Health Physicist (Ionizing Radiation Specialist)

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.

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. In addition to the Basic Education requirements you must possess either 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 working in laboratory environments with radioactive materials. Including experience in performance of professional or technical work to protect personnel and environments from ionizing radiation hazards. AND Qualifying experience includes at least two of the following : (1) conducting radiation laboratory audits, weekly surveys, and leak testing to identify and evaluate hazards in accordance with license conditions; (2) performing the maintenance, calibration, and quality assurance of portable and fixed radiation detection instruments, including LSC counting or gamma spectroscopy; (3) executing logistics for the shipping, receiving, and packaging of radioactive materials while ensuring compliance with NRC, DOT, and EPA regulations ; or (4) coordinating radioactive waste collection and processing projects while maintaining meticulous records of radiation levels and personnel exposures. 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