Sr Health Physicist/RSO- Environmental Health & Safety- FT Day Shift

UCI Health; Orange (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Job summary

UCI Health seeks a Radiation Safety Officer to lead its radiation protection program across multiple campuses. You will develop policies, ensure regulatory compliance, and oversee licensing and monitoring of radioactive materials and devices.

You will train staff, liaise with CMS, Joint Commission, and RHB, and drive safety culture across clinical, research, and laboratory operations in California. This role supports collaboration with investigators, facilities, and EH&S leadership, with travel

Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of CA and Federal radiation safety laws and regs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Valid driver's license.
• Meets the requirements for Radiation Safety Officer in 10 CFR 35.50.
• Experience with accreditation interactions in clinical/research operations.
• Experience with radiation safety surveys and laboratory audits.
• Strong analytical skills for reviewing survey, dosimetry, and shielding data.
• Ability to design and manage a Radiation Safety Program.
• Understanding of clinical, research and lab operations within safety mandates.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• 3–5 years experience in medical radiation safety program.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the radiation safety program across multiple locations.
• Develop and implement radiation safety policies and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Administer and maintain the UCI Health Radioactive Materials License.
• Oversee radiation monitoring, security, and emergency preparedness.
• Provide education and consultation to departments using radioactive materials and equipment.
• Serve as liaison with regulatory and accrediting agencies (RHB, JCAHO, CMS, etc.).

Skills

Radiation safety

Regulatory compliance

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in physics, math, chemistry, engineering, or biology

3-5 years experience in medical radiation safety

Job description

Who We Are

UCI Health is one of California's largest academic health systems and the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Established on July 1, 1976, UCI Health has grown into a 1,461-bed health system that includes UCI Health - Orange, UCI Health - Irvine, four Community Network hospitals and a growing network of ambulatory care centers across Orange and Los Angeles counties.

Who We Are

UCI Health is one of California's largest academic health systems and the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Established on July 1, 1976, UCI Health has grown into a 1,461-bed health system that includes UCI Health - Orange, UCI Health - Irvine, four Community Network hospitals and a growing network of ambulatory care centers across Orange and Los Angeles counties. As Orange County’s only academic health systems, UCI Health is home to the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center based in the county, the region’s only American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, American College of Emergency Physicians Gold Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department and a nationally recognized regional burn center verified by the American Burn Association. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people across Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County through excellence in patient care, research and medical education.

Your Role on the Team

Position Summary

Under the direction of the System Director of Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S), the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) is responsible for the leadership, administration, implementation, and oversight of the medical and research radiation protection programs across multiple UCI Health locations. The RSO manages the day-to-day operations of the radiation safety program and ensures the safe, secure, and compliant use of radioactive materials and radiation-producing equipment.

Key responsibilities include developing and implementing radiation safety policies and procedures; ensuring compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations; administering and maintaining the UCI Health Radioactive Materials License; overseeing clinical and laboratory radiation monitoring and control programs; managing radiological security initiatives; coordinating emergency preparedness and response activities related to radiation hazards; and providing technical expertise and consultation to departments utilizing radioactive materials and radiation-producing machines.

The RSO delivers radiation safety and health physics education and training to clinical, research, and support staff, and serves as the primary liaison with regulatory and accrediting agencies, including the California Department of Public Health Radiologic Health Branch (RHB), The Joint Commission, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and other applicable oversight organizations. The RSO promotes a culture of safety, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.

Required Qualifications

What It Takes to be Successful

• Must possess thorough knowledge of California State and Federal laws, codes, regulations, guidelines and current technology pertaining to radiation safety, radioactive waste, radioactive material transportation and radiation-producing machines
• Must possess excellent written and verbal communication/presentation skills
• Must possess a valid driver's license
• Must meet the requirements for Radiation Safety Officer in 10CFR35.50
• Must have working knowledge of accreditation organizations and their interactions with clinical and research operations
• Must have working knowledge and experience in conducting effective radiation safety surveys and laboratory audits.
• Must have strong analytical and technical skills relating to review and quality assessment of survey, dosimetry, and shielding data
• Must have strong analytical and organizational skills to organize, prioritize and manage special projects involving new or ongoing uses of radiation in an academic-medical environment
• Must have demonstrated ability to design, develop, manage and implement a Radiation Safety Program.
• Must have a comprehensive understanding of clinical, research and laboratory-based operations in the context of the complex health, safety, and environmental mandates
• Bachelor’s degree in physics, math, chemistry, engineering, or biology, or a closely related field and/or equivalent experience/training.
• 3-5 years experience beyond training in a medical radiation safety program.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education, training and experience in MRI and laser safety is highly desirable.
• A graduate degree in Health Physics/Radiological Health, Medical Physics or certification eligibility by the American Board of Health Physics is highly desirable.

Total Rewards

We offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks. Please utilize the links listed here to learn more about our compensation practices and benefits.

Conditions Of Employment

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) seeks to provide a safe and healthy environment for the entire UCI community. As part of this commitment, all applicants who accept an offer of employment must comply with the following conditions of employment:

• Background Check and Live Scan
• Employment Misconduct*
• Legal Right to Work in the United States
• Vaccination Policies
• Smoking and Tobacco Policy
• Drug Free Environment

Exercise the utmost discretion in managing sensitive information learned in the course of performing their duties. Sensitive information includes but is not limited to employee and student records, health