Summary
If you are an exceptionally talented, knowledgeable and motivated individual with experience in recognizing, evaluating and controlling radiation hazards, and want to play a significant role in a dynamic organization, then consider joining the Division of Radiation Safety (DRS)! For more information, visit .
Duties
As a Health Physicist, the incumbent exercises responsibility for planning, advising on, and carrying out a health physics program involving radiation safety operations and issues. The major duties and responsibilities include:
- Provide technical guidance to researchers.
- Review and advise on operations concerning radiation safety.
- Provide radiation safety support for therapeutic administrations of radioactive materials; participates in emergency response activities; reviews qualifications of researchers to use radioactive materials and proposed protocols for use of large amounts of radioactivity in laboratories or animal studies; performs radiation safety and quality control checks of laboratory equipment.
- Demonstrate leadership for complex health physics studies.
- Manage the radiation safety program in support of biomedical research.
- Serve as a technical authority overseeing safety interlock tests and leak tests of sealed radiation sources used in biomedical research.
- Manage the storage and determines proper disposal of all radioactive waste according to procedures and limitations established in federal regulations and the NRC License.
- Collect samples for radioactivity analyses, receives and assesses results and maintains records according to federal regulations.
- Write policies and procedures for laboratory radiation safety, conducts audits of the radiation safety program, and submits reports to the NRC on any cases involving overexposure to radiation, spill incidents, decommissioning activities, etc.
- Solve problems and improves the methods and processes carried out which often require the development, adaptation and modification of precedents, methods, and procedures.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
- Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.
- Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
- Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
- Position requires Education - transcripts needed.
- If selected, you must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
- If selected, you may be required to wear protective clothing.
Qualifications
In order to qualify for a Health Physicist, GS-1306-11 position, you must meet the following Basic Education Requirements:Have 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
Have a combination of directly related 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.
In addition to the Basic Education Requirement above, in order to qualify for a Health Physicist position at the GS-1306-11 level you must meet one of the following:
Have 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree in a related field.
OR
Have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: 1) conducting assigned aspects of a health physics program involving radiation safety operations and issues; 2) recognize, evaluate, and control radiation safety hazards within established regulations, policies, and procedures; 3) planning and executing complex health physics scenarios; and 4) using NRC and other applicable federal regulations and licensing procedures.
OR
Have a combination of post baccalaureate education in a related field, and experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.
You will receive credit for all experience material to the position, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether you received pay.
Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.
To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the vacancy questionnaire. Ensure you support your self-ratings with the information you provide in your application. We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as knowing your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin before receiving an offer.
Preview assessment questionnaire before you apply:
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.
The position(s) advertised in this announcement are covered by a direct hire authority. Traditional rating and ranking of applicants, including category rating, does not apply to this vacancy. You will be initially evaluated against the basic qualifications only. Qualified applicants will be referred for consideration in accordance with the . Veterans' Preference does not apply to positions covered by a direct hire authority.
To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the and the , you must be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry and substantively exceed the basic qualifications and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.
Required Documents
REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS
RESUME:
Your resume must thoroughly describe how your skills and experiences align to the criteria defined in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement and it must support your responses to the assessment questionnaire. We cannot assume you have performed the necessary experience required for this position regardless of your employment history or academic career.
To ensure all of the essential information is in your resume, we encourage you to use the r. If you choose to use your own resume, you must ensure it contains all of the required information and you organize it so we can associate the following information for each experience/position:
- Job title
- Name of employer
- Beginning and ending dates of employment (month/day/year format)
- Hours worked per week. We will assume full-time unless otherwise stated. We will prorate part-time employment in crediting experience.
- Detailed description of job duties, accomplishments, related skills, and responsibilities to include any supervisory/managerial responsibilities and number of staff supervised (if applicable)
- Series and grade or equivalent (if a federal position)
Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) on your resume or cover letter. We will not access web pages linked on your resume or cover letter to determine your qualifications.
For resume writing guidance, please visit the following resources: , , and the .
ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE:
You must submit a completed assessment questionnaire.
Unless otherwise stated, we will only use the information above to determine your qualifications. Not providing the required information may result in a determination that you do not meet minimum requirements for the position (e.g., an ineligible rating) or a lower rating.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION FOR CAREER TRANSITION CLAIMS
Visit our websites to claim selection priority through the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP):
- CTAP:
- ICTAP:
Please do not submit any other supplementary documentation that is not requested of you. To protect your personal information, we will only send your resume and cover letter to the selecting official or hiring manager.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from .
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
