Job Information
University of Michigan Health Physicist in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Health Physicist
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How to Apply
A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.
Summary
This Health Physicist vacancy is within Environment, Health and Safety / Radiation Safety Service and reports to the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO). The University of Michigan (U-M) radiation safety program oversees over 600 RAM research labs, a large and expanding academic medical system (#1 in Michigan), over 500 radiation-producing machines, occupational dosimetry for over 4,200 employees, and over 800 lasers.
The position provides technical expertise and guidance on the medical use of radioactive material (RAM) and radiation-producing machines at U-M; it is primarily responsible for the development, management, and implementation of the radiation safety program at U-M Health, the University's cutting-edge academic medical system. U-M Health includes a 1,107-bed academic medical center and several offsite health centers and ambulatory care clinics throughout Southeastern Michigan, with a total employment of almost 26,000. The U-M Health radiation safety program oversees four nuclear medicine clinics (diagnostic and therapeutic), two radiation oncology clinics, over 240 radiation-producing machines, and occupational dosimetry for over 3,000 monitored individuals.
Why Work at Michigan?
Being part of something greater, of serving a larger mission of discovery and care - that's the heart of what drives people to work at Michigan. In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. It's adding a purpose to your profession. Work at Michigan and become a victor for the greater good. In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future.
Benefits include:
Generous time off, including family care
A retirement plan that provides immediate vesting and two-for-one matching contributions after 12 months
Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
Dental, Vision, and Life insurance
Long-term disability coverage
Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
Paid maternity and parental leave
Responsibilities*
Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
Coordinate, audit, and participate in radiological safety activities relating to medical use of RAM and radiation-producing machines, to minimize radiation risk to physicians, staff, students, and patients/visitors.
Assist the RSO in day-to-day coordination, implementation, and improvement of U-M radiation safety programs, including the development of standard operating procedures.
Promote ALARA and the safe use of ionizing radiation, control radiation hazards and risk to workers and the public, and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and University policies.
Provide technical consultation and advice/guidance (to departments, faculty, staff, and students) regarding the safe use of ionizing radiation, storage and security of RAM, waste management, and maintaining radiation doses ALARA.
Perform inspections, identify and evaluate radiological hazards, investigate unsafe practices, incidents, and unusual occurrences, perform necessary follow-up activities, recommend procedural improvements and corrective actions, and prepare reports. Recognize occupational safety concerns outside primary area of focus (e.g., general lab safety).
Observe, participate in, and assess clinical procedures involving RAM or radiation-producing machines to ensure compliance with radiation safety policies and reduce/minimize radiation exposure to physicians, staff, and patients/visitors. Take appropriate action to stop unsafe practices, if warranted.
Develop and implement departmental and institutional radiological safety policies and procedures, maintain measures to control radiological hazards, and evaluate compliance with policies. Manage issues or projects within required timelines.
Develop and provide radiological safety, regulatory compliance, emergency response, and hazard awareness training to physicians, staff, researchers, ancillary/support personnel, students, and patients/visitors.
Support radiopharmaceutical therapies (outpatient and inpatient), including administration/isolation planning, release criteria and evaluation, and room survey/clearance.
Evaluate radiation doses to employees and members of the public, including review of dosimetry results, evaluation of compliance with applicable regulations and limits, assessment of external and internal radiation doses, ALARA investigations, and preparing reports.
Provide consultation to employees, declared pregnant workers, and patients.
Manage U-M Health radiation-producing machines, including registration (annual), inventory management, technical support, and recordkeeping.
Conduct radiation and contamination surveys, sealed source inventory and leak tests, program audits, decontamination and release/decommissioning, and effluent and environmental monitoring.
Review and evaluate authorization applications and amendments for use of RAM and radiation- producing machines, including nuclear medicine and radiation oncology.
Perform (or assist senior staff with) shielding evaluation/assessment, design, and surveys.
Provide consultation/advice on complex problems involving medical use RAM and radiation-producing machines (including new treatments or treatment modalities) and manage complex issues or projects.
Respond to, evaluate, and participate in mitigating radiological incidents, radioactive spills, and waste- related incidents. Be reachable/available for after-hours response or reachback support for radiological emergencies.
Accompany regulators during inspections, respond to inquiries from regulators, and schedule regulatory inspections of radiation-producing machines.
Interpret and implement federal, state, and local standards, rules, regulations, and guidance concerning radiological health and safety issues, and implement measures to ensure compliance.
Operate and maintain radiation detection instrumentation, including calibration and repair.
Support U-M Health compliance with Joint Commission requirements and recommendations.
Upon completion of appropriate cross-training, duties may include optional (voluntary) participation on the departmental after-hours emergency response on-call team for radiological, chemical, and biological incidents.
Complete or participate in all assigned safety/compliance and workplace improvement training.
Special projects and other job-related duties, as assigned.
Required Qualifications*
Bachelor's degree in health physics, radiological health, medical physics, nuclear engineering, or related field. Master's degree in one of these fields may be substituted for work experience. A combination of relevant education and work experience may be considered.
Minimum two years relevant, full-time experience in health physics/radiological safety, preferably at a medical broad scope licensee or biomedical facility of similar scope/function, with progressively responsible positions requiring independent professional judgment.
Ability to pass U-M and NRC criminal background checks (see Background Screening below).
Eligible to work in the U.S., and possess a valid and unrestricted U.S. driver's license.
Desired Qualifications*
Certification by the American Board of Health Physics, or eligible for Part 1 of the exam.
Knowledge of the principles/concepts, fundamentals, and best practices/methods of health physics/radiation protection (in a medical environment) and the risks associated with ionizing radiation exposure.
Working knowledge of (and experience interpreting) applicable federal and state laws/regulations, standards, and guidance pertaining to the possession and safe use of RAM and radiation-producing machines, and appropriate technical resources.
Relevant, practical experience in health physics/radiological safety, preferably at a broad scope licensee or medical center of similar scope/function.
Experience (or training) with mathematical and computational health physics evaluations, such as assessment of external radiation doses and skin doses.
Demonstrated competence in oral and written communication, including written and in-person training/instruction/presentations and communicating technical information clearly and concisely.
Experience with compliant radiation safety program recordkeeping.
Self-motivated, ability to work with supervision and professional judgment, managing the radiation safety program within an assigned functional area, and ability to work independently or as a team.
Detail-oriented, demonstrated organizational and time management skills, and ability to manage/prioritize, track, and complete tasks/projects in a demanding work environment and within established deadlines.
Demonstrated critical thinking and analytical skills.
Strong interpersonal skills and able to interact professionally and effectively with wide variety of individuals (physicians, staff, students, administrators, and regulators), behaving in accordance with institutional values.
Committed to customer service, timely response, collaboration, cooperative professional relationships, and diversity.
Ability to use sound judgment and act decisively in high-stress or emergency situations.
Previous DOT and/or HAZWOPER training.
Ability to operate a U-M vehicle.
Familiarity with U-M, and knowledge of U-M policies and procedures.
Competent using PC, office productivity applications, presentation applications, and database applications.
Physical Requirements
Position involves presence in health care and/or research environments and waste management facilities where radioactive, hazardous, and/or infectious materials are used or stored. Position involves occupational exposure to ionizing radiation and patients, and occasional controlled contact with chemical or biological agents.
Able to push, pull, and move/transport 10 pounds routinely (e.g., packages, radiation detection equipment, or shielding).
Able to move freely throughout facilities (including stairs), have dexterity to survey areas that may not be easily accessible, and endurance to perform emergency response activities and field/lab visits.
Able to wear personal protective equipment, wear radiation dosimetry, and submit bioassays (if required).
Able to pass a physical exam for emergency response activities wearing personal protective equipment (including a respirator, if required).
If required to work in or around animal facilities, enrollment in appropriate medical surveillance program may be required.
Underfill Statement
This vacancy may be underfilled at a lower classification depending on the qualifications of the selected candidate. A candidate selected at the underfill level will be eligible for a salary range of $72,650 - $93,000.
Additional Information
U-M Facilities and Operations (F&O) seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve the diverse people of Michigan, to sustain the excellence of the University, and to offer our faculty, staff and students richly varied disciplines, perspectives, and ways of knowing and learning.
F&O is a positive organization dedicated to the principles of being respectful, collaborative, solutions-based, and proactive.
Background Screening
U-M conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third-party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. In addition, employment may be contingent upon successful completion and maintenance of NRC-required "trustworthy and reliable" background and criminal history records check, for unescorted access into secured facilities (10 CFR 37.25).
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO/AA Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
Job Detail
Job Opening ID
250081
Working Title
Health Physicist
Job Title
Envrnmtl Hlth & Safety Spec Ld
Work Location
Ann Arbor Campus
Ann Arbor, MI
Full/Part Time
Full-Time
Regular/Temporary
Regular
FLSA Status
Exempt
Organizational Group
Occup Safety Environ
Department
EH&S
Posting Begin/End Date
6/11/2024 - 7/11/2024
Salary
$72,650.00 - $120,000.00
Career Interest
Environmental Safety & Security
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