Health Physicist

Background

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) The NRC prides itself on creating a work environment rich in opportunity, diversity, leadership, training, teamwork, and work-life balance. Begin a challenging career as part of a select group of professionals who protect people and the environment with the peaceful use of nuclear materials in medicine, industry, and research.

Duties

These positions are in NRC regional offices including:

Region I, Division of Radiological Safety and Security, King of Prussia, PA

Region II, Division of Reactor Safety, Atlanta, GA

Region III, Division of Radiological Safety and Security, Lisle, IL

Region IV, Division of Radiological Safety and Security, Arlington, TX

As a regional office Health Physicist, you will perform some or all of the full range of radiological and environmental protection licensing activities and/or serve as an inspector to plan, conduct, report and integrate findings associated with radiation protection inspections of active and/or decommissioning light-water reactor facilities, medical facilities, materials facilities using byproduct, source and/or special nuclear materials and Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installations (ISFSI). 

Selectees will be assigned based upon geographic preference indicated in their application.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Review license applications for all uses of byproduct, source, and special nuclear material other than nuclear power production. Perform routine and complex inspections of operating and/or decommissioning reactor facilities, including ISFSI to observe and assure conformance to NRC rules and regulations. Perform routine planned and reactive inspections of materials licensees to ascertain conformity with design and other criteria, evaluate the adequacy of licensee controls and provisions for radiological and environmental safety.  Recommend enforcement action with regional management approval when inspection findings indicate a significant violation of the license or NRC rules and regulations.
• Prepare inspection reports to document whether the facility is being operated safely, the licensee’s management control program is effective, and regulatory requirements are being met.

Qualifications

In addition to the basic education (see below) requirements, to qualify for this position you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector.

These positions will be filled at either the GG-11, 12 or 13 grade level depending upon the qualifications of the applicant.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as: experience that demonstrates specific knowledge in and recent experience with programs that require work with radiological safety programs associated with the use of byproduct, source or special nuclear materials, in areas of medical, industrial, academic and/or decommissioning (material use or reactor operations).  

You should also have recent experience associated with a regulatory program focused on safety and the ability to present technical information orally and in writing.  A description of how you possess specialized experience as well as how you meet the qualifications desired in an ideal candidate should be included in your resume.

To meet the level of experience for the GG-11 level, one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GG-09 level OR 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree OR a receipt of a Ph.D. OR equivalent doctoral degree.

To meet the level of experience for the GG-12 level, one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GG-11 level.

To meet the level of experience for the GG-13 level, one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GG-12 level.

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

1. Knowledge of the principles, theories and practices in the field of health physics and radiation safety, and in the implementation of programs associated with the use of byproduct, source or special nuclear materials in the areas of medical, industrial, academic, decommissioning (material use or reactor operations), or Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSIs). Demonstrated ability to perform evaluation and analysis of radiological health hazards, or remediation of either byproduct, source or special nuclear material. Demonstrated knowledge of NRC rules and regulations related to the radiation protection aspects in the licensing and inspection of byproduct, source, and special nuclear materials.
2. Demonstrated ability to present technical information both orally and in writing.

A description of how you possess specialized experience as well as how you meet the qualifications desired in an ideal candidate should be addressed in your resume.  The NRC encourages applicants to provide extensive job experience details in their resume.  Applicants may also use the supplemental vacancy question found in the online application to provide additional information pertaining to specialized experience and ideal candidate criteria.

Education (Basic Requirement for all Grade Levels) A. Bachelor's 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

B. 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 above.

You must include a copy of your college and/or university transcripts with your application. 

How to Apply

Visit https://www.nrc.gov/ Review the NRC Opportunities page and click on “view a list of current NRC vacancies, please visit USAJobs EXIT.”  Find the Health Physicist Job Announcement Number ALL OFC-2024-0033 and apply online.  Apply by January 22, 2025.  Please visit NRC’s website and discover additional opportunities for which you might be interested. We strongly encourage you to read the official announcement on USAJobs.gov to be sure that you will complete and submit all necessary documents.

If you are viewing this opportunity after the closing date of January 22, 2025 please visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Search/Results?a=NU00 or NRC’s website and discover additional opportunities for which you might be interested.