This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/482638200. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. Not only is it the largest, most technologically advanced integrated health care system in the Nation, but we also provide many other services to Veterans through the Benefits Administration and National Cemeteries. VA professionals feel good about their careers and their ability to balance work and home life. VA offers generous paid time off and a variety of predictable and flexible scheduling opportunities. For more information on the Department of Veterans Affairs, go to http://www.vacareers.va.gov/
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
This announcement has been extended from the original closing date of 11/27 to 12/1.
A RELOCATION/RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE MAY BE AUTHORIZED FOR A HIGHLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATE.
11/16/2017 to 12/01/2017
$115,432 - $150,063 per year
GS 14
1 vacancy in the following location:
Not required
Yes—Recruitment/Relocation Incentive of up to 15% of the TMP salary may be authorized
Permanent
Full-time - Full Time
Yes
JP-18-SSmth-2015829
482638200
This position is located in the Radiation Oncology Section of the Diagnostic and Therapeutic Care Line at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center. The duties and responsibilities are carried out in the Radiation Oncology Section. Therapeutic Medical Physicists (TMPs) work in Radiation Oncology under the direction of Chief Radiation Oncologist and have responsibilities that include: protection of the patient and others from potentially harmful or excessive radiation; establishment of adequate protocols to ensure accurate patient dosimetry; the measurement and characterization of radiation; the performance and supervision treatment planning; the determination of delivered dose; advancement of procedures necessary to ensure delivered dose integrity; the assessment and monitoring of image quality; development and direction of quality assurance programs; assistance to other health care professionals in optimizing the balance between the beneficial and deleterious effects of radiation; and compliance with applicable federal and state regulations. The supervisory level TMP performs the most complex of these tasks and oversees the work of other TMPs and medical dosimetrists.
Duties include but are not limited to: Provide professional, scientific, and clinical practice of therapeutic medical physics for external beam treatment procedures from treatment simulation to treatment planning to the actual treatment delivery. The incumbent oversees the technical development and implementation of new radiotherapy techniques and modalities, oversees the activities of all other TMPs, dosimetrists and other staff members assigned to the unit, directs the technical aspects of treatment procedures, and performs duties qualifying them as a supervisor to include planning and directing work, developing performance plans, evaluating staff performance, and other administrative functions. The supervisory TMP has full supervisory responsibility for a staff that includes lower level TMP positions and other clinical and professional staff within the unit. The employee directs the implementation of new equipment and processes through oversight of the following activities: assesses radiation therapy equipment needs; monitors acceptance testing and commissioning of new radiation therapy equipment; evaluates the adequacy of room shielding and radiation surveys; develops and implements treatment processes in concert with a radiation oncologist; and ensures the precision and accuracy of treatment delivery. The employee optimizes technical infrastructure and workflow for streamlined operations in the department of radiation oncology through the mastery and application of techniques such as Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA), Root Cause Analysis (RCA), and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA). The employee directs the radiation therapy treatment planning team through oversight of the following activities: designs and approves of treatment plans; monitors the accuracy of treatment data recorded in the patient's medical records; provides consultation to the radiation oncologist regarding difficult treatment cases; performs patient specific treatment validation measurements; develops medical physics policies and procedures for the delivery and quality assessment of advanced treatment modalities such as intensity modulated radiation therapy, stereotactic body radiation therapy and brachytherapy. The employee develops, operates and documents the medical physics quality assurance program, ensures regulatory compliance, supervises the Radiation Safety Officer's radiation safety program, and trains and educates radiation oncology team members in safe operations in Radiation Oncology. The supervisory level TMP may also provide consultative services to the National Radiation Oncology Program (NROP), the National Health Physics Program (NHPP), other VHA program offices and other federal agencies. The supervisory level TMP is responsible for data management of the National Radiation and Oncology Program (NROP) policies and reporting utilizing and web-based Radiotherapy Incident Reporting and Analysis System (RIRAS).
The supervisory level TMP will be an expert user of the Pinnacle treatment planning system, Trilogy delivery system, 21 EX delivery system, TrueBeam delivery system, Cyberknife system, Mosaiq electronic medical record system and Sun Nuclear QA equipment and software. Knowledge and expertise in Eclipse planning system, Aria electronic medical record system and brachytherapy planning are a plus. The supervisory level TMP will also be an expert in the following special procedures: IMRT, IGRT, Rapid Arc, SBRT, SRS, low dose and high dose rate brachytherapy, etc.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (alternate tours may be required)
Functional Statement Title/#: Supervisory Therapeutic Medical Physicist (GS-0601-14)
Physical Requirements: The
work requires long periods of sitting at a computer. There is some bending and carrying of
moderately heavy articles such as physical treatment and immobilization devices,
molds, shielding blocks, QA equipment, etc.
Assist with patient positioning and patient immobilization, helping lift
the patient to or from stretchers or wheelchairs onto treatment and examination
tables utilizing special techniques designed to minimize the discomfort of the
patient.
Basic Requirements:
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;
religions; 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.
Grade Determinations:
GS-14: In addition to the basic requirements applicant must possess 1 year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the next lower grade. The candidate must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's):
1. Knowledge regarding the safe and efficient use of all radiotherapy devices for external beam radiotherapy. 2. The ability to evaluate and ensure correct and safe operation of radiotherapy equipment through complex problem diagnosis and scheduled quality assurance. 3. Knowledge of the scientific, clinical, and technical applications of high dose rate and low dose rate brachytherapy treatment simulation, planning, dosimetry, and treatment methods. 4. Expertise in the professional, scientific, and technical aspects of shielding methods for external beam radiation delivery systems, radiation survey methods, developing procedures, setting action levels, delivering radiation safety training, developing and documenting competencies, and reporting. This includes an in-depth knowledge of regulatory requirements and guidelines for radiation shielding and personnel protection. 5. Ability to exercise independent professional judgment in the performance and evaluation of calibration, acceptance testing, and clinical commissioning procedures for all types of external beam photon and electron beam delivery systems. Skilled in the evaluation of acceptance testing and commissioning results of CT simulators. 6. Technical skills in 3-D treatment planning, intensity modulated radiation therapy treatment planning, and stereotactic body radiation therapy planning. This includes specialized knowledge of clinical process steps and resource requirements for planning and delivery of radiation oncology treatments. 7. Ability to process information from multi-modality imaging datasets for treatment planning, treatment verification, and radiotherapy response assessment.
In addition to the KSA's identified in subparagraph 1 above, candidates must also demonstrate the following KSA's:
1. Ability to oversee the technical development and implementation of new radiotherapy techniques and modalities. This includes knowledge of current standards of care, VA policies, trends and changes in delivery technology, as well as fair, principled, and decisive leadership practices. 2. Ability to optimize technical infrastructure and workflow for streamlined operations in the department of radiation oncology. This includes the knowledge and application of techniques such as Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA), Root Cause Analysis (RCA), and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA). 3. Ability to assess the qualifications and abilities of current and prospective employees, to include staff performance evaluations and professional development. 4. Advanced knowledge of regulatory requirements, manufacturer's standards, and professional society guidelines for performing quality assurance of radiation therapy equipment to include accelerators, simulators, and high dose rate/low dose rate brachytherapy delivery systems. 5. Ability to use written and verbal communication with a strong command of technical writing considerations. 6. Ability to collaborate with the members of other disciplines and supervisors and to represent the profession both in and outside of VHA. This includes knowledge of the roles, contributions, and interrelationships with other health care specialties and supporting divisions. 7. Knowledge of instructional methods and documenting competencies. 8. Ability to manage and supervises employees.
References: VA Handbook 5005 Appendix G48-Therapeutic Medical Physicist. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
NOTE: The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidates education and experience and recommend the grade and salary at which the candidate will be placed. For internal selectees eligible for promotion, the board will determine grade and HR will determine step in accordance with policy.
All applicants are required to submit the following supporting document type(s):
·Other (VA Form 10-2850c Application for Associated Health Occupations, and Copy of Board Certification)
·Resume
·Transcript
Applicants may also submit the following supporting document type(s),which may not be required for all applicants:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online.
To apply for this position, you must complete the View Occupational Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on Friday, December 01, 2017 to receive consideration.
1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
To verify your application is complete,log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
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After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. During our review, if your résumé and application package do not support your questionnaire answers, we will adjust your rating accordingly. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email (if provided); otherwise, applicants will receive a notification letter via the U.S. Postal Service. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
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The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/482638200. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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Vacancy Identification Number (VIN): 2015829
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