SUPERVISING RADIATION PHYSICIST

Definition

Under general direction of a manager or other higher level official in the Department of Environmental Protection, supervises, plans, organizes, and directs work programs and staff involved in regulating the use of radioactive materials and radiation producing machines, and is responsible for resolving specific issues relative to radiation safety; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Plans, organizes, and supervises the engineering, scientific, technical, and administrative programs and work activities of radiation physicists and research staff.
• Consults with the program manager on policy, regulatory, technical, and procedural actions and changes relating to the functions and responsibilities of the bureaus responsible for environmental radiation, radiological health, or nuclear engineering.
• Supervises and/or participates in development of regulatory strategies consistent with state and federal laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and objectives.
• Develops and initiates plans and procedures for achieving compliance with codes, rules, and/or regulations promulgated for evaluating radiation producing machines, and/or radioactive materials operations under normal and accident conditions.
• Plans and develops standard operating procedures for integration of objectives and activities of the bureaus responsible for environmental radiation, radiological health, or nuclear engineering with those of other government agencies and other department programs.
• Conducts and participates in interagency and public meetings, conferences, hearings, and other such activities relating to radiation safety, radiation protection legislation and regulations, and emergency response.
• Prepares and assists in preparation of budgetary reports, grant applications, and personnel matters, and monitors expenses in conformance with established budgets.
• Serves as a member of the Nuclear Emergency Response and/or the Radioactive Materials Emergency Response Teams, and responds to emergencies on a twenty-four (24) hour basis.
• Supervises work operations and/or functional programs involving environmental radiation, radiological health, or nuclear engineering and has responsibility for evaluating employees and for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining employees.
• Coordinates the department's response to radiation emergencies involving radioactive materials twenty-four hours per day.
• Confers with state, federal, and local officials concerning matters of radiation safety during transportation of radioactive materials as they relate to potential health, radiological risk, and environmental impacts.
• Administers the ionizing and nonionizing radiation-producing machine source registration and/or inspection program, x-ray technologist certification program, mammography inspections, or the radioactive materials licensing, registration, inspection, and incident response program in New Jersey.
• Performs research regarding radiation safety issues; provides recommendations to the New Jersey Commission on Radiation Protection (CORP) based on findings.
• Plans, develops, and implements radiation emergency response plans and coordinates the Radiation Protection Programs Response to radioactive materials and radiation incidents.
• Trains and develops radiation physicists, research scientists, environmental scientists, and technicians for radiation emergency response.
• Consults with managerial staff regarding current activities, problems, and developments.
• Serves as expert witness in court, administrative hearings, and in other forms of legal and enforcement actions relating to radiation and radioactive materials in New Jersey.
• Prepares and assists in formulation of legislation implementing the established department policy; reviews and comments on legislation as it relates to safe use of radiation, radioactive materials, and emergency response.
• Prepares or supervises preparation of technical reports and correspondence in the course of official duties.
• Supervises the establishment and maintenance of records and files.
• Reviews or supervises review of educational programs and program curricula for persons training to become licensed radiological technologists.
• Develops or supervises development of radiation protection regulations in coordination with the Commission on Radiation Protection.
• Develops or supervises development of standard operating procedures for any area of the radiation protection program as necessary.
• Supervises the use, maintenance, and calibration of scientific equipment used to determine compliance with state and federal regulations involving radiation protection.
• Supervises personnel of various titles including professional, technical, and clerical staff.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, Mathematics, Radiologic Technology, Radiation Science or Environmental Sciences, which includes sixteen (16) semester credit hours in any combination of the following lab-based courses: physics, chemistry, biology or medical imaging.

Experience

Six (6) years of experience in the field of radiation science, two (2) years of which shall include supervisory responsibilities. This experience is to include at least four (4) years in working with or directly regulating radioactive materials, radiation producing machine sources, or individuals utilizing radiation sources and two (2) years of experience in using qualitative and quantitative radiation analytical instrumentation such as gamma-ray spectrometry, alpha spectrometry, alpha scintillation, liquid scintillation instrumentation, or ionization chambers, Kvp meter, pulse counters, Geiger and proportional counters.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of radiation interaction with matter.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of radiological research methods, radiological evaluation techniques, and of methodology of technical analyses.
• Knowledge of the general biological effects of radiation.
• Knowledge of hazards associated with radiation and radioactivity.
• Knowledge of statistical techniques, radiological laboratory, and field analytical systems, methodology, and procedures.
• Knowledge of current radiation detection and measurement instrumentation.
• Knowledge of radiation physics involved with machine sources of x- rays.
• Knowledge of the safe use and handling of radioactive materials including alpha, beta, gamma, and neutron emitting sources.
• Knowledge of radioactive materials (medical and industrial uses) including the application of standards for cleanup of contaminated sites.
• Knowledge of the physics involved with generation of nonionizing radiation.
• Knowledge of principles of protection from naturally occurring radiation.
• Knowledge of the safe use and transportation of radioactive materials.
• Knowledge of techniques to minimize radiation exposure to the patient and operator or handler from diagnostic and therapeutic sources of radiation.
• Ability to assign and instruct professional, technical, and other staff, and supervise the performance of their work.
• Ability to plan, direct, and evaluate regulatory, investigative, and research activities.
• Ability to exercise good judgment in evaluating situations and to make decisions concerning regulations, investigations, research, and administrative problems.
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply federal and state regulations pertaining to the control and safe use of sources of radiation.
• Ability to interpret results and findings of radiological studies.
• Ability to verify results of radiological tests, examinations, and analyses conducted by staff.
• Ability to maintain cooperative working relationships with personnel assigned to other units within the department, other government agencies, and with others concerned with the work of the unit.
• Ability to prepare and direct preparation of clear, scientifically sound, clinically accurate, and informative reports of tests and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to write scientific articles and participate in meetings and conferences.
• Ability to develop and prepare regulations based on scientific principles consistent with state statutes, rules, and policies.
• Ability to prepare fully responsive official correspondence in connection with regulatory, investigation, and research programs.
• Ability to carry field equipment.
• Ability to establish and maintain records and files.
• Ability to prepare and present technically accurate evidence for use in legal actions taken by the department's Attorney General.
• Ability to communicate effectively with government, industry, and private organizations on radiological matters.
• Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

Applicants may substitute a Master's degree in one of the disciplines indicated above for one (1) year of the non- supervisory experience working with or directly regulating radioactive materials, radiation producing machine sources or individuals utilizing radiation sources or, a Doctor's degree in one of the disciplines indicated above for two (2) years of the non-supervisory experience working with or directly regulating radioactive materials, radiation producing machine sources or individuals utilizing radiation sources.