This position is located at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) as the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO). They are responsible for developing and enforcing radiation safety policies and procedures for protection of persons and the environment from the hazards of radiation.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** MEDVAMC a very large broad scope radiation safety program involving both radioactive materials and machine-produced radiation (x-rays). Radioactive materials are used in the nuclear medicine department, radiation therapy, and in research. Machine-produced radiation is found in the many x-ray and CT units located throughout the hospital and in radiation therapy. This position has the primary responsibility for implementing MEDVAMC radiation safety program in all these areas; The employee is the medical center's technical expert in radiation safety and decontamination matters and has direct access to senior management. He/she is called upon by senior management, medical staff and scientists to recommend courses of action when complex radiation safety problems are encountered; Provides radiological physics support for Medical Center activities involving the use of medical radiation in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. This support encompasses the establishment and management of the Radiation Safety Program. The components of this program include authorizations for individuals using radionuclides, the enforcement of regulatory requirements, personnel dosimetry, surveys, and training. Conducts and supervises audits and scientific assessments of all clinical and research radioactive material safety programs to ensure compliance with Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and VA regulations. Identifies and evaluates radiation hazards and recommends corrective actions to eliminate or control these hazards. If necessary, the employee takes immediate action to abate severe hazards or to shut down operations that are out of compliance; Serves as the subject-matter expert and assists the MRI Safety Officer and Laser Safety Officer on developing policy and procedures for the safe use of MRI and Lasers, conducting audits and inventory; Develops training for MRI personnel and Laser Operators. Sits on the MRI Safety Subcommittee; Is a member of the Environment of Care Committee, GEMS Committee, and the Subcommittee on Research Safety & Biosecurity; The employee is a resource to senior management about planning for radiation exposure and/or contamination accidents, chemical accidents, biohazard events and adverse weather. Serves on the All Hazards Team; Performs all other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Qualification Requirements - you must meet one of the following: A) Successfully completed of a full 4-year course of study at an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's degree or higher in natural science or engineering that included at least 30 semester hours in health physics, engineering, radiological science, chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics, and/or calculus. NOTE: Transcripts must be included to meet the requirement. -OR- B) A combination of education and experience -- This must include 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 (copy of certification must be submitted with your application materials), plus appropriate experience and other education that provided an understanding of sciences applicable to health physics comparable to that described in paragraph A. NOTE: Transcripts must be included to meet the education requirement. -AND- In addition to the above, to qualify for this position at the GS-12 grade level, you must meet the minimum qualifications: Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) in the Federal Service. Specialized experience includes using in-depth knowledge of the techniques used to detect and measure ionizing radiation in assessing workplace conditions; performing shipping, receiving and related radiation surveys; performing emergency procedures related to radiation safety; selecting, operating, calibrating instruments used for measuring radiation and radioactive materials; managing/conducting a radiation protection training program; identifying and evaluating radiation hazards and taking measures to eliminate or control exposure to those hazards; and utilizing knowledge of medical uses of radioactive materials and their requirements according to Federal Regulations. (Experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit). You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: CommunicationHealth PhysicsQuality Management IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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. 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; religious; 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. Physical Requirements/Work Environment: The work requires some physical exertion such as long periods of walking and standing while performing audits and surveys and consulting with staff. Time is also spent in formal and informal meetings with many different groups. Additionally, much of the work is administrative in nature and requires sitting in an office and utilizing computers. Decontamination team participation is very physically demanding since one wears a sealed suit with respiratory device. This position requires medical clearance to participate on the decontamination team. Duties are performed in a hospital environment requiring safety precautions commensurate with a medical treatment and medical research facility. Additional safety precautions are required as they pertain to occupational radiation exposure. Work involves regular and recurring activities involving moderate risks and discomfort associated with radiation situations that require continual alertness and taking of special safety precautions, including wearing special protective items of clothing and following special procedures. Decontamination team duties are performed under wet conditions while wearing a specialized, sealed suit and respiratory device. 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/.

Education

There is no educational substitution for the specialized experience at this grade 12.

Contacts

• Address Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center 2002 Holcombe Boulevard Houston, TX 77030 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]