Health Physicist Assistant I - Radiation Safety

Scheduled Hours
40

Position Summary
This position is responsible for assisting health physics staff on assignments for the WashU and WashU Medicine radiation safety program and for other contracted organizations within and affiliated with the WashU Medicine. Assignments may focus in one or more particular technical areas, but the position is expected to develop a broad base of technical knowledge over time. This position may lead teams under general oversight of a manager responsible for a particular technical area of the radiation safety program. The ability to interact effectively with a wide variety of individuals, and to communicate technical information clearly and concisely, is expected. In all cases, the individual will work under the direct supervision of a Health Physicist, Assistant Radiation Safety Officer, or Associate Radiation Safety Officer.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Position will be assigned specific activities or general tasks in one or more of the technical areas of the radiation safety program. The technical areas include, but are not limited to: user authorizations, inspections, surveys, sealed sources, decommissioning; release surveys and closeouts, radioactive materials accountability and transportation, cyclotron produced materials (production, distribution and use), radioactive waste management and shipping, dosimetry and bioassay, ALARA program, instrument calibrations, radiation producing equipment safety, non-ionizing radiation safety, and medical program assessments. Within these areas, typical assignments will include:

• Laboratory inspections to assess compliance with safety and regulatory requirements, such as proper use approvals, radioactive material control, handling procedures, animal facility, dose control, signs and labels, documentation, radioactive waste management, and special requirements for the authorization.
• Serve as a point of contact for inspected Authorized Users, handling routine questions and making referrals for more difficult issues.

Training

• Assist with preparation of training materials.
• Proctor Radiation Safety Exams.
• Conduct specialized training sessions.

Technical Measurements (according to skill/experience level)

• Beta/gamma and alpha survey instrument source checks.
• Survey instrument measurements - dose rate and cpm for beta/gamma, dpm for beta and alpha.
• Survey wipe measurements - LSC, gamma, alpha/beta, alpha.
• Radiation Safety Laboratory surveys and instrumentation QA.
• Laboratory negative pressure tests.
• Research sealed source inventory and leak tests - gamma and beta sources, alpha sources.
• Assist with clinical sealed source inventory and leak tests.
• Routine survey instrument calibrations.
• Air monitoring -- volatile iodine charcoal, airborne particulate filters.
• Xenon monitoring -- filter breakthrough measurements.
• Thyroid monitoring.
• Decontamination activities; Decommissioning, closeout or release surveys for work areas, vehicles, equipment and other items, laboratories and other facilities.
• Dosimetry and bioassay - urine bioassay sample analysis (LSC), thyroid survey (gamma).

Radiation Safety Program Development

• Identifies areas where program improvements may be needed.
• Prepare draft procedure updates and revisions.
• Clinical area surveys, patient room preparation, decontamination and release surveys.
• Area inspections to assess compliance with safety requirements for use of lasers and use of high-field magnets.
• Leakage, interlock, scatter and direct dose inspections and surveys for radiation producing machines. Assist with facility assessment, training evaluation, and other records.
• Gamma irradiator device inspections -- leak test, leakage surveys, interlocks, maintenance and use records, respond to malfunction calls from users.
• Increased controls area monitor testing, user access training, security system testing.
• Waste pickup: receiving, processing, manifesting, and transporting radwaste parcels from a number of pickup locations to the radwaste facility; unloading, and processing; and completing waste records, documentation, data entry, and filing.
• Waste management: DIS waste packing and surveys; preparing waste for transfer to Radiation Safety; packing waste for shipping, prepare waste manifest for offsite disposal.
• Assist with RAM shipping.
• Receiving and processing incoming radioactive materials packages (including "Yellow III"), and delivering them and other items (such as calibrated survey meters) to authorized laboratories throughout WashU and WashU Medicine using university vehicles.
• Reviewing records and documentation for completeness and compliance with predetermined conditions or values, using standard calculation procedures and checklists.
• Assembling documentation according to Radiation Safety Division procedures using existing paper forms and routine reports from computer databases.
• Completing paperwork as defined by procedure, and entering information into computerized databases.
• Cyclotron facility, cyclotron-produced material distribution systems and PET-use laboratory inspections, surveys, incident response, and radiation safety evaluations and support.
• Assist in non-ionizing radiation safety program, including MRI, laser, x-ray laboratory audits, equipment evaluations, etc.
• Assist in laboratory incident response - initial response to incident, decontamination and survey support; coordination with Laboratory Contact, Authorized User, laboratory staff.
• Assist in emergency response - follow-up surveys and decontamination, assist with initial and re-entry surveys.
• Participate in human-use clinical procedures, following procedures as outlined by Radiation Safety, vendor representatives, and our cooperating physician partners, under the guidance and supervision of more senior Radiation Safety Staff.
• Be able to carry out duties and responsibilities Radiation Safety Specialist I.
• Assigned clinicals will require frequent alternative work schedules which may vary, including evenings and weekends.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

Education:
Bachelor's degree or combination of education and/or experience may substitute for minimum education.

Certifications/Professional Licenses:
No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.

Work Experience:
No specific work experience is required for this position.

Skills:
Not Applicable

Driver's License:
A driver's license is not required for this position.

More About This Job

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in physics, mathematics, engineering, computer science or related science degree, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience will be considered.
• Demonstrated experience in radiation safety compliance programs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience under an NRC or Agreement State broad-scope medical-use license.
• Knowledge of applicable regulations, radiation safety concepts, procedures, methods and program goals. Ability to read, understand and assist in interpreting regulatory language.
• Demonstrated technical knowledge, mathematical and computational ability necessary for health physics evaluations.
• Ability to interact with a wide variety of individuals, and communicate technical information clearly and concisely.
• Mathematical ability sufficient to perform calculations and conversions using formulas and methods provided in procedures.
• Must be able to allocate time efficiently in order to complete projects according to a general schedule.
• Demonstrated knowledge of institutional requirements for safe use of radioactive materials and how the requirements apply to research, clinical, and work place settings.
• Experience with measurement procedures and instrumentation for radiation surveys and sample analysis.
• Ability to read and understand regulatory language.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:
No additional education unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Certifications/Professional Licenses:
No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Work Experience:
Increasingly Responsible Radiation Use Setting (5 Years)

Skills:
Clinical Research Operations, Computer Literacy, Cyclotrons, Database Application Software, Dosimetry, Effective Written Communication, Effluent Monitoring, Facility Inspections, Mathematical Computation, Microsoft Office, Neutron Activation Analysis, Oral Communications, Process Procedures, Radiation Measurement, Radiation Protection, Radiation Safety, Radioactive Waste Management, Regulations, Regulatory Interpretation, Team Leadership, Technical Communication, Web Applications

Grade
G12

Salary Range
Base pay is commensurate with experience.

The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.

Questions

For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email [click to reveal email address]CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at [click to reveal phone number]314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Pre-Employment Screening
All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

Personal

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
• Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
• WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.

Wellness

• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!

Family

• We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We've got you covered.
• WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.

For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: [click to reveal website link]https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/

EEO Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and especially encourages applications by those from underrepresented groups. It is the University's policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.

Washington University is dedicated to building a community of individuals who are committed to contributing to an inclusive environment - fostering respect for all and welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Individuals with a commitment to these values are encouraged to apply.