitors and prevents chemical, biological, and physical hazards and diseases.
• Reviews and incorporates health standards promulgated by regulatory authorities.
• Directs audits, follow‑up and notification activities.
• Provides reports to Federal, State, and local agencies.
• Develops, implements, and promotes communication programs to enhance, encourage and ensure awareness of and compliance with all applicable rules, regulations, policies, et cetera in order to prevent environmental health emergencies and unsafe conditions.
• Represents senior EH&S management.
• Maintains current, up‑to‑date knowledge and understanding of all existing and proposed regulations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in health physics or related field required.
• Minimum of 7 years’ full‑time health physics experience with a broad‑scope radioactive materials license, including radiation safety oversight of cyclotron production of radioisotopes, laboratory benchwork, animal research, and clinical medicine.
• Direct experience with diagnostic and therapeutic uses of ionizing and non‑ionizing radiation utilized throughout the medical center, including procedures in Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Radiation Oncology, Interventional Radiology and other departments.
• Comprehensive and thorough knowledge and understanding of EH&S technical requirements, logistics, materials and operations, rules, regulations, laws, etc.
• Excellent management skills to effectively lead and direct subordinate staff.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communications skills, including advanced political acumen and skill to effectively communicate with diverse constituencies in a highly political environment.
• In‑depth knowledge of medical applications of radiation, radiation detection and measurement, shielding, cyclotron applications, effluent monitoring and applicable State and Federal regulations; demonstrated knowledge to serve as a subject matter expert on the receipt, use, transport, and disposal of radioactive materials in research, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications.
• Demonstrated knowledge of radiation safety regulations is required for the RSO role. The primary regulatory jurisdictions are Titles 8 and 17, California Code of Regulations; and Titles 10, 21, and 49, Code of Federal Regulations.
• Position oversees and conducts radiation safety training for employees.
• Position requires knowledge of current regulations, the level of compliance of the University to the appropriate regulations, and the (continued) appropriate guidance of recognized expert organizations such as the NCRP, ICRP, HPS, etc.
• Excellent skills to create, develop, and implement EH&S projects / programs.
• Excellent skills to appropriately and efficiently respond to and direct the response to emergencies and critical situations, including follow‑up evaluation and critique of response efficacy; recommend, develop and implement changes to emergency response as required.
• Expert physicist understanding non‑radioactive risks, including magnetic resonance, lasers, radiofrequency, microwave, cell tower, and other energy field hazards, including 7 years of directly related experience.
• Must possess excellent public speaking skills and high‑level interpersonal skills required for communication in diverse academic, regulatory and clinical environments.
• Ability to interpret regulations and effectively communicate them with administrators, external and internal auditors, physicians, dentists, nurses, technologists, patients and patient families.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with colleagues, staff members, researchers, and other members of academia.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in health/medical physics or applicable scientific or engineering field.
• Ability to manage financial assets and resources, estimate fees and expenses, balance working budgets, charge for professional services, and assist the development of competitive bids and procurement of vendor contracts.
• Understanding of the coordination between the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) regarding approval of research studies involving radiation exposure to human subjects.
• Completion of 40‑hour HAZWOPER training and experience utilizing Incident Command structure.
• A clinical background and certification in Radiation Therapy, Radiologic Technology, or Nuclear Medicine Technology is highly preferred. Incumbents can possess a certification in one of the following fields: Radiation Therapy Technology (also called Radiation Oncology); Nuclear Medicine Technology; or Radiologic Technology. The National entities issuing certifications in these fields are the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board.

About UCSF

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate‑level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It is the only campus in the 10‑campus UC system dedicated exclusively to the health sciences. We bring together the world’s leading experts in nearly every area of health. We are home to five Nobel laureates who have advanced the understanding of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, aging and stem cells.

Pride Values

UCSF is a diverse community made of people with many skills and talents. We seek candidates whose work experience or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence – also known as our PRIDE values.

In addition to our PRIDE values, UCSF is committed to equity – both in how we deliver care as well as our workforce. We are committed to building a broadly diverse community, nurturing a culture that is welcoming and supportive, and engaging diverse ideas for the provision of culturally competent education, discovery, and patient care.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

Salary Information

The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy. Your placement within the salary range is dependent on a number of factors including your work experience and internal equity within this position classification at UCSF. For positions that are represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range will be guided by the rules in the collective bargaining agreement.

To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total compensation, please visit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html