Health Physicist 3/4

This position is located in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Los Alamos is a tight-knit mountain community that consistently ranks as one of Livability.com’s Best Small Towns in America. Los Alamos County has ranked as the healthiest county in the nation for two consecutive years according to a U.S. News report. The city offers over 120 hiking and biking trails, easy access to the Pajarito Mountain Ski Area, and a college-town vibe thanks to the University of New Mexico-Los Alamos, making it an attractive location for young professionals, families, and retirees.

This position is subject to DOE Order 426.2, which establishes entry-level requirements to ensure candidates can successfully perform the job requirements.

About the Role

N3B Health Physicists (HPs) report directly to the Radiation Protection Director or Radiological Control Manager within the Environment, Safety, Health & Quality (ESH&Q) organization. The Health Physicist 4/5 is responsible for ensuring implementation of the N3B Radiation Protection Program (RPP) while supporting safe work execution.

Responsibilities

Level 3:

• Develop and implement metrics to measure the effectiveness of the RPP.
• Review and develop corrective actions associated with radiological incidents and RP assessments (internal and external).
• Oversee implementation of radiological safety programs.
• Investigate radiological hazards across the full range of the N3B RPP.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate workplace monitoring programs for effectiveness of radiological controls.
• Participate in pre- and post-work planning activities.
• Ensure RP concepts are understood by program, operations, and RP personnel and incorporated into local procedures, policies, and training.

Level 4:

• Provide extensive technical support, assistance, and guidance on radiological control problems, recommending and ensuring implementation of corrective actions when necessary.
• Contribute to radiation protection program effectiveness by identifying short-term and long-range issues, providing relevant information, recommending options, and implementing directives.

Requirements

Level 4:

• Proficient knowledge of operational Health Physics, including contamination control, external radiation exposure control, airborne radioactivity monitoring, and experience responding to radiological incidents and emergencies.
• Demonstrated experience investigating alternative solutions and recommending solutions for radiological safety/protection problems.
• Ability to conceptualize and communicate major elements of radiological safety/protection to both technical and non-technical personnel.
• Experience in the preparation and presentation of radiological safety/protection reports.

Level 5:

• Extensive knowledge of operational Health Physics, including contamination control, external radiation exposure control, airborne radioactivity monitoring, and surveillance of related safety measures and requirements.
• Extensive experience with the development and implementation of programs to meet 10 CFR 835 and 49 CFR requirements.
• Advanced skills in conceptualizing and communicating major elements of radiological safety/protection to both technical and non-technical personnel.
• Advanced skills in the preparation and presentation of radiological safety/protection reports.

Qualifications

Health Physicist 3:

Bachelor's Degree in Health Physics, Nuclear Engineering, Physical Science, or related field, and 5 years of directly related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Per DOE O 426.2, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree, 2 years of job-related experience, and 1 year of nuclear experience.

Health Physicist 4:

Bachelor's Degree in Health Physics, Nuclear Engineering, Physical Science, or related field, and 9 years of directly related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Postgraduate coursework may be desirable. Per DOE O 426.2, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree, 2 years of job-related experience, and 1 year of nuclear experience.

Benefits

N3B offers all full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• 401(k) with employer matching
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Paid PTO

Working Conditions

• Normally assigned to perform work in an office environment.
• Only electrical hazards and other minor potential hazards typically found in an office environment are anticipated.
• Job performance requires adequate visual acuity and manual dexterity for meeting the requirements of the discipline.

Additional Information

Business Associations:

• Level 3: Represents the organization as a prime contact on contracts or projects. Interacts with senior internal and external personnel on significant matters, often requiring coordination between organizations.
• Level 4: Serves as a consultant to management and a special external spokesperson for the organization on major matters pertaining to its policies, plans, and objectives.

Impact:

• Level 3: Exerts some influence on the overall objectives and long-range goals of the organization. Erroneous decisions or failure to achieve objectives would normally have a serious effect on the administration of the organization.
• Level 4: Effects of decisions are long-lasting and heavily influence the future course of the organization. Errors in judgment or failure to achieve results could result in the expenditure of large amounts of company resources.

While working to achieve N3B objectives, the Health Physicist 4/5 will ensure all activities and operations are performed safely and deliberately, including protecting the confidentiality and integrity of Personally Identifiable Information (PII). This role requires maintaining required safety, security, and operational training; assuring procedural and regulatory compliance; and integrating safety, security, and quality into every task, including stopping work if continuing the job is unsafe or compromises security.