Health Physicist (Radiation Safety)

Full Job Description

The incumbent serves as the Health Physicist, hereafter known as the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO), overseeing the daily operations of the Radiation Safety Program at a large, complex multi-site facility to include a large research program to ensure regulatory compliance as mandated by local, state, and federal agencies, including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Department of Transportation, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Environmental Protection Agency, etc To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/17/2026.

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.

Individual Occupational Requirements 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 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.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.

To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-11) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Specialized experience includes: Experience in mathematics ( the differential an integral calculus and differential equations, at least), physics, chemistry, and biology sufficient to understand health protection standards, theories, and practices.

The capability to use, maintain, and supervise the use an maintenance radioactive waste collection, treatments, packaging disposal equipment and facilities and to prepare related radiation safety documents.

Capability to communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing.

The Health Physicist must be effectively and clearly communicate requirements to clinical and research personnel, provide training, and report thoroughly Radiation Safety Officer.

(Resume must clearly support the requirements of this position to receive credit.) OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience.

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a 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: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond courses, 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.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork 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 RSO requires the occasional movement of moderately heavy objects (40 to 60 pounds). The work is generally sedentary and performed in an office setting.

The RSO is expected to walk throughout the medical center in the performance of his/her duties. The RSO is expected to handle and use delicate instruments.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Major Duties:

Duties to include but not limited to: Maintains a continuing program of inspections and tests for radiation safety in accordance with VA Manual MP-3, Part Ill, NRC, DOT, OSHA, EPA, VA's Office of Research Oversight and JCAHO Standards.

Prepares reports of results for the Safety and Occupational Health Program Manager, which contain recommendations for improvement Responsible for the organization's Radiation Safety Program ensuring compliance with all laws and regulations regarding the procurement, use, storage and disposal of radioactive material Stops any unsafe activities involving radioactive materials.

Answer questions from employees about the radioactive material they are using, supervise decontamination, control disposal, maintain records, audit program yearly, perform surveys, and investigate abnormal events Provides expert technical advice in matters pertaining to the Radiation Safety Program to Facilities and Engineering Service staff in the areas of project development, design, and construction Provides professional direction and training to staff regarding radiation safety protocols and procedures that will ensure compliance as mandated by the relevant local, state, and federal regulatory agencies Protects employees and the environment from radiation exposure by ensuring proper and safe working conditions are in place, and ensuring proper storage, packaging, handling and disposal of radioactive materials and waste.

Provides expert technical assistance and guidance on radiological control problems; advises permit holders on radioactive material inventory problems, shielding designs, waste handling procedures, dosimetry, and licensing requirements Assesses potential environmental impact and ensures the facility complies with federal regulations.

Reviews designs for proposed construction and/or renovation of radioactive use facilities Evaluates, collects, prepares, and inventories radioactive materials and/or hazardous chemicals for transport and disposal.

Responds to emergency situations involving hazardous materials, radiation, or fire and smoke incidents; prepares reports of findings and submits recommendations.

Provides professional advice and assistance to facility leadership on issues Evaluates, inventories, and tests sealed sources of radioactive materials.

Ensures the effects of radiation exposure are minimum. Monitors and instructs medical patients receiving exposure to hazardous substances during treatment procedures.

Conducts research to determine and develop appropriate policies and procedures which include inspection standards, safe work methods, decontamination procedures, and radiological emergency procedures.

Reviews projects periodically; performs measurements and evaluations adequate to locate, evaluate, control, and record health physics problems.

Serves as a primary liaison between the research community and appropriate regulatory agencies within area of specialty.

Participates in the development, review, and implementation of radiation materials disposal protocols and procedures. Participates on a variety of committees involving radiation safety issues.

Prepares written guidelines on radiation control standards and practices and advises how to resolve related problems.

The incumbent plans and conducts educational programs for the Safety and Occupational Health Program Manager and Fire Protection Program as well as other Washington DC VAMC staff in the area of radiation safety.

Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 7:30am- 4:00 pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Health Physicist (Radiation Safety)/PD688-264720 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized