Health Physicist

Summary

The Health Physicist is located within the Richard L. Roudebush Medical Center, a level 1A complexity VHA healthcare system providing services in multiple counties and facilities within central Indiana. The incumbent is responsible for developing, implementing, and supporting a comprehensive radiation protection program that encompasses all uses of ionizing radiation in clinical and research settings.

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Duties

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Duties include, but not limited to:

1. Establish and implement 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.

2. Manage waste disposal for all users of radioactivity including:

• Packaging, preparation of shipping manifests, burial site licensing applications, and arrangements for off-site shipping, allotment and oversight of radioactive qualities disposed of in the sanitary sewage, air exhaust system, and by incineration.
• Development and implementation of decay-in-storage policy and procedures.

3. Instructs as needed all personnel who utilize ionizing radiation not less than once annually, subjects including the As Low as Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) program, safety procedures, disposal policy and procedures (if applicable), compliance with regulations, local policy and procedures and any other pertinent radiation safety information.

4. Investigates and reports to Federal authorities, if applicable, overexposures, ALARA exceptions, accidents, spills, thefts, unauthorized receipts, uses, transfers, disposals, medical events and near misses, and any other deviation from approved radiation safety practice and implement corrective actions as necessary.

5. Inspects all facilities where radionuclides are used and stored as needed by not less than once a year for compliance with Federal regulations and local policy and procedures.

6. Calibrates survey instruments no less than annually, or after each repair that affect meter performance. Maintains record of beta efficiencies for meters as appropriate.

7. Maintains inventory records and performs required surveys and wipe tests for all facilities and sources assigned to the Radiation Safety Program.

8. Manages the timely distribution and collection of personnel monitors and maintains records of personnel exposure including accounting for all missing or lost badges.

9. Reports quarterly to the RRSC and as necessary to the MPRSC on the status of the radiation safety programs, ALARA exceptions and actions taken, and other pertinent radiation safety information and annually briefs Executive Leadership Team (ELT) on the radiation safety program. Reports are also sent to the ECMS after each meeting.

10. Assists the RRSC and the MPRSC, as directed, in meeting its responsibilities to evaluate users, facilities, unusual events and any other pertinent radiation safety requirements.

11. Ensures with the Radiology Quality Management Technologist that all x-ray producing equipment in the VAMC is inspected for safety operations, compliance with applicable FDA performance and safety standards and compliance with other accepted standards, including Joint Commission, and standards established by the medical center for quality performance and quality control. Oversees with the Radiology Quality Management Technologist that inspections and calibrations on all x-ray equipment are made at least annually and after the equipment has been repaired or modified in any way that might affect output.

Work Schedule: 7;00am- 3:30pm Monday - Friday

Telework: Not eligible for telework

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Health Physicist/PD92960-A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: may be offered for highly qualified candidates

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• All 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.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Physical Requirements: The work is divided between sedentary desk work and walking, bending and climbing, reaching, and pushing such as carts may be required. Lifting up to 50 pounds may occasionally be required. Work in respiratory protective equipment may be required. Work includes patient contact on wards and in intensive care units for those patients undergoing therapeutic applications of byproduct materials.
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ([click to reveal website link]https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Required Documents" below for details.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/08/2026.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

Basic Requirements:

Degree: natural science or engineering that included at least 30 semester hours in health physics, engineering, radiological science, chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics, and/or calculus.

OR,

Combination of education and experience courses as shown in above, plus appropriate experience or other education; or certification as a health physicist by the American Board of Health Physics, plus appropriate experience and other education that provided an understanding of sciences applicable to health physics comparable to that described in above degree requirement.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes monitoring and reviewing work sequences to develop radiological control procedures to improve radiological control practices and prevent work stoppages.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The work is divided approximately equally between sedentary desk work and walking, bending and climbing, stooping, reaching, and pushing of moderately heavy items such as carts may be required. Lifting up to 50 pounds in weight may occasionally be required. Work in respiratory protective equipment may be required. Work includes patient contact on wards and in intensive care units for those patients undergoing therapeutic applications of byproduct materials.

• For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at [click to reveal website link]https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/....

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: [click to reveal website link]http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: [click to reveal website link]https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at [click to reveal website link]http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employe....

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.