The Associate Radiation Safety Officer (ARSO) for Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System reports directly to the Chief of Staff. The ARSO collaborates with the RSO to manage the Comprehensive Radiation Safety Program, overseeing the use of all radioactive materials within the research and clinical domains while monitoring the safety of patients and employees exposed to radioactive material.

Duties

Oversight and documentation of administration of radioactive material. Monitors Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDI) measurements for patient safety. Initiates corrective action and follow-up medical physics testing for ionizing radiation producing equipment failing medical physics testing. Provides Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs);Work with RSC to develop/approve SOPs, Train medical center personnel on SOPs in support of radiation safety. Assists Services operating ionizing radiation producing equipment developing routine Quality Control checks in accordance with equipment manufacturer & ACR guidance. Coordinates with Biomedical Engineering to assure ionizing radiation producing equipment is maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications. Assists Radiology development of annual training for radiology staff in radiation safety. Training will include methods for maintaining patient dose ALARA. Reports patient radiation injuries to the appropriate agency including; National Health Physics Program (NHPP), JC, & FDA. Supports radiologist & Radiology technologist developing protocols while reducing patient dose As Low As Reasonable Achievable (ALARA). Assists radiologist & Radiology technologist developing techniques & provide technique charts listing patient dose for clinically used settings. Provides oversight for Services performing ionizing radiation producing procedures to assure inspection of protective aprons, gloves & other equipment. Provides additional radiation safety duties as Associate RSO including; 1) Nuclear Medicine, 2) occupational radiation exposure, 3) shielding design, and 4) control of radioactive material. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30-4:00pm, subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Position Description Title/PD#: Health Physicist#06989O Relocation/Recruitment incentive: May be authorized. Physical Requirements: The performance of inspections requires recurrent long periods of standing, walking, climbing, crouching, and lifting and occasional carrying of moderate to heavy items.

Requirements

• 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 Requirement: Applicants who meet the Individual Occupational Requirements described below are fully qualified for the specified entry grade and must also meet the specialized experience and/or education requirements. To qualify, 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 (transcripts required). OR 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 (transcripts required). In addition to meeting the above Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR), applicants must also meet the experience and/or directly related education relevant to this position. 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: Experience with radiation safety, regulatory issues and emergency procedures; Operate and maintain a Broad Scope Medical Use Radioactive Materials License; Communicate effectively using oral and written skills; Apply industrial hygiene principles and practices sufficient to manage related problems of worker radiation exposure; Solve problems involving radiation activity, field strength concentrations in matter, air and water, shielding and personnel dose assessment. 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. 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. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

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: 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.

Contacts

• Address New Orleans VA Medical Center 2400 Canal Street New Orleans, LA 70119 US
• Name: Kathy Carroll
• Phone: 813-503-7921
• Email: [email protected]