HEALTH PHYSICIST TRAINEE

The Maryland Department of the Environment is charged with protecting and preserving the State's air, water, and land resources and safeguarding the environmental health of all Maryland’s citizens. The Agency’s mission is to protect and restore the environment for the health and well-being of all Marylanders with a vision of healthy, vibrant, and sustainable communities and ecosystems in Maryland.

About the role

The Health Physicist Trainee will assist in the recognition, evaluation, and control of radiological hazards to employees and the general public. The incumbent in this position will provide scientific and technical reviews of detailed applications for new radioactive material licenses, radioactive material license renewals, amendments, and terminations, and will conduct on-site inspections of new facilities to determine whether they are physically adequate and have competent personnel to receive and use radioactive materials. Facilities include hospitals, industrial firms, medical offices, laboratories, and other facilities where travel is required and where there may be exposure to radioactive materials.

The Health Physicist Trainee will also assist in highly technical reviews of radioactive sealed sources and devices containing radioactive material requested to be certified as safe for manufacture and distribution in and from the State of Maryland. Additionally, the incumbent will participate in and be required to demonstrate competency in various technical roles during Calvert Cliffs and Peach Bottom nuclear power plant accident drills on a 24/7 basis to help protect the health and safety of Maryland residents.

Working Conditions

• Exposure to uncomfortable or unpleasant surroundings.
• Exposure to hazardous conditions which may result in injury.
• Physical demands such as lifting 50 pounds or more, climbing ladders, etc.
• Required use of protective equipment—such as safety glasses, gloves, hearing protection, steel toe shoes, hard hats, and masks—during site visits when required.
• The incumbent may be required to drive a State vehicle.

If you hold an out-of-state driver’s license, you must provide a certified copy of your driving record from the issuing state’s Motor Vehicle Administration at the time of hire. All individuals must maintain a driver's license with no more than five points on their driving record to operate a State vehicle.

Requirements

Experience: Four years of experience in performing the recognition, evaluation, and control of radiological hazards to employees and the general public.

• Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum of 30 credit hours in mathematical, physical, or biological sciences for the required experience.
• Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Health and Medical Physicist classifications or Health and Medical Physicist specialty codes in the Physicist field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience, education, or training in the nuclear industry, nuclear power, radiation protection, health physics, or a related radiological field.
• U.S. Armed Forces military service, preferably involving nuclear, radiological, technical, scientific, or related duties.
• Educational background or coursework in science-related disciplines, such as biology, physics, chemistry, or a related field.
• Experience performing administrative duties, including typing, data entry, recordkeeping, or document preparation.
• Experience performing analytical tasks, including reviewing, interpreting, or organizing technical or scientific information.

Licenses and Certifications

Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

Benefits

The State of Maryland offers a generous benefits package that includes:

• Flexible work schedules and telework opportunities for many positions
• Free mass transit in Baltimore & Annapolis
• Generous paid leave that increases with years of service
• Paid holidays
• Health coverage with low out-of-pocket costs
• Employee & employer contributory pension plan

MDE headquarters facility offers free parking, a food court, and a gym.

Pay

This is a Grade 14 position with a salary range of $63,154.00 - $99,603.00 (Health Physicist I – Grade 15) and potential progression to $67,309.00 - $106,155.00 (Health Physicist II – Grade 16) based on satisfactory work performance and annual promotion eligibility.

Schedule

This position may require participation in nuclear power plant accident drills on a 24/7 basis.