Health Physicist (Radiation Safety Officer)

Summary A Recruitment/Relocation incentive may be authorized for a highly qualified individual. The position is a Health Physicist serving as the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) of KCVA, responsible for managing the facility's radiation safety program and ensuring the safety of patients, staff, and members of the public while complying with federal regulations and VHA requirements. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of the announcement (06/01/2026). Candidates must address time‑in‑grade requirements if they are current federal employees or former employees applying for reinstatement or Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointments. Desired education includes a bachelor’s or higher degree in natural science or engineering with at least 30 semester hours in health physics, engineering, radiological science, chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics, or calculus. Candidates may also combine education with relevant experience, including certification as a health physicist by the American Board of Health Physics. Applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS‑12) and specialized experience in planning, directing, and executing radiation safety programs, advising staff, reviewing procedures, and consulting on safety matters. Physical requirements include standing for long periods, lifting up to 50 pounds unaided, and handling waste drums weighing 100–200 pounds. For more information on qualification standards, see the U.S. Office of Personnel Management website at Duties Oversee a comprehensive program supporting Imaging, Nuclear Medicine, Radiation Oncology, and various medical and surgical specialties using radioactive materials or ionizing radiation in clinical, academic, and research settings under an NHPP permit. Direct, supervise, and conduct emergency response procedures for radiological emergencies; advise staff on complex problems and develop solutions for new clinical programs such as PET/CT, PET/MR, and new radiopharmaceutical therapies; design and implement facility policy and procedure changes for PET/CT, PET/MR, SPECT/CT imaging, and radiation oncology facilities. Establish and manage a comprehensive quality assurance program for diagnostic and interventional imaging equipment, reviewing equipment quality control parameters for imaging and therapeutic equipment. Provide oversight of the technical quality assurance program, evaluate effectiveness, recommend, and implement improvements. Design and implement training programs aligned with organizational strategies to maintain and improve safety, adaptive media for unique training requirements, and participate in developing innovative safety training and promotion activities. Train and instruct nursing staff, other clinical staff, and support staff such as Environmental Management Services and dietetics personnel involved in caring for patients administered therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals or undergoing brachytherapy. Evaluate the training and experience of medical staff and other professionals relative to regulatory compliance requirements for the use of radioactive materials in clinical and research settings. Advise staff on safety and regulatory compliance aspects of biomedical research programs and facilities involving radioactive material and equipment producing ionizing radiation. Review laboratory methods and research objectives to minimize radiation risks to personnel and advise principal investigators and research committees on research appropriateness. Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Physicist (Radiation Safety Officer)/PD103750. Recruitment incentives may be awarded in accordance with agency policy. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required. #J-18808-Ljbffr