Health Physicist

Job Details

Qualifications & Requirements

Basic Education Requirement: Applicants must meet A or B below to satisfy the basic education requirement for Health Physicist, all grade levels. A. Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree 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. **OR B. A 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. In addition to the basic education requirement as stated above, applicants must meet the following to qualify for the GS-13 level: One year of appropriate professional experience that is in or directly related to the duties of the position to be filled is qualifying if it is equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service, and if it equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as: experience that demonstrates experience in the technical aspects of radiation safety programs and policies and inspections that require work with radiological safety technology, including radiation physics and dosimetry, with particular emphasis on the use of ionizing radiation in science and industry. Candidates should also have recent experience associated with a regulatory program focused on safety. You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

Position Overview

The government-wide direct hire authority for STEM Physical Sciences 1306 Series is being used to fill this position. There is only one vacancy that may be filled at the following locations: Lakewood, CO or Reston, VA. The location will be determined when a selection is made. Salary: Lakewood, CO: $118,675 (Step 01) to $154,280 (Step 10) Reston, VA: $121,785 (Step 01) to $158,322 (Step 10) NOTE: First time hires to the Federal Government are typically hired at the Step 01.

Duties

• You will serve as a Health Physicist with the Office of Management Services, Occupational Health and Safety Branch. This position serves as the Bureau Health Physicist and executes the Radiation Safety Program. Some of your specific duties will include: Applies expert knowledge, experience, and skill in the position of USGS Health Physicist and USGS Radiation Safety Officer. Leads, develops, and implements the USGS Bureau Radiation Safety Program which includes but is not limited to all radioactive materials, licenses, and ionizing radiation producing equipment. Serves as the Executive Secretary for the Radiation Safety Committee and schedules meetings, provides information to the Committee, assists in the Committee's function, and is the liaison between scientists and the Committee. Conducts, reviews, and offers guidance and procedures for radiological exposure assessments; audits, inspections, assistance visits, and program evaluations; and analyzing a variety of doses and types of radiological hazards. Implement the requirements of the broad scope license, special nuclear material, and generally licensed materials and devices. Physical Demands: Work is performed in an office environment, a radiation analytical lab, field installations, and during visits to science centers, other research labs, offices, and field installations. Some of the work requires strenuous physical exertion, such as climbing ladders and carrying heavy equipment, and moving lead shielding. Travel to science centers, offices and field installations is required and involves a considerable amount of walking, climbing, and other forms of physical exertion associated with program evaluation activities. Work Environment: Work is performed in an office setting, a radiation analytical lab, field installations, and during visits to science centers, other research labs, offices, and field installations, and during visits to science centers, other research labs, offices and field installations. Work may require strenuous activity and will have exposure to various types of safety and health hazards such as, but not limited to, ionizing radiation, high voltage, and chemical hazards. Use of respirators, earmuffs, safety glasses, gloves, full-body Tyvek suits, and other forms of personal protective gear may occur on a frequent basis. Conditions of Employment for this Position: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will 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. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.