Senior Health Physicist

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Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit: The Occupational and Environmental Safety Office (OESO) provides the focus for the administration of all safety programs to Duke University, Duke University Medical Center, and Duke University Health System. OESO has the responsibility for developing institutional safety plans and policies; providing information and training to meet all regulatory requirements; providing technical consultation and guidance; conducting exposure and risk assessments; conducting safety audits; monitoring compliance with all safety policies; and investigating accidents, injuries, and reported unsafe conditions.

Specific to Radiation Safety Division: The Radiation Safety Division assists Duke faculty and staff with the safe use of radioactive material and radiation producing devices. Our scope of responsibility includes the Duke University Hospital and affiliated medical facilities, campus and Medical School research laboratories and our medical and research accelerator facilities.

Primary Purpose of Position: The Senior Health Physicist manages one or more phases of a program designed to protect plant, laboratory, radiation workers, patients and other personnel from radiation hazards. The position is responsible for monitoring the organization’s radiation protection standards in accordance with state, federal, and industry programs, including evaluating and interpreting current regulations to ensure compliance. 

General Duties and Responsibilities

• Directly assists the Division Director/Radiation Safety Officer in managing the institutional radiation safety program.
• Oversees radiation type-level programs, e.g. medical- or research-use radioactive materials, particle accelerators, x-rays and lasers, and the operations by the associated professional and technical staff, as assigned
• Develops, procures and modifies health physics equipment. Responsible for testing and monitoring equipment and recording of personnel and plant area radiation exposure data.
• Monitors and controls the organization's radiation protection standards in accordance with Federal, State and industry programs to ensure ALARA.
• Provides expert knowledge of diverse sources of radiation and their hazards. Maintains professional knowledge of existing and proposed changes in radiation protection requirements.
• Makes recommendations and presentations to government, industry and management based on interpretations and principles of professional practices. Provides expert assistance and guidance on complex radiological control problems.
• Will lead and/or serves as a technical expert on medium to large projects. Leads less experienced staff and technicians through work assignments, monitoring schedules and resolving problems.
• Maintains records with databases and logs necessary to assure compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Performs pre-approval inspections of research laboratories and provides consultations with research and clinical personnel concerning the use of radioactive materials or radiation producing devices.
• Manages sealed source leak tests, analyzes samples and reports results.
• Owns the performance of radiation monitoring in the field by using portable radiation detection instruments and in the laboratory by operating radiation-measuring instruments.
• Keeps informed of state and federal regulations and guidelines relating to radiation health and safety.
• Oversee the organization’s corrective actions, follow up, and responses regarding items of non-compliance found during inspections.
• Oversee various personnel actions including, but not limited to, hiring, performance appraisals, disciplinary actions, terminations and other related activities within the assigned area of responsibility.
• Assumes other related safety and radiation control duties as assigned.

Required Minimum Qualifications:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• In-depth knowledge of Health Physics, Medical Physics, Mathematical Physics, Radiation Biology, Kinetic Modeling and Computer Simulations.
• Knowledge of federal, state and local laws and regulations pertaining to management of radiological hazards.
• Thorough knowledge of research equipment, protocols and procedures. Knowledge of laboratory operations sufficient to supervise complex, potentially dangerous experiments and/or clinical procedures involving radiation.
• Ability to communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing, to a variety of occupational and educational levels.
• Ability to direct, manage, motivate, lead, and negotiate with a diverse population and multifunctional teams.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to respond rapidly to changing situations. Public speaking is a required skill.
• Ability to organize and prioritize projects and tasks, be able to take initiative and work independently without supervision.

Education:

• M.S. in physics, health physics, medical physics, or related scientific field relevant to the function of the specific division.  Doctorate level degree preferred.

Experience:

• Five years of progressive experience in radiological safety, or other related field.  This includes one year of lead or supervisory experience

Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification:

• Valid driver’s license.
• Certification(s) by American Board of Radiology (ABR), American Board of Health Physics (ABHP), American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine (ABSNM), or American Board of Medical Physics (ABMP) is preferred.