Health Physicist (Radiation Safety)
Summary
The Health Physicist serves as the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) for the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center. The position functions within the Director's Office with direct report to and under administrative direction of the Medical Center's Chief of Staff. The RSO is an advisor to the Executive Leadership Team and is responsible for the overall safe and prudent use of all radioactive materials and x-ray producing equipment and controls the accountability for such material and equipment.
Duties
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This position has the primary responsibility for implementing and managing the VAMC radiation safety program and supervisory duties over assigned staff. Duties and responsibilities include but not limited to:
- Purchase orders, or contracts for long term orders, for radioactive materials are routed to the Radiation Safety Office(hereafter, the office prior to the final processing and release vendor.
- The incumbent is responsible for compliance with the regulations governing the receipt, inspection, monitoring and recording of incoming shipments of radioactive materials.
- The health Physicist is involved in the maintenance of records of radioisotope inventory and waste disposal to assure compliance with the materials permit.
- Pursuant to the policies, procedures, and regulations of the NHPP/NRC, the Health Physicist, under the directions of the RSO administers the radiation safety program.
- Under the supervision of the RSO, the Health Physicist may carry the responsibility for evaluating personnel, equipment and facilities in the event of an accident involving radioactive materials or radiation producing equipment.
- The incumbent will be available and will respond promptly to emergencies, and will prepare the documentation of personnel, equipment and facilities in event of an accident..
- The incumbent provides advise and instructions to Medical Center Personnel and research workers on issues bearing on radiation safety.
- The incumbent participates i seminars, classes and demonstrations for the instruction of medical personnel in the theory and practical aspects of radiation.
Work Schedule: Day Shift, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Work schedule subject to change due to needs of the agency.
Telework: Yes(AD HOC)
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Health Physicist (Radiation Safety Officer)/PD094200
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Requirements
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Conditions of employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this 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
- 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]). 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)
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial 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 or trial 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, 12/04/2025.
Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.
Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): In order to meet the basic requirement of the Health Physicist, 1306 Occupational series, you must possess:
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. (Copy of transcript required)
OR,
Combination of education and experience courses as shown in A 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 paragraph A. (Copy of transcript required)
IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE IOR, you may qualify based on your experience as described below:
Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Professional knowledge of health physics as it relates to a medical environment, to adapt standard practices, equipment, or techniques to solve a variety of health physics problems. Planning and conducting work that requires judgment in evaluating, selecting, and adapting precedents and in modifying procedures and criteria. Knowledge of health protection standards, theories, and practices and to operate instruments used for measuring radiation and radioactive materials. Identifying and solving complex scientific problems in medical and research laboratory functions and activities involving numerous and varied sources of radiation. Ensuring proper use of radioactive materials. Advising researchers and medical staff on how to design and conduct procedures. Identifying and evaluating radiation hazards and taking measures to eliminate or control exposure to those hazards. Experience also includes evaluating, overseeing and recommending proper safety measures for laser use.
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 involves considerable walking, standing, bending, and lifting, in all areas of the Medic'31 Center. The work is divided approximately equally between sedentary desk work and walking, bending and climbing required to inspect laboratory and equipment installations. Some occasional crouching, stooping, reaching, and pushing of moderately heavy items such as carts may be required. Often required to wear heavy, leaded radiation-protective garments for periods of one hour or more. Lifting up to 50 pounds in weight may occasionally be required.
For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at [click to reveal website link].
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]. 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].
Additional information
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
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.
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.
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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.