What are the responsibilities and job description for the Health Physicist (Ionizing Radiation Specialist) position at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)?
Summary
Performs professional work to protect personnel and environments from ionizing radiation hazards by identifying and evaluating potential radiation hazards across diverse facility operations. Applies and implements procedures to eliminate, control, or minimize radiation exposure. This notice is issued under direct-hire authority to recruit new talent to occupations for which NIST has a severe shortage of candidates.
Duties
The Ionizing Radiation Specialist performs a full range of professional health physics duties in support of radiation protection programs to ensure the safe use, handling, and disposal of radioactive materials and compliance with regulatory requirements. This position will: - Provide technical oversight and direction for radiation protection programs, including instrumentation, waste management, and facility surveillance activities - Evaluate complex radiological hazards and develop strategies to control or mitigate risks to personnel and the environment - Advise leadership on radiation safety policies, program improvements, and compliance with regulatory requirements - Lead or support projects involving radiation detection systems, program enhancements, or facility safety initiatives - Interpret and apply regulatory requirements to ensure organizational compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations - Mentor and provide technical guidance to staff on radiation protection practices, instrumentation, and safety procedures
Qualifications
Basic Requirements: Degree: 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 Combination of education and experience -- courses as shown in A 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. Additional requirement for the ZP-III level: In addition to the basic requirements, applicants must possess 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level (ZP-II at NIST). Specialized experience is defined as experience assisting with radiation protection activities in environments involving radioactive materials, including performing routine radiation surveys or contamination checks using established procedures and documenting results to support safe operations. OR A combination of education and experience as outlined in the additional requirements above. Additional requirement for the ZP-IV level: In addition to the basic requirements, applicants must have 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level (ZP-III at NIST). Specialized experience is defined as experience performing radiation protection work in environments involving radioactive materials, including independently conducting radiation surveys or hazard evaluations and recommending actions to control or reduce radiation exposure. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook. If requesting reconsideration of your qualification determination, please refer to the following site: Applicant Reconsideration
Performs professional work to protect personnel and environments from ionizing radiation hazards by identifying and evaluating potential radiation hazards across diverse facility operations. Applies and implements procedures to eliminate, control, or minimize radiation exposure. This notice is issued under direct-hire authority to recruit new talent to occupations for which NIST has a severe shortage of candidates.
Duties
The Ionizing Radiation Specialist performs a full range of professional health physics duties in support of radiation protection programs to ensure the safe use, handling, and disposal of radioactive materials and compliance with regulatory requirements. This position will: - Provide technical oversight and direction for radiation protection programs, including instrumentation, waste management, and facility surveillance activities - Evaluate complex radiological hazards and develop strategies to control or mitigate risks to personnel and the environment - Advise leadership on radiation safety policies, program improvements, and compliance with regulatory requirements - Lead or support projects involving radiation detection systems, program enhancements, or facility safety initiatives - Interpret and apply regulatory requirements to ensure organizational compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations - Mentor and provide technical guidance to staff on radiation protection practices, instrumentation, and safety procedures
Qualifications
Basic Requirements: Degree: 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 Combination of education and experience -- courses as shown in A 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. Additional requirement for the ZP-III level: In addition to the basic requirements, applicants must possess 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level (ZP-II at NIST). Specialized experience is defined as experience assisting with radiation protection activities in environments involving radioactive materials, including performing routine radiation surveys or contamination checks using established procedures and documenting results to support safe operations. OR A combination of education and experience as outlined in the additional requirements above. Additional requirement for the ZP-IV level: In addition to the basic requirements, applicants must have 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level (ZP-III at NIST). Specialized experience is defined as experience performing radiation protection work in environments involving radioactive materials, including independently conducting radiation surveys or hazard evaluations and recommending actions to control or reduce radiation exposure. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook. If requesting reconsideration of your qualification determination, please refer to the following site: Applicant Reconsideration