- Position Title
- Health Physicist (Radiation Safety Officer)
- Agency
- Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
- Announcement Number
- HN-10646878-20-JM Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Monday, February 3, 2020 to Tuesday, March 3, 2020
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1.
Are you currently employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs?
This includes: Career/Career Conditional or Excepted Service (i.e. Canteen, Hybrid, Title 38, etc. and meets interchange agreement requirements). This does not include temporary, term or temporary intermittent.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met (if applicable) and include your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. Competitive or Excepted). Please be aware that award SF-50's do not always include this pertinent information.
This includes: Career/Career Conditional or Excepted Service (i.e. Canteen, Hybrid, Title 38, etc. and meets interchange agreement requirements). This does not include temporary, term or temporary intermittent.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met (if applicable) and include your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. Competitive or Excepted). Please be aware that award SF-50's do not always include this pertinent information.
2.
Are you an employee of the facility indicated for this position?
This includes: Career/Career Conditional or Excepted Service (i.e. Canteen, Hybrid, Title 38, etc. and meets interchange agreement requirements). This does not include temporary, term or temporary intermittent.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met (if applicable) and include your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. Competitive or Excepted). Please be aware that award SF-50's do not always include this pertinent information.
This includes: Career/Career Conditional or Excepted Service (i.e. Canteen, Hybrid, Title 38, etc. and meets interchange agreement requirements). This does not include temporary, term or temporary intermittent.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). Your SF-50 must include enough information to be able to determine that time-in-grade requirements have been met (if applicable) and include your position title, pay plan/series/grade, tenure and the type of appointment (i.e. Competitive or Excepted). Please be aware that award SF-50's do not always include this pertinent information.
Assessment 1
1.
SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Requirement. Select the response that best describes your certification, training and/or experience to meet the US NRC requirement for a Radiation Safety Officer.
Select the appropriate answer to each of the following questions based on your background and experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. When answering the questionnaire, remember that your experience and education are subject to verification by investigation. You may be asked to provide specific examples or documentation of experience or education as proof to support your answers, or you may be required to verify a response by a practical demonstration of your claimed ability to perform a task. FAILURE TO RESPOND TO THESE QUESTIONS WILL RESULT IN AN INELGIBLE RATING. YOUR RESUME MUST SUPPORT THE REPONSES YOU SELECT.
2.
Have you successfully completed a 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's degree or higher that include a major field of study or specific course requirements 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? TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED.
3.
Do you possess a 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 comparable to that described above? TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED.
4.
GS-12 LEVEL SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Do you possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-11, in Federal Service that equipped you 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 Health Physicist (Radiation Safety Officer)? Specialized experience includes but is not limited to: Professional knowledge of health physics as it relates to a medical environment, to adapt standard practices, equipment, or techniques to solve a variety of health physics problems. Planning and conducting work that requires judgment in evaluating, selecting, and adapting precedents and in modifying procedures and criteria. Knowledge of health protection standards, theories, and practices and to operate instruments used for measuring radiation and radioactive materials. Identifying and solving complex scientific problems in medical and research laboratory functions and activities involving numerous and varied sources of radiation. Ensuring proper use of radioactive materials. Advising researchers and medical staff on how to design and conduct procedures. Identifying and evaluating radiation hazards and taking measures to eliminate or control exposure to those hazards. Experience also includes evaluating, overseeing and recommending proper safety measures for laser use.
Time in Grade is the 52-week requirement that Federal Employees in competitive service General Service (GS) positions at the GS-5 and above must serve before they are eligible for promotion (advancement) to the next grade as appropriate for the position being filled. Current Federal employees under the General Schedule (GS) system are required to have at least 52 weeks at the next lower grade for which they are applying for.
5.
Have you worked 52 weeks at the GS-11 Grade Level or currently hold GS-12 grade level or above?
6.
Time in grade does not apply to me because I am a current federal employee under another pay system other than General Schedule (GS), such as Wage Grade or Canteen services.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
7.
Time in grade does not apply to me because I am not a Federal employee; or I am a current employee using another form of eligibility such as 30% or more service-connected disabled veteran; or Schedule A. NOTE: Applicants applying to bypass time and grade must still meet the specialized experience and/or education requirements. (Proper documentation must be submitted if you are a current federal employee applying under another form of status.)
For the following item(s), choose the ONE statement from the list below that best describes your knowledge, skill and ability. Your answers MUST be supported with examples, explanations or additional information, on your resume, or included on other application materials. Failure to provide adequate information may result in your final rating being reduced. Please select only one letter for each item.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
8.
Obtaining and maintaining NHPP permits that authorize the use of radioactive materials at both installations. Ensuring compliance with all applicable Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency requirements.
9.
Ensuring that all x-ray producing equipment is inspected for safe operation, compliance with applicable FDA performance and safety standards, and compliance with-other accepted standards including The Joint Commission, and standards established by the Medical Center for quality performance and quality control.
10.
Reporting quarterly to Radiation Safety Committees on the status of the radiation safety programs, ALARA exceptions and actions taken, uses of radionuclides, and personnel, exposures.
11.
Establishing and implementing written policies and procedures for all aspects of the radiation safety programs including: purchasing, receiving and opening packages of radioactive materials; storage of radioactive materials; maintaining inventory records; using radioactive materials safely; emergency procedures; performing radiation surveys; calibrating radiation survey meters; disposal of radioactive material; and all other aspects of the radiation survey meters; disposal of radioactive material; and all other aspects of the radiation safety program.
12.
Investigating and implementing corrective actions as necessary for: overexposures; accidents, incidents, and spills; thefts; unauthorized receipts, uses, transfers and disposals; medical events as defined by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and other deviation for approved radiation safety practice.
13.
Handling complex patient, employee and public radiation safety issues as a technical expert.
14.
Providing direct radiation safety support for each clinical therapeutic case utilizing a radiopharmaceutical or sealed radiation source (bracytherapy) including: providing specialized radiation safety instructions to nursing staff, patients and providing specialized radiation safety instructions to nursing staff, patients and their families.
15.
Managing the radioactive waste disposal programs for all uses of radioactivity including: collection, storage, packing, shipping manifesting, burial site license applications, and arrangements for off-site shipping as appropriate; allotment and oversight of liquid radioactive waste disposals via the sanitary sewer system; developing and implementing decay-in-storage policies and procedures; and evaluation and control of emissions via air exhaust systems.
16.
Assists the Radiation Safety Committees in meeting in their responsibilities to evaluate and approve radiation user and facilities.
17.
Conducting radiation safety training and demonstrations for facility officers, research and clinical technologist, nursing personnel, police, housekeeping personnel, etc.
18.
Conducting, directing, and interpreting the results of complex radiation surveys conducted for a wide variety of purposes including: safety of employees and others during diagnostic and therapeutic medical procedures; regulatory compliance during medical and research uses; protection of facilities and the environment; testing the integrity of sealed radiation sources; and decommissioning of locations in which radioactive materials was previously used. COMPETENCY ID: 500
19.
Managing budget control points including purchasing of and contracts for various supplies and support services (COTR).
20.
Instructs personnel in use of radiation monitoring equipment, safe laboratory practices, decontamination methods, etc.
21.
Managing the personnel dosimeter programs, arranging for processing of personnel monitoring devices, and evaluating personnel exposure data and reports to ensure that radiation doses are As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA)
Certification of Understanding - Select the appropriate answer to the statement below. Failure to provide an answer will result in your not being considered for this position.
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
22.
I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all of the information included in this questionnaire is true, correct, and provided in good faith. I understand that if I make an intentional false statement, or commit deception or fraud in this application and its supporting materials, or in any document or interview associated with the examination process, I may be fined or imprisoned (18 U.S.C.1001); my eligibilities may be cancelled; I may be denied an appointment; or I may be removed and debarred from Federal service (5 C.F.R. part 731). I understand that any information I give may be investigated and that responding "No" or providing no response to this item will result in my not being considered for this position.