Health Physicist

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This Position is Eligible for a Lump Sum of $3,000 Relocation

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit: The Occupational and Environmental Safety Office (OESO) provides the focus for the administration of all safety programs to Duke University, Duke University Medical Center, and Duke University Health System. OESO has the responsibility for developing institutional safety plans and policies; providing information and training to meet all regulatory requirements; providing technical consultation and guidance; conducting exposure and risk assessments; conducting safety audits; monitoring compliance with all safety policies; and investigating accidents, injuries, and reported unsafe conditions.

Specific to Radiation Safety Division: The Radiation Safety Division assists Duke faculty and staff with the safe use of radioactive material and radiation producing devices. Our scope of responsibility includes the Duke University Hospital and affiliated medical facilities, campus and Medical School research laboratories and our medical and research accelerator facilities.

Primary Purpose of Position: The Health Physicist participates in one or more phases of a program designed to protect plant, laboratory, and other personnel from radiation hazards. This position participates in monitoring the organization's radiation protection standards in accordance with state, federal, and industry programs. Evaluates and interprets current regulations to ensure compliance.

General Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for testing and monitoring equipment and recording of personnel and plant area radiation exposure data.


• Participates in the implementation of the organization's radiation protection standards in accordance with Federal, State and industry programs to ensure ALARA.


• Maintains professional knowledge of existing and proposed changes in radiation protection requirements.


• Makes recommendations and presentations to management based on interpretations and principles of professional practices. Provides assistance and guidance on complex radiological control problems.


• Provides leadership to technicians through work assignments, monitoring schedules and resolving problems. May act as lead person or technical expert on small projects.


• Helps to maintain records with databases and logs necessary to assure compliance with state and federal regulations.


• Performs pre-approval inspections of research laboratories and provides consultations with principal investigators and laboratory personnel in regard to the use of radioactive materials or radiation producing devices.


• Coordinates sealed source leak tests, analyzes samples and reports results.


• Participates in the performance of radiation monitoring in the field by using portable radiation detection instruments and in the laboratory by operating radiation measuring instruments.


• Keeps informed of state and federal regulations and guidelines relating to radiation health and safety.


• Works with individual clinical or laboratory personnel regarding items of non-compliance found during inspections and follows up on corrective actions.


• Assumes other related safety and radiation control duties as assigned.

Required Minimum Qualifications:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of Health Physics or Medical Physics.


• Knowledge of federal, state and local laws and regulations pertaining to management of radiological hazards.


• Knowledge of research equipment, protocols and procedures.


• Knowledge of laboratory operations sufficient to review a potentially dangerous experiments.


• Ability to communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing, to a variety of occupational and educational levels.


• Excellent problem solving skills with the ability to respond rapidly to changing situations. Public speaking is a required skill.


• Ability to organize and prioritize projects and tasks.

Education:

• B.S. in physics, health physics, medical physics, or related scientific field relevant to the function of the specific division. M.S. preferred.

Experience:

• One year of progressive experience in radiological safety, or other related field.

Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification:

• Valid driver’s license.