[ RadSafe ] Assistant RSO Vacancy at NIST in Gaithersburg MD

[Mengers, Timothy F.]

National Institute of Standards and Technology
Technology Administration, Department of Commerce


Assistant Radiation Safety Officer and Group Leader
Safety, Health and Environment Division

The NIST Safety, Health and Environment Division in Gaithersburg, MD is seeking an experienced Assistant Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) and Laboratory Health Physics Group (LHPG) Leader to oversee the NIST materials license and lead its Laboratory Health Physics Group, an organization of five  full time staff.  The LHPG is responsible for radiation safety and regulatory compliance for a broad scope materials and distribution license, and a variety of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation producing machines including accelerators up to 25 MeV, a synchrotron UV light source, x-ray machines, and electron microscopes, lasers, and microwaves. The LHPG assures compliance with NRC, OSHA, DOT, IATA, and EPA regulations. The LHPG performs radiation safety training, dosimetry, bioassays, RAM inventory control for sealed and unsealed isotopes ranging from H-3 to Am-241, including SNM, shipping and receiving, effluent and environmental monitoring, laboratory and survey instrument calibrations, laboratory surveillance, and other license support duties. The primary customers of the group are the scientists of the NIST Physics Laboratory. The Physics Laboratory provides primary calibration services for neutron, alpha, beta, x-ray, and gamma instruments.  It produces primary isotope standards for distribution to industry. It provides source emissions rate measurements and calibrations for NIST traceability of secondary standards. The laboratory uses accelerators, high dose rate gamma cells, and radiochemical processes for fundamental research on the materials properties and effects.

Required is: A degree 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 Combination of education and experience--courses as shown above, plus appropriate experience or other education; or certification as a health physicist (CHP) by the American Board of Health Physics, plus appropriate experience and other education that provided an understanding of sciences applicable to health physics.  In addition to basic qualification requirements applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 level.

Specialized experience is defined as serving as an assistant to the RSO for a broad scope license, certification as a health physicist (CHP) by the American Board of Health Physics and experience leading or managing professional health physics support in a diverse research environment. The incumbent must possess strong skill in working with a diverse group of scientists, technicians, and facilities support staff. It is important to have experience in building teams and consensus and shall serve as a Health Physicist technical expert for review and approval of protocols implementing a hazard analysis, hazard mitigation plan, and emergency response plans. The incumbent must possess detailed knowledge or the NRC Regulations for parts 19, 20, 30, 36, and 70, and have experience working under an NRC or equivalent broad scope license.  The incumbent must possess strong skill and hands on experience working with isotopes and instrumentation.   The incumbent will be responsible for daily management of the LHPG. This includes training, assignment of duties, oversight of results, management of performance plans and performance reviews. The incumbent will participate in facility surveillance and program audits and perform coverage for staff duties as required. The position requires ionizing radiation safety committee interaction, hazard review, policy recommendations and development, and review, modification and approval of practices and procedures.

This is a ZP-IV supervisory position with a known promotion potential to a ZP V, salary range $86,927to $141,675.  Apply directly on USAJOBS, www.usajobs.gov<http://www.usajobs.gov/> to vacancy announcement number NIST-2009-ASF.   The Department of Commerce is an equal opportunity employer.  U.S. citizenship is required.

NIST's mission is broad - to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life.   It functions as one of the government's premier materials science laboratories.

Many onsite services are available to our employees:  free parking, child care, employee assistance, cafeterias, credit union, fitness center, and health services.  Additionally, there are employee associations that sponsor various wellness, recreation, and social activities.  For summary of benefits available to the NIST employees, go to www.nist.gov/hrmd/benefits/summarychart.htm<http://www.nist.gov/hrmd/benefits/summarychart.htm>