Clarification from the agency

Open to Current, Permanent VA Employees Only

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

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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). 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, 04/16/2026.

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:

1. 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

2. 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/.

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.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

• Cover Letter
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):

• Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
• An SF-50 showing 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
• Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
  • Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
  • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
  • SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

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