Health Physicist (Radiation Safety)

English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. ~AND~

All applicants must meet the following Basic and Minimum Qualification requirements:

BASIC REQUIREMENT: Successfully completed 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: If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education will not be credited without documentation. ~OR~

A combination of education and experience that includes 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: If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education will not be credited without documentation. Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week.

~ AND ~

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) in the Federal Service that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. Specialized experience includes using in-depth knowledge of the techniques used to detect and measure ionizing radiation in assessing workplace conditions; performing monitoring, surveying, source accountability and decontamination procedures; performing emergency procedures related to radiation safety; utilizing knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology sufficient to understand radiation protection standards, theories, and practices; interpreting regulations, standards, concepts, and procedures to include Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), etc. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position. Your experience must be fully documented in your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week.

You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Decision Making
• Health Physics
• Manages Resources
• Quality 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: The work requires some physical exertion, such as long periods of walking and standing during audits of clinical programs such as nuclear medicine and standing while giving presentations to groups of people. Bending and squatting is necessary when surveying floors and surfaces in use areas to assess radioactive contamination by collecting wipe samples and scanning with radiation survey meters. Time is also spent in formal and informal meetings with many different groups. Much of the work is administrative in nature and requires sitting in an office and utilizing computers. In addition, periods of driving in traffic are required to visit outlying clinics and CBOCs. Lifting up to 50 pounds in weight is occasionally required, such as when handing containers of radioactive waste.

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/.