Health Physicist (Radiation Safety) Job in Orlando, FL

Vacancy No. CBTC-12663156-25-SJ Department Veterans Health Administration
Salary $105,383.00 to $137,000.00 Grade 13 to 13
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 1/8/2025 Close Date 1/17/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Orlando, FL


Summary

The Health Physicist (Radiation Safety Officer) position reports to the Medical Center Director. Directs the managerial aspects of the Radiation Safety Program ensuring all procedures and regulatory requirements are in compliance with Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) rules and regulations. Position plays the lead role in policy development for the organizations multicenter radiation safety program with technical and or expert assistance and support to other groups outside the organization.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS - DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

Duties

Includes but not limited to:

  • Prepares correspondence, license amendments, applications and such other written communications required with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency.
  • Instructs as needed all personnel using sources of radioactive material, but not less than once annually, concerning the As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) program, safety procedures, disposal policy and procedures and compliance with regulations and local policy and procedures.
  • Provides instruction using sources of ionizing radiation concerning the ALARA program, safety procedures, and local policy and procedures.
  • Investigates overexposures, ALARA exceptions, accidents, spills, thefts, unauthorized receipts, uses, transfers, disposals, medical events, and any other deviation from approved radiation safety practice and implement corrective actions.
  • Inspects all facilities where radionuclides are used and stored as needed by not less than once each year for compliance with Federal regulations and local policy and procedures.
  • Maintains inventory records and performs required surveys and wipe tests for all facilities and sources assigned to the Radiation Safety Office.
  • Manages the timely distribution and collection of personnel monitors and maintains records of personnel exposure including accounting for all missing or lost badges.
  • Maintains written records of all activities of the Radiation Safety Office/Officer.
  • Provides radiation safety support for each clinical therapeutic case.
  • Completes other duties as assigned.

Position Description Title/PD#: Health Physicist (Radiation Safety)
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized.
Physical Requirements: The work involves a certain amount of strenuous activity associated with small work spaces to change radioactive material activated charcoal air flow filters, preparing radioactive materials waste in 55-gallon drums and the handling of such drums, lifting heavy boxes of liquid scintillation vials and other solid waste materials for disposal, as well as facility roof surveys via tall ladder and small space access for motor contamination prior to equipment maintenance. 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. Lifting up to 45 pounds in weight may occasionally be required.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
  • Subject to a background/suitability investigation
  • Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
  • May serve a probationary period
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc.
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

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

Individual Occupational Requirements - Health Physics Series 1306
Basic Requirements:
  • 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.
  • B. 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.
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: 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.


Preferred Experience: 5+ years of experience in Radiation Safety.

Minimum Qualification Requirement: GS-13 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.
  • Specialized experience includes: Planning, directing, performing the execution of the radiation safety programs, Consultative of each different scientific/research/dental/medical areas. Advising other health physicist, researchers, technical, and medical personnel relative to the use of radioactive materials and devices producing ionizing radiations. Reviewing experimental procedures, clinical therapeutic dosimetry calculations, occupational dosimetry determinations for employees, and evaluative measurements for patient absorbed doses. Act to control and prevent ionizing radiation hazards. Developing and implementing radiation safety program and training. Managing the storage, handling, transportation, and transfers of all radioactive materials and decontamination policies and procedure. Calibrating radioactive sealed source. Mathematically and practically determines radiation shielding needs and the associated dose assessment model. Determining radiation dose assessment and Federal Regulatory requirements for internal/external contaminations, establishing the emergency response to radiation accident incident. Establishing proper technique associated with physical detection and quantitative measurement of radiation. Applying radiation safety standards associated with the interaction of ionizing radiation exposure and contamination upon living tissue. Establishing and overseeing the programs for all acquisition, storage, and use, of radioactive materials; and maintaining a budget with oversight of radiation safety equipment and personal dosimetry programs.
There is no educational substitution for the GS-13 level.

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.

Education

There is no educational substitution for the GS-13 level.

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.

The following will be communicated to applicants for VA employment in a testing designated position and will also be included in all VA vacancy announcements for such positions: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

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 well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/.

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.

If you are unable to apply online and request information about the Alternate Application process, please contact the Agency Contact listed for this Job Opportunity Announcement (JOA).

Benefits

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.

Review our benefits

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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

Required Documents

Documents Accepted:

  • Cover Letter
  • Resume
  • Separation Notice (RIF)
  • Transcript

Documents Required:
  • Resume

Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application. Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal/VA employees). You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.

Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online.

To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 01/17/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12663156.

1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.

2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Agency contact information

Sally Jordan
Address
Orlando VA Medical Center
13800 Veterans Way
Orlando, FL 32827
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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