Radiation Safety Specialist - Radiation Safety

The department of Radiation Safety at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Radiation Safety Specialist.

About the Opportunity

Reporting to the Director of WVU and WVU Hospitals Radiation Safety, this position is responsible for the radiation protection of all research laboratories and medical facilities on all campuses of WVU and WVU Hospitals Inc. and its affiliated hospitals. This position assists to expand, implement, coordinate, and maintain a comprehensive radiation safety program by developing strategies for the implementation of new policies and procedures in operational aspects of the radioactive materials and radiation producing devices.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year or more based on years of service (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you’re ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family’s, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ’s.
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

• Assists the Director with implementation of new initiatives in increased control of certain radionuclides as required by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) under provision of the federal multiple broad-scope material licenses (RAMS).
• Implements a program for maintaining occupational radiation exposures for both the University and Hospitals in accordance with U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and WV Radiological Health Program rules and pertinent regulations.
• Assists the Director with consultations in evaluation of the radiation safety aspects of an institution’s policies and procedures to provide recommendations regarding effective radiation dose equivalent (EDE) assessments in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
• Establishes and maintains a Quality Management Program to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and comprehensive audits for Radiation Oncology and Nuclear Medicine divisions.
• Determines the need for personnel radiation monitoring, evaluate bioassays, and monitors personnel radiation exposure and bioassay records for high exposures. Notify individuals of radiation exposures approaching limit and recommend appropriate remedial action.
• Determines the presence and extent of radiological hazards resulting from the use of ionizing radiation in diagnostic and treatment in humans, including interpretation of recommended surveys and compliance with appropriate advisory and regulatory agencies.
• Assesses and evaluates specifications of the shielding design, and utilizes proper shielding as needed to protect patients and members of the general public from radiation hazard during medical procedures.
• Evaluates characterization of medical radiation from radiopharmaceuticals prior to clinical use and develops a comprehensive radiation safety program for clinical settings.
• Ensures that appropriate radiation safety assessments are made before the radiation producing devices are put into routine use, when working procedures are to be modified, where changes are to be made in the immediate vicinity that may result in an increase in occupancy factor, or where an increased workload in the department or practice is anticipated.
• Ensures the proficient use of health physics references to maintain records of all radioactive material, Authorized User (AU), training records, and other necessary data and maintains and updates Health Physics databases.
• Establishes radiation safety procedures for patients undergoing radioactive therapies.
• Establishes radiation protection protocols and computer-based learning (CBL) training for nurses/ancillaries on the diagnostic and therapeutic use of radiation in patients.
• Performs health physics computations to determine that the established dose to the members of the general public, following release of therapeutic patients, is within acceptable limits in accordance with the USNRC Regulatory Guides.
• Performs monitoring of patient radiation exposures, compares these exposures to published surveys for similar radiation exposure to assist in implementation of the (ALARA) exposure levels to patients, staff, and member of the general public. Coordinates radioactive waste management program; receives, ships, packages, and transports radioactive waste.
• Coordinates radioactive waste decay-in-storage program.
• Develops and presents radiation safety training program to research staff, support staff, and ancillary staff.
• Performs routine inspections of research and clinical facilities where radioactive material is used; responds in the event of emergency radioactive spill. Collects and compiles technical data for the purpose of generating reports and summaries.

• Bachelor’s degree in health physics, Physical Science, Safety Engineering, Safety Management, Environmental Health and Safety, or a related field science. Master’s degree preferred.
• A minimum of four (4) years of professional experience in the management and implementation of Radiation Safety/Health Physics and/or Health and Safety compliance. Pertinent knowledge, skills and abilities will be considered for experience.
• Knowledge of operational aspects of radiation protection, health effects, and radiation detection.
  Strong ability to gather data, compile information, prepare reports, and to communicate technical information to non- technical personnel.
• Demonstrative ability to complete assigned tasks, frequently in a very limited time frame. Demonstrative ability to be creative and solve complex problems.
• Knowledge of State and Federal regulations pertaining to the use of radioactive materials.
• Strong ability to investigate and analyze information and draw conclusions.
• Demonstrative ability to establish rapport and maintain a good working relationship with various departments, State and Federal regulatory agencies.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills.
• Ability to train others is essential to provide guidance and instruction for a vast group of individuals in the area of radiation protection and other procedural activities.
• Excellent ability to develop, implement, and enforce radiation safety programs and protocols.
  Superb skills in performing radiation safety inspections and ensuring compliance with NRC, FDA, DOT, OSHA, EPA, and WV Radiological Health Programs.

• Performs 24/7 On-call duties must live within / be able to report within 30 minutes of notice during On-call rotation.
• Must have and maintain a valid WV Driver’s License. The ability to travel to different locations for inspections and to respond to on-call assignments in the event of emergencies is required.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain Trustworthy and Reliability Status (T&R) at WVU and WVUH as required by U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (10CFR37).
• Ability to move, lift and handle heavy objects and materials using hand dolly or crane individually, must be able to transport small containers by hand that can weigh up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to bend stoop, carry, push, walk, reach, sit and stand for extended periods of time.

At West Virginia University, we leverage our talents and resources to create a better future for our state and the world. As West Virginia's land-grant university, WVU has three campuses that touch each corner of the state. The WVU System includes 518 buildings on 15,880 acres, Extension Service offices in all 55 counties, ten experimental farms and four forests.

From the groundbreaking R1 research of our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs of WVU Potomac State in Keyser to the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley — the contributions of WVU employees directly impact the 1.8 million people of West Virginia every day, no matter their role or position.

Service, curiosity, respect, accountability, and appreciation are the core values that unite Mountaineers, inspiring one another to work tirelessly and support others as they seek to reach new heights. After all, when you're a Mountaineer, impossible is just another mountain to climb.

Creating an inclusive, engaged, and dynamic learning environment is core to WVU’s academic mission. We welcome candidates who can contribute a range of ideas, approaches and experiences.

West Virginia University is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer and is the recipient of an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity. The University values diversity among its faculty, staff, and students, and invites applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.