What are the responsibilities and job description for the Health Physicist position at NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration?
Summary
You will serve as the Radiation Safety Officer in the Occupational Safety, Health and Medical Services Division at NASA Ames Research Center. In this role, you will collaborate with scientists and engineers whose research involves the use of radioisotopes, X-ray generating equipment, high energy lasers, and other non-ionizing radiation sources to ensure that the research can be performed safely and in compliance with applicable regulations and NASA policies.
Duties
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Conditions of employment
Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.
To qualify for GS-14, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level:
Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job.
NASA prohibits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tool in drafting application and assessment responses. Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of AI tools during the application process.
Education
Basic Requirement:
You must have successfully completed a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher that included a major 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 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 in paragraph A.
U.S. degrees must have been awarded from colleges or universities that are accredited by recognized accrediting organizations. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, go to http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. These education credentials must be deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
All degrees must have been received in the year of, or any year subsequent to the original date of accreditation.
Additional information
Additional selections may be made for similar positions across NASA within the local commuting area(s) of the location(s) identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) within NASA. CTAP/ICTAP will be cleared for any additional selection from this announcement.
If you are a current federal employee, you must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible for this position. To be eligible, you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks in a position no more than 1 grade lower than the advertised position. (Please submit your SF-50 that shows Time-in-Grade eligibility and reflects your title, series, and grade. If your eligibility for both merit promotion and/or time-in-grade cannot be determined, your application will be rated ineligible.)
Note:
Time-in-grade requirements also apply to applicants who have held a non-temporary, competitive service GS position in the past year.
If you have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must:
Qualified NASA term employees who have term conversion eligibility (Term Appointments | NASA) under the NASA Flexibility Act of 2004 will be referred and considered equally with other NASA permanent employees under internal competitive placement procedures.
Per Executive Order 14343, this position is not part of a bargaining unit.
Probationary/Trial Period
You may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11.
In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Help
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
You will serve as the Radiation Safety Officer in the Occupational Safety, Health and Medical Services Division at NASA Ames Research Center. In this role, you will collaborate with scientists and engineers whose research involves the use of radioisotopes, X-ray generating equipment, high energy lasers, and other non-ionizing radiation sources to ensure that the research can be performed safely and in compliance with applicable regulations and NASA policies.
Duties
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- Ensures that the use of radioactive material is in conformity with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Materials License, applicable government regulations, and with the Center's policies.
- Analyzes all radiological hazards associated with each new research project.
- Maintains the Health Physics records of the Center and ensure that they are in compliance.
- Investigates accidents and procedural safety violations for ionizing and nonionizing radiation projects.
- Maintains occupational radiation doses and doses to members of the public that are as low as is reasonably achievable
- Performs an initial review of all nonionizing radiation projects with the capability of emitting hazardous levels of energy for safety and compliance to applicable standards and regulations.
- Inspects nonionizing radiation systems to verify compliance to all applicable nonionizing radiation safety requirements
- Ensures training for users of radioisotopes, radiation generating equipment, and nonionizing radiation sources (e.g. lasers, radars) is available and provided to personnel using these sources.
- Ensures that radioactive material purchases are in conformance with NRC license requirements.
- Collects radioactive waste generated in laboratories and prepare it for transport to an approved waste disposal site via an approved shipper
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Conditions of employment
- This position may require a one-year probationary/trial period. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11. **See Additional Information section**
- Current Federal employees must meet qualifications, time in grade, and 90 days after competitive appointment requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
- Position subject to pre-employment background investigation.
- This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.
To qualify for GS-14, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level:
- Leading the planning and implementation of programs to ensure the safe use of sealed and unsealed sources of radioactive material and radiation emitting equipment, such as, X-ray machines in a research environment;
- Leading the planning and implementation of programs to ensure the safe use of high energy lasers in a research environment and;
- Serving as a technical advisor to senior leadership as an independent technical authority to enforce applicable regulatory requirements.
Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job.
NASA prohibits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tool in drafting application and assessment responses. Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of AI tools during the application process.
Education
Basic Requirement:
You must have successfully completed a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher that included a major 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 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 in paragraph A.
U.S. degrees must have been awarded from colleges or universities that are accredited by recognized accrediting organizations. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, go to http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. These education credentials must be deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
All degrees must have been received in the year of, or any year subsequent to the original date of accreditation.
Additional information
Additional selections may be made for similar positions across NASA within the local commuting area(s) of the location(s) identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) within NASA. CTAP/ICTAP will be cleared for any additional selection from this announcement.
If you are a current federal employee, you must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible for this position. To be eligible, you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks in a position no more than 1 grade lower than the advertised position. (Please submit your SF-50 that shows Time-in-Grade eligibility and reflects your title, series, and grade. If your eligibility for both merit promotion and/or time-in-grade cannot be determined, your application will be rated ineligible.)
Note:
Time-in-grade requirements also apply to applicants who have held a non-temporary, competitive service GS position in the past year.
If you have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must:
- Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position. The questionnaire asks you to identify your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility.
- Be well qualified for this position to receive consideration. Candidates rated in the 'Best Qualified' category are considered well-qualified. Please see 'How You Will Be Evaluated' for more information.
- Submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP as indicated in 'Required Documents'
Qualified NASA term employees who have term conversion eligibility (Term Appointments | NASA) under the NASA Flexibility Act of 2004 will be referred and considered equally with other NASA permanent employees under internal competitive placement procedures.
Per Executive Order 14343, this position is not part of a bargaining unit.
Probationary/Trial Period
You may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11.
In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Help
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.