Senior Health Physicist

Job Title

Senior Health Physicist

Agency

Texas A&M Engineering

Department

Nuclear Engineering and Science Center

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

The Nuclear Engineering & Science Center’s (NESC) Reactor Facilities play an important role in the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station’s (TEES) mission of performing research and leveraging expertise from universities, national laboratories, and state and federal agencies to improve lives through basic and applied engineering research. The Reactor Facilities provide support to instructional and research programs for all TAMUS colleges and departments as well as other organizations state-wide, nationally, and internationally. The two reactors are the foundation of the NESC, consisting of a 1-Megawatt TRIGA (NSCR) and a 5-Watt AGN along with associated research and service facilities and infrastructure.

The Senior Health Physicist (SHP) has responsibility for assessing environmental and occupational health and safety risks within the NESC complex. The SHP’s primary focus is on the NESC radiation protection program; however, the incumbent is also the chemical hygiene officer and laser safety officer for the facility. Responsibilities of the position focus on ensuring that the NESC is operated safely and in full compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations, TEES and TAMUS policies and procedures regarding radioactive materials, other hazardous materials, and lasers, while at the same time keeping the facility available for use in academic instructional programs, research, and service work.

The Senior Health Physicist serves as the Radiation Safety Officer and has independent decision-making responsibility with respect to all matters regarding radiation protection, chemical hygiene, and lasers at the NESC. The radiation protection program is reviewed annually by an external evaluator and audited at least semi-annually under the direction of the Reactor Safety Board. The program is conducted strictly in accordance with federal and state regulations, the licenses of the two reactors, and University policies and procedures. The incumbent will serve as the Radiation Safety Officer for the Nuclear Engineering and Science Center in accordance with the reactor licenses for the two research reactors and any other use of radioactive materials or radiation producing devices occurring within the license boundary of the NESC.

Responsibilities:

• Maintain NESC Radiation Protection Plan, Procedures, and associated records/documentation. (40%)
  • Periodic review and revision of the Radiation Safety Program in cooperation with the Reactor Facilities Director to maintain compliance with federal regulations and the reactor license conditions with a focus on ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) practices and ensuring the safety of the NESC staff.
  • Routine review and revision of existing procedures to ensure consistency with actual practice and incorporation of up-to-date methodologies.
  • Ensuring all radiation protection records are current, complete, and periodically reviewed. These records include routine radiation surveys and surveillances, special surveys, hood flow measurements, radioactive material shipping documents, instrument calibration data, effluent and environmental monitoring surveys, radioactive material inventories, personnel dosimetry records, radiation work permits and surveillance reports, waste disposal records, and orientation/training records.
  • Review of records for accuracy and completeness as well as examination for abnormal or unusual values. Investigate and correct the cause of any anomalies found.
  • Coordination with the TAMUS Radiation Safety Officer with respect to the radiation protection requirements of the TAMUS broad scope license from the State of Texas Department of Safety and Health.

• Manage the health physics program needs of the NESC and ensure work with radioactive materials, radiation producing devices or other hazards is done in accordance with Federal and State regulations, TAMUS policies and procedures, and with the safety of staff and the environment in mind. (50%)
  • Supervision of health physics full-time and part-time staff. Maintaining staff scheduling to ensure coverage of NESC activities requiring health physics and safety support. Conduct of regularly scheduled meetings with health physics staff to assess the status of the program and prioritize tasks as necessary.
  • Performing the duties of the health physics staff as needed to ensure timely completion of tasks and to cover for absences.
  • Review and approval to all reactor irradiation requests, experiment authorizations, maintenance authorizations, and radiation work permits. For some activities, the incumbent will be the final approval, for others one of multiple.
  • Serve as an ex officio voting member of the Reactor Safety Board. Serve on other NESC and external committees as needed. Respond as a member of the NESC’s Emergency Call List and assist the Emergency Director by coordinating radiation protection aspects of any emergencies.
  • Conducting and maintaining a training program on radiological, chemical, and laser safety for new staff members, and conduct periodic refresher training for existing staff. Maintenance of training records in accordance with the radiation protection program and regulatory requirements.
  • Working with the Engineering team to ensure the operability, calibration, and maintenance of all radiation measurement devices and survey instruments onsite, including area radiation monitors and facility air monitors. Maintenance of records of associated surveillance and calibrations as required by the Radiation Protection Program and reactor licenses.
  • Keep the Reactor Facilities Director informed, as appropriate, regarding radiation protection matters. Report directly to the Director of TEES or Acting Level 1 Licensee whenever highly undesirable situations relating to radiation protection occur at the NESC Reactor Facilities and proper action is not taken by the Director.
  • In alignment with duties as the radiation safety officer and chemical hygiene officer, ensure all hazardous materials are used, stored, and disposed of in accordance with federal and state regulations and within TAMUS policies and procedures within the Nuclear Engineering and Science Complex.
  • As LSO, ensuring all lasers are used in accordance with federal and state regulations and within TAMUS policy and procedures within the NESC.

• Additional responsibilities include: (10%)
  • Assisting the Director in developing and maintaining the capability of the NESC to perform duties as a RadResponder and Texas State radiological monitoring laboratory.
  • Performance of other duties as part of the NESC Reactor Facilities team as necessary and assigned by the Director.

Required Education:

• Master’s degree in radiation health physics or closely related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Experience:

• Five years of related experience.

Preferred Education:

• PhD degree in related field.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to multi-task and manage priorities in a dynamic research and radiation services environment.
• Ability to manage resources and to balance safety issues with the need to fulfill the functions of the Nuclear Engineering & Science Center.
• Ability to lift and/or move heavy objects up to fifty (50) pounds at times.
• While it may involve some practical health physics—such as that performed by a technician—professional level health physics is characterized by the ability to perform radiation protection calculations and analysis, as well as management and evaluation of the health physics aspects of operations involving radiation or radioactive material.

Registrations, Certifications, and Licenses:

• Certified Health Physicist (CHP)

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer committed to diversity.