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HEALTH PHYSICIST

Department of Defense
Defense Threat Reduction Agency
Research and Development Directorate (D)
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is part of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. The incumbent will be responsible for serving as Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Health Physics (HP) by providing HP information and advice, and ensuring the protection of personnel from unwarranted exposure to ionizing radiation.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
11/17/2021 to 12/01/2021
Salary
$92,723 to - $120,541 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Kirtland AFB, NM
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
DTRA-22-11287204-DE
Control number
622611300

Duties

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As a HEALTH PHYSICIST at the GS-1306-13 some of your typical work assignments may include:

  • Coordinates HP activities for the department to include: maintaining the department radiological occupational health program; establishing procedures to identify personnel requiring pre-placement, periodic, and termination medical examinations; and participating in formulating occupational health examination requirements for workers at risk for hazardous exposures.
  • Recommends new or revised instructions, manuals, and technical documents required to support/document the HP Program.
  • Maintains professional currency by reading technical literature and attending professional meetings.
  • Performs research and development on assigned projects. Provides for evaluation and distribution of radiological technical data.
  • Represents DTRA at professional meetings and at academic institutions; participates in conferences, seminars, symposia, and meetings.
  • Serves as the RD-EC RSO. Manages the RD-EC Radiation Safety Program to ensure compliance with all federal, state, and Service laws and regulations.
  • Provides oversight of radiation safety at all RD-EC fixed and mobile test sites.
  • Develops the Health and Safety Plan for RD-EC tests utilizing radiological or nuclear material.
  • Conducts and documents dose rate measurements of radioactive material use and storage areas; performs a physical inventory of radioactive sources; and performs leak tests on all required sources based on DTRA NRC license requirements.
  • Maintains the As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) program.
  • Submits requests for the purchase/acquisition of radioactive material to the DTRA RSO; coordinates the purchase/acquisition, shipment, and transfer of radioactive material; and ensures adherence to prescribed safety standards by inspecting all procedures used to handle, ship, store, or dispose of nuclear components.
  • Provides local oversight for the Agency's broad scope radiologic license. Signs for and maintains the radiologic inventory. Responds to radiologic inventory Intrusion Detection System (IDS) alarms.
  • Serves as Laser Safety Officer for testing and ensures all laser safety protocols are met.
  • Coordinates test requirements and plans with other test team members.
  • Recommend laser controls and requirements for each specific research and test event.
  • Reviews potential test programs and recommends whether DTRA can conduct the test event, and identifies limitations , if applicable.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. citizen
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for, or exempt from, Selective Service http://www.sss.gov
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
  • Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • Work Schedule: Fulltime
  • Overtime: Occasionally
  • Tour of Duty: Flexible
  • Recruitment Incentives: May Be Authorized
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
  • Financial Disclosure: Required - Incumbent is required to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Form, OGE 450, within 30 days of entering the position, annually and upon termination of employment in accordance with DoD Directive 5500.7-R.
  • Telework Eligibility: This position is telework eligible
  • COVID19: All Federal Employees must be fully vaccinated by November 22, 2021. Please see, additional information.
  • Required certificates: Part I Certification Health Physicist (CHP) by American Board of Health Physics, and be able to complete Part II within 12 months of assignment.
  • The incumbent must be able to acquire and retain Top Secret Clearance eligibility with Sensitive Compartmented Information access, based upon a Single Scoped Background Investigation.
  • Position requires access to Critical Nuclear Weapon Design Information (CNWDI).
  • This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the civilian drug-testing program. The selectee must sign statements acknowledging the position is identified as a TDP, refrain from the use of illegal drugs, and submit to urinalysis testing
  • Travel in the performance of temporary assignments may be required up to 20% of duty time per year. A valid driver's license is required. Must be able to obtain and maintain a current valid passport.
  • May be recalled to duty 24-hrs a day during other than normal duty hours to include evenings, weekends, and holidays; may be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and holidays.
  • Must maintain necessary training to preserve proficiency in job related qualifications, i.e., Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), First Aid, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) and Permit Required Confined Space.

Qualifications

You may qualify at the GS-13, if you fulfill the following qualifications:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service:
  • Serves as Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Health Physics (HP) by providing HP information and advice, and ensuring the protection of personnel from unwarranted exposure to ionizing radiation;
  • Applying occupational health measures in relation to radiation programs;
  • Performing Radiation Safety Officer functions and operations;
  • Leading radiological and nuclear accident response for an agency;
  • Serves as Laser Safety Officer for testing and ensures all laser safety protocols are met IAW ANSI Z136.1 and Z136.6;
  • Coordinates test requirements and plans with other test team members.
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.

In addition to meeting the Specialized Experience requirements for this position, all applicants must meet the Individual Occupational Requirement for the Health Physics Series, 1306.

Individual Occupational Requirements

Basic Requirements:
  1. 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

  2. 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.

*NOTE: Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position.

Education

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.

You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at time of application.

All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours that your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: 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 and such education has been 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: Foreign Education

Additional information

COVID19 - All Federal Employees must be fully vaccinated by November 22, 2021. Proof of vaccination will be required. To ensure compliance with this mandate, review the vaccination requirements, to include timelines for receiving required doses, at the following: https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/faq/vaccinations/

Due to COVID-19, the agency is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily or intermittently telework.

Other Notes:

  • A valid driver's license is required for this position. You must provide documentation that you possess this.
  • May be recalled to duty 24-hrs a day during other than normal duty hours to include evenings, weekends, and holidays; may be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and holidays.
  • Must maintain necessary training to preserve proficiency in job related qualifications, i.e., Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), First Aid, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) and Permit Required Confined Space.
  • Required certificates: Part I Certification Health Physicist (CHP) by American Board of Health Physics, and be able to complete Part II within 12 month of assignment.
  • Incumbent is required to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Form, OGE 450, within 30 days of entering the position, annually and upon termination of employment in accordance with DoD Directive 5500.7-R, Joint Ethics Regulation, August 30, 1993.
Re-employed Annuitant: This position does not meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at: http://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf

All applicants must meet qualifications and eligibility criteria by the closing date of the announcement.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs:
This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; Well qualified is defined as possessing the type and quality of experience that exceeds the positions minimum qualifications. and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. For more information:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We will review your resume and supporting documents, to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and evaluate your relevant work experiences as it relates to fundamental competencies, identified below, required for this position.

Competencies:

  • Biological Field Investigation
  • Research and Development
  • Safety Hazard Analysis
  • Technical Documentation Development


Based on the results of this evaluation, you will be placed in one of the following quality categories:

Best Qualified:
This highest category will be used for those candidates who possess the type and quality of experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position, including any selective placement factors and/or appropriate quality ranking factor(s), as determined by the job analysis.
Highly Qualified: This higher category will be used for those candidates who possess the type and quality of experience that exceed the minimum qualifications of the position, including any selective placement factors and/or appropriate quality ranking factor(s) as determined by the job analysis.
Qualified: This lowest category will be used for those candidates that meet the minimum qualifications of the position, including all selective placement factors and appropriate quality ranking factor(s) and are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the position. Candidates may require extensive training and/or orientation in order to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=Category-Rating

Names of the candidates in the Best Qualified category will be sent first to the hiring manager for employment consideration. Applicants in other categories will be referred in accordance with category rating procedures.

Veterans Preference:
If you are entitled to veterans preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. If you are entitled to veterans' preference and qualified for the position, your name will be placed above non-preference candidates on a list sent to the hiring manager for employment consideration. Qualified veterans' preference eligible with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the top of the highest quality category depending on the position and grade level of the job.
For information on entitlement see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.

Military Spouse Preference: If you are entitled to military spouse preference, in order to receive this preference you must choose the spousal eligibility in your application package referencing MSP Military Spouse Preference. Your preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. If you are claiming military spouse preference and qualified for the position, your name will be placed below preference eligible veteran candidates and above non-preference candidates on a list sent to the hiring manager for employment consideration. To claim Military Spouse Preference (MSP) please complete the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist, save the document and attach it to your application package.

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