Radiation Safety Officer

Job Summary:

The Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) will lead and manage a comprehensive, enterprise-wide Radiation Protection Program within a complex academic health system operating under a broad-scope radioactive materials license issued by the State of California. Reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S), the RSO serves as the designated institutional authority and regulatory designee on both ionizing and non-ionizing radiation safety and compliance across clinical, research, and academic operations.

The RSO partners closely with the institutional Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) and provides subject matter leadership and technical guidance to ensure safe, compliant, and effective use of radiation technologies across UCSF’s hospitals, clinics, and research campuses throughout the Bay Area. This includes oversight of radioactive materials, radiation-producing machines, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), lasers, and other non-ionizing radiation sources such as radiofrequency, microwave, and energy field-generating devices.

This role is responsible for administering and continuously improving UCSF’s Radiation Protection Program, including proactively identifying hazards, implementing corrective actions, and verifying compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. The RSO exercises delegated authority in accordance with regulatory requirements, UC and UCSF enterprise policies on behalf of senior leadership to intervene in operations when necessary, including restricting or suspending activities that do not meet established safety or regulatory requirements.

The RSO serves as a key advisor and operational partner to multiple governance bodies, including the Radiation Safety Committee, Radioactive Drug Research Committee, Laser Safety Committee, and MR Safety Committee. In collaboration with the RSC, the RSO supports the review and approval of radiation use in cutting-edge clinical trials conducted under the oversight of the UCSF Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Acting as the primary liaison to the California Department of Public Health Radiologic Health Branch (RHB), the RSO ensures institutional compliance with licensing requirements and maintains UCSF’s authorization to use radioactive materials and radiation-producing technologies. The role requires staying current with evolving regulations, standards, and emerging technologies, and translating those changes into effective institutional policies, programs, and practices.

This position requires strategic leadership, extensive regulatory expertise, and the ability to influence across a large, decentralized organization to ensure the safe and compliant use of radiation in support of UCSF’s mission of advancing health worldwide.

Department Overview:

UCSF’s Office of Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) is dedicated to fostering a safe, healthy, and environmentally responsible environment for all faculty, staff, students, patients, and visitors across the University and UCSF Health system. EH&S serves as the central resource for workplace safety, environmental stewardship, and regulatory compliance within a complex, multi-site academic health institution.

The department provides comprehensive programs and services that support compliance with federal, state, and local regulations while enabling UCSF’s mission of advancing health through research, education, and patient care. Core program areas include biosafety, chemical safety, environmental protection, ergonomics, facilities safety, fire and life safety, industrial hygiene, radiation and laser safety, hazardous materials management, spill response, food facility safety, personal protective equipment (PPE) selection, hazardous building materials, and hazardous waste management, among others.

EH&S partners closely with campus leadership, clinical operations, research programs, and affiliated organizations to proactively identify risks, implement effective controls, and promote a culture of safety and environmental responsibility. The department also provides critical support to the UCSF Health system and multiple affiliated entities, ensuring consistent standards and practices across diverse operational settings.

Through a combination of technical expertise, consultation, training, and program development, EH&S plays a vital role in maintaining compliance, reducing risk, and supporting the safe conduct of world-class research, education, and patient care activities at UCSF.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications: - Bachelor’s degree in health physics or related field required - Minimum of 7 years’ full-time health physics experience with a broad scope radioactive materials license, including radiation safety oversight of cyclotron production of radioisotopes, laboratory benchwork, animal research, and clinical medicine - Direct experience with diagnostic and therapeutic uses of ionizing and nonionizing radiation utilized throughout the medical center, including procedures in Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Radiation Oncology, Interventional Radiology and other departments - Comprehensive and thorough knowledge and understanding of EH&S technical requirements, logistics, materials and operations, rules, regulations, laws, etc. - Excellent management skills to effectively lead and direct subordinate staff - Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communications skills, including advanced political acumen and skill to effectively communicate with diverse constituencies in a highly political environment - In depth knowledge of medical applications of radiation, radiation detection and measurement, shielding, cyclotron applications, effluent monitoring and applicable State and Federal regulations; Demonstrated knowledge to serve as a subject matter expert on the appropriate receipt, use, transport, and disposal of radioactive materials in research, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications - Demonstrated knowledge of radiation safety regulations is required for the role of RSO. The primary regulatory jurisdictions are Titles 8 and 17, California Code of Regulations; and Titles 10, 21, and 49, Code of Federal Regulations - Position oversees and conducts radiation safety training for employees - Position requires knowledge of current regulations, the level of compliance of the University to the appropriate regulations, and the (continued) appropriate guidance of recognized expert organizations such as the NCRP, ICRP, HPS, etc. - Excellent skills to create, develop, implement EH&S projects / programs - Excellent skills to appropriately and efficiently respond to and direct the response to emergencies and critical situations, including follow-up evaluation and critique of response efficacy; recommend, develop and implement changes to emergency response as required - Expert physicist understanding non-radioactive risks, including magnetic resonance, lasers, radiofrequency, microwave, cell tower and other energy field hazards, including 7 years of directly related experience - Must possess excellent public speaking skills and high-level interpersonal skills required for communication in diverse academic, regulatory and clinical environments - Ability to interpret regulations and effectively communicate them with administrators, external and internal auditors, physicians, dentists, nurses, technologists, patients and patient’s families - Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with colleagues, staff members, researchers, and other members of academia Preferred Qualifications: - Master’s degree or higher in health/medical physics or applicable scientific or engineering field - Ability to manage financial assets and resources, estimate fees and expenses, balance working budgets, charge for professional services, and assist the development of competitive bids and procurement of vendor contracts - Understanding of the coordination between the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) regarding approval of research studies involving radiation exposure to human subjects - Completion of 40 hr HAZWOPER training and experience utilizing Incident Command structure - A clinical background and certification in Radiation Therapy, Radiologic Technology, or Nuclear Medicine Technology is highly preferred. Incumbents in the position can possess a certification in one of the following clinical fields: (a) Radiation Therapy Technology (also called Radiation Oncology); (2) Nuclear Medicine Technology; or, (3) Radiologic Technology. The National entities issuing certifications in these fields are: the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board