Health Physicist (Radiation Safety Officer)
Summary
A Recruitment/Relocation incentive may be authorized for a highly qualified individual.
The Health Physicist will serve as the station Radiation Safety Officer. The RSO is the operational arm of the facility Radiation Safety Committee implementing policy, development of procedures and ongoing oversight of local uses of radioactive materials as described in the limited scope license for the Research Department and the broad scope license which resides with the at the KCVA Medical Center.
Duties
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Duties of this position include, but are not limited to:
- The RSO coordinates the application process for research and nuclear medicine authorized users of radioactive material. Ensures that KCVA is in compliance with the scope of the licenses for Research and Nuclear Medicine.
- Ensure the proper use of radioactive materials and advises researchers and medical personnel on how to design and conduct procedures.
- Assist staff personnel in identifying potential hazards, developing control programs for difficult situations or environments and training personnel in specialized requirements.
- Provide advice on health physics aspects of specific equipment or experiments involving the use of radioactive material or radiation producing equipment
- Will design and manage an effective radioactive waste storage and disposal program. Maintain the required waste disposal documentation for review by federal regulatory agencies.
- Investigates overexposures, radioactive spills, loss of material and unauthorized receipt. and use of all forms of radioactive material.
- Ensures the proper use of radioactive materials and advises researchers and medical personnel on how to design and conduct procedures.
- Prepares or monitors preparation of regular reports on the status and testing of equipment, control, handling, storage, disposal and decontamination of radioactive materials and x-ray equipment.
- Will design and present annual radiation safety training to personnel in accordance with the limited scope license and satellite of the broad scope permit issued by the VHA National Health Physics Program (NHPP).
- Conducts Weekly swipe surveys of nuclear medicine and the radioactive storage area.
- Assists with periodic workplace inspections in all organizations, buildings, and grounds to locate any hazards or potential hazards.
- Oversees the medical use of all class 3b and 4 lasers in accordance with the Hospital's Laser Safety Program.
- Supports the Green Environmental Management System (GEMS) Co-Coordinator.
- Supports the development and implementation of the Hospital's Emergency Management Program.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Health Physicist (Radiation Safety Officer)/PD103750
Recruitment Incentives: You may qualify for a recruitment incentive in accordance with agency policy.
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, 11/17/2025.
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-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. 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.
You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
Basic Requirement (Individual Occupational Requirement):
- Education: To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that includes: 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: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond 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 above.
AND
- 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: Implements policy, development of procedures, and ongoing oversight of issues of radioactive material. Advises and coordinates the application process for users of radioactive material. Identify and solve complex scientific problems in medical functions and activities involving numerous and varied sources of radiation. Apply specialized techniques to control difficult radiation hazards. Assist staff personnel in identifying potential hazards and training in specialized requirements. Supports managers and/or supervisors by projecting management, data gathering and analysis.
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
- Education and Training
- Health Physics
- Quality Management
- Research
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: Work requires the operation, setup and movement of testing devices and lead shielding. Work also requires that the incumbent be able to meet the physical demands to manage the radioactive waste storage program and handle radioactive generators. Physical requirements include the ability to stand for long periods of time, bend, stoop, crouch and lift moderately heavy equipment and devices (up to 50 pounds unaided). Manipulation of 55-gallon waste drums weighting 100 to 200 pounds is necessary.
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
There is no educational substitution at this grade level.
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
Receiving Service Credit or 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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.
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.