Sr. Safety Officer-Health Physics

Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits

Job summary

Vanderbilt Health seeks a Health Physics specialist to support its radiation therapy program, decontaminate rooms, and perform regulatory audits. You will deliver training and oversee shielding and instrument programs across the institution.

The role requires a bachelor’s (or master’s) in physics/health physics/nuclear engineering with 5+ years (or 2+ years for master’s) of radiation safety experience. Vanderbilt offers robust benefits and growth.

Qualifications

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for report writing, training, and consulting.
• Bachelor’s degree in physics, health physics, nuclear engineering, or equivalent with required experience.
• Master’s degree in physics, health physics, nuclear engineering, or equivalent with required experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide health physics support for radiation therapy programs and decontamination processes.
• Lead audits of clinical areas for compliance with regulations.
• Deliver radiation safety training to staff and students.
• Perform shielding evaluations and oversee instrument program procedures.
• Monitor radioactive material use, audits, and dose assessments.

Skills

Written and verbal communication

Health Physics knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in physics/health physics/nuclear engineering

Master’s degree in physics/health physics/nuclear engineering

Job description

Discover Vanderbilt Health

With eight hospitals and over 180 clinics, we are the region’s largest comprehensive academic health system. Vanderbilt Health has a long tradition of providing world‑class care to the people of the Mid‑South, living out our mission of moving medicine forward through preeminent programs in patient care, education and research. Here you’ll find a spirit of collaboration and a supportive community where your expertise is valued, your knowledge expanded and your uniquenesscelebrated. We are committed to fostering an environment where talented, compassionate people are united in bringing the most advanced care to our neighbors throughout the region.

Organization

OCRS - Radiation Safety

Job Summary

PRIMARY FUNCTION:

The primary functions of this position are to provide health physics support for the radiation patient therapy program, lead decontamination of radioactive patient rooms, perform audits of clinical areas for compliance with the VUMC Broadscope License and applicable regulations, deliver radiation safety training, and perform radiation shielding evaluations. This position is critical to maintaining health physics support for radiation‑producing equipment and the use of radioactive materials across the institution.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Manage complex and novel applications of Health Physics to support clinical and research operations, including technical problem‑solving and application. Serve as an instructor in the radiation safety training program for radioactive material users. Provide initial Radiation Safety training, Radiation Safety Orientation, and annual refresher training. Manage, including reviewing and updating, online training modules related to Radiation Safety. Provide Health Physics support for Radiotherapy patients Respond to Incidents as part of the response team Provide oversight and guidance for the Radioactive Material Users Permit Audits Bioassay Program – Calculate radiation doses to workers resulting from intakes of radioactive material. Compile an annual summary of the employee radiation doses resulting from intakes of radioactive material. Investigate intakes of radioactive material exceeding investigation levels and implement corrective actions. Perform a Hazard Index Calculation (NUREG 1400) for the isotopes used to show that routine bioassays are not required. Instrument Program Technical Oversight – Provide technical oversight as needed to manage the development and implementation of the instrument program, including standard operating procedures for calibrating the various types of radiation detection equipment at VUMC. Ensure that all equipment is calibrated at the frequency specified in Vanderbilt’s broadscope licenses and certified registrations. Apply technical acumen to determine future support needs and stay abreast of emerging instrument technology and offerings. Radioactive Effluent Evaluation Program – Manage the program to monitor the release of radioactive material to the sanitary sewer system. Produce Annual Dose to Public Report Research Protocol Review – Participate as a Health Physics subject matter expert team member to review proposed research and clinical trials and protocols. Interface with Clinical Health Physics Senior staff to perform initial review of these protocols. Ensure that applications are complete and the appropriate data is entered into the radiation safety database. Perform process hazard review of the application. Manage the Radiation Safety Shielding Program, providing consultation and performing technical calculations to determine appropriate shielding needed and verify installation. Assist in the instruction of the radiation safety course for the nuclear medicine technologist program. Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Indirect supervision of HP staff, students, and contractors.

Budgetary Responsibilities

None.

Internal

Frequent contact with all levels of administration, faculty, and staff, including the presentation of information where a detailed explanation is required to obtain cooperation. Provide training presentations that require communicating detailed, technical information.

External

Frequent contact with State regulators, consultants, and vendors.

Patient/Student Contact

Frequent contact with patients and students in laboratories.

Physical Requirements

Be able to lift 50 lbs.

Working Environment

Frequent areas where potential exposure to biological and infectious agents, hazardous chemicals, and ionizing radiation may occur.

Job Specifications

Education/Experience

A bachelor’s degree in physics, health physics, nuclear engineering, or equivalent, plus five years of experience in radiation safety, or a master’s degree in physics, health physics, nuclear engineering, or equivalent, plus two years of experience in radiation safety.

Licensure/Certification

Certification by the American Board of Health Physics is strongly preferred. Candidates eligible for this certification (in process or near completion) will be considered.

Job-related skills

Applicants must possess excellent written and verbal communication skills for effective report writing, training, and consulting.

Compensation

Competitive compensation is commensurate with experience and background. Full benefits offered by Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Our professional administrative functions include critical supporting roles in information technology and informatics, finance, administration, legal and community affairs, human resources, communications and marketing, development, facilities, and many more.

At our growing health system, we support each other and encourage excellence among all who are part of our workforce. High‑achieving employees stay at Vanderbilt Health for professional growth, appreciation of benefits, and a sense of community and purpose.

Core Accountabilities

Organizational Impact: Independently delivers on objectives with understanding of how they impact the results of own area/team and other related teams. Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Utilizes multiple sources of data to analyze and resolve complex problems; may take a new perspective on existing solution. Breadth of Knowledge: Has advanced knowledge within a professional area and basic knowledge across related areas. Team Interaction: Acts as a “go-to” resource for colleagues with less experience; may lead small project teams.

Core Capabilities

Supporting Colleagues

• Develops Self and Others: Invests time, energy, and enthusiasm in developing self/others to help improve performance e and gain knowledge in new areas.
• Builds and Maintains Relationships: Maintains regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders using formal and informal opportunities to expand and strengthen relationships.
• Communicates Effectively: Recognizes group interactions and modifies one’s own communication style to suit different situations and audiences.

Delivering Excellent Services

• Serves Others with Compassion: Seeks to understand current and future needs of relevant stakeholders and customizes services to better address them.
• Solves Complex Problems: Approaches problems from different angles; Identifies new possibilities to interpret opportunities and develop concrete solutions.
• Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing support and coaching in a constructive manner to increase employees’ effectiveness.

Ensuring High Quality

• Performs Excellent Work: Engages regularly in formal and informal dialogue about quality; directly addresses quality issues promptly.
• Ensures Continuous Improvement: Applies various learning experiences by looking beyond symptoms to uncover underlying causes of problems and identifies ways to resolve them.
• Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Understands all aspects of providing a safe environment and performs routine safety checks to prevent safety hazards from occurring.

Managing Resources Effectively

• Demonstrates Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of ownership, focusing on and driving critical issues to closure.
• Stewards Organizational Resources: Applies understanding of the departmental work to effectively manage resources for a department/area.
• Makes Data Driven Decisions: Demonstrates strong understanding of the information or data to identify and elevate opportunities.

Fostering Innovation

• Generates New Ideas: Proactively identifies new ideas/opportunities from multiple sources or methods to improve processes beyond conventional approaches.
• Applies Technology: Demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures to address short-term challenges.
• Adapts to Change: Views difficult situations and/or problems as opportunities for improvement; actively embraces change instead of emphasizing negative elements.

Position Qualifications

Experience Level

2 years

Education

Master’s

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which mayinclude health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.

Vanderbilt Health is committed tofosteringan environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity. EOE/Vets/Disabled.