Therapeutic Medical Physicist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Therapeutic Medical Physicist for their Radiation Oncology department in San Antonio, Texas. The role encompasses ensuring the safe delivery of radiation therapy, performing treatment planning and quality assurance, and managing both GS-12 and GS-13 level duties. Requires a Master's degree in medical physics and board certification. The position offers a structured work schedule with mandatory collaboration among health professionals.

Qualifications

• Must be U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Proficient in written and spoken English.
• Board certified in therapeutic medical physics.
• Graduate education in recognized medical physics fields.
• Entry-level candidates may be non-board certified.

Responsibilities

• Ensure safe and effective delivery of radiation therapy.
• Monitor radiation therapy procedures from simulation to delivery.
• Collaborate with oncologists and dosimetrists for treatment optimization.
• Lead QA programs to ensure compliance with regulations.

Skills

Knowledge of radiotherapy devices

Ability to exercise independent judgment

Knowledge of treatment planning principles

Technical skills in 3-D planning

Expertise in radiation safety training

Education

Master’s degree in medical physics or related field

Tools

Elekta linear accelerators

RayStation treatment planning system

Job description

Summary

Serves as a Therapeutic Medical Physicist in Radiation Oncology – ensuring safe and accurate delivery of radiation therapy. Performs treatment planning support, quality assurance and dose verification. In a GS-12 role works under supervision developing proficiency; in a GS-13 role independently manages complex treatments, leads QA programs and provides expert consultation on advanced techniques and technologies.

Basic Requirements

• United States Citizenship: Non‑citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency Requirement – per VA Handbook 5005 – Part II – Chapter 3 – Section A – Paragraph 3j: no person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. – chapter 73 or 74 to serve in a direct patient‑care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English.
• Education: Master’s degree or higher in a physics, science or engineering discipline recognized by an accredited college or university with at least 30 semester hours in medical physics, health physics, radiological science, physics, engineering, chemistry or biology.
• Equivalent foreign degree and coursework substantiated by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.
• Board Certification: Persons hired or reassigned to TMP positions in the VHA must be board certified in the field of therapeutic medical physics by an approved certifying body.
• Board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying body’s requirements for continuing education.
• Approved Certifying Bodies: The American Board of Radiology (ABR) in any of the following field titles – Therapeutic Medical Physics, Therapeutic Radiologic or Therapeutic Radiological Physics, Radiologic Physics or Radiological Physics; The American Board of Medical Physics (ABMP) in the subfield of Radiation Oncology Physics; The Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine (CCPM) in the subfield of Radiation Oncology Physics.
• Exception for Non‑Board Certified – Entry Level Candidates: Non‑board certified TMPs designated by the certifying agency (e.g. American Board of Radiology) as "board eligible" who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements may be given a temporary appointment under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of certification for a period not to exceed 2 years for a TMP that provides care under the supervision of a board certified TMP at or above the full performance level. This exception only applies at the GS-12 entry level. For grade levels at or above the full performance level the candidate must be board certified. Temporary appointments of non‑board certified TMPs may not be extended beyond 2 years or converted to a new temporary appointment.
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
• Grade Determinations: GS-12 Therapeutic Medical Physicist (Entry Level): Experience – none beyond the basic requirements.
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge – Skills – and Abilities: Knowledge of the scientific and technical principles and properties of radiotherapy devices for external beam radiotherapy, including specialized knowledge of the clinical applications of these devices. Ability to exercise independent judgment in the calibration and commissioning of external beam photon and electron beam delivery devices for clinical use. Specialized knowledge of the acceptance testing and commissioning of radiation therapy treatment simulation equipment such as CT simulators. Scientific and technical knowledge of electronic data handling techniques and software. Ability to exercise independent judgment in the safe operation of radiotherapy equipment and quality assurance. Knowledge of sources of uncertainty associated with treatment delivery and how to minimize the deviation between planned and delivered treatments. Configuration of test equipment and associated software and expected equipment performance for external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy and simulation equipment. Detailed scientific and technical knowledge of radiotherapy treatment planning principles, treatment planning algorithms and treatment delivery. Knowledge of scientific and technical aspects of brachytherapy delivery systems and radiation sources. Ability to exercise independent judgment in radiation shielding techniques for external beam delivery systems. Specialized knowledge of detection and survey methods for external beam delivery systems. Knowledge of regulatory requirements and guidelines for radiation shielding and protection. Knowledge of multi‑modality medical imaging to include a detailed scientific and technical understanding of megavoltage photon beam imaging, CT, radiographic imaging, magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission computed tomography.
• GS-13 Therapeutic Medical Physicist (Full Performance Level): Experience – a minimum of 1‑year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge – Skills – and Abilities: Knowledge regarding the safe and efficient use of all radiotherapy devices for external beam radiotherapy. Ability to evaluate and ensure correct and safe operation of radiotherapy equipment through complex problem diagnosis and scheduled quality assurance. Knowledge of the scientific, clinical and technical applications of high dose rate and low dose rate brachytherapy treatment simulation, planning, dosimetry and treatment methods. Expertise in the professional, scientific and technical aspects of shielding methods for external beam radiation delivery systems, radiation survey methods, developing procedures, setting action levels, delivering radiation safety training, developing and documenting competencies and reporting. In-depth knowledge of regulatory requirements and guidelines for radiation shielding and personnel protection. Ability to exercise independent professional judgment in the performance and evaluation of calibration, acceptance testing and clinical commissioning procedures for all types of external beam photon and electron beam delivery systems. Skilled in the evaluation of acceptance testing and commissioning results of CT simulators. Technical skills in 3‑D treatment planning, intensity‑modulated radiation therapy treatment planning and stereotactic body radiation therapy planning. Specialized knowledge of clinical process steps and resource requirements for planning and delivery of radiation oncology treatments. Ability to process information from multi‑modality imaging datasets for treatment planning, treatment verification and radiotherapy response assessment.
• Preferred Experience: Experience with Elekta linear accelerators; experience with RayStation treatment planning system and/or MIM software; experience within the VA.
• Physical Requirements (Continued in Education Section)

Duties

• This vacancy will remain open until filled.
• First cut‑off date is April 29, 2026.
• Additional applications will be referred as needed.
• Duties spanning both grades: apply principles of medical physics to ensure the safe, accurate and effective delivery of radiation therapy treatments; evaluate radiation treatment plans for quality, safety and accuracy; perform patient‑specific treatment validation measurements and support treatment planning and delivery processes; monitor and assess radiation therapy procedures – including external beam and brachytherapy – from simulation through delivery; support and participate in quality assurance (QA) programs to ensure integrity of radiation dose delivery and compliance with regulatory requirements; ensure proper documentation of treatment plans, QA activities and patient records in accordance with federal regulations and organizational policy; collaborate with radiation oncologists, dosimetrists and therapists to optimize treatment outcomes and patient safety; utilize radiation oncology systems (treatment planning, delivery and QA systems) to support clinical operations.
• GS-12 (Entry‑Level) duties: perform assigned duties under the supervision of a senior or supervisory TMP; assist in treatment planning – including modality selection and evaluation of treatment feasibility; support commissioning – acceptance testing and evaluation of radiation therapy equipment; assist with implementation and evaluation of radiation therapy processes and workflows; provide limited guidance to dosimetrists and radiation therapists as assigned; participate in development and documentation of medical physics policies and procedures; develop proficiency in advanced treatment techniques (IMRT, SBRT, brachytherapy) and associated systems; perform clinical duties of moderate complexity while developing independent judgment and technical expertise.
• GS-13 (Full Performance Level) duties: independently plan, implement and oversee complex radiation therapy treatments across all modalities and levels of difficulty; design, approve and direct radiation treatment plans ensuring accuracy, completeness and clinical appropriateness; lead and manage comprehensive medical physics QA programs and ensure full regulatory compliance; provide technical oversight and mentorship to junior physicists, dosimetrists and radiation therapists; serve as subject matter expert in therapeutic medical physics – including advanced techniques and emerging technologies; develop and implement new clinical protocols, advanced treatment techniques and special projects; provide consultation on complex or atypical patient cases and resolve issues lacking standard solutions; lead equipment commissioning, clinical implementation of new technologies and program‑level initiatives; represent the organization in professional, national or interagency collaborations and initiatives as applicable.
• Work schedule: Monday‑Friday – 7:30 am to 4:30 pm (may fluctuate depending on service needs).
• Telework: Available – ad­‑hoc only as determined by the agency policy.
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Functional Statement #: 000000. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): not authorized.