Health Physicist / Radiation Protection Specialist

Duration: 6+ month contract

Hourly Pay: $86.00 Per Hour -

Benefits - Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO, Matching 401k

Location: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Berkeley, CA

Reporting to a manager in the Environment, Waste and Radiation Protection (EWRP) Department, the incumbent has responsibilities for radiation protection in assigned areas and activities at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). Working under consultative direction, the incumbent will apply advanced exceptional technical competence and capabilities in radiation protection theories, concepts and practices and use expert knowledge of functional areas and related disciplines to provide technical leadership, field support, the establishment and maintenance of related technical programs as well as leading teams and/or conduct independent review and analysis to ensure regulatory compliance and best practices.

Solely under consultative direction the incumbent applies judgement and expertise in creative and effective ways to resolve challenging and complex problems pertaining to technical radiation protection as implemented at LBNL to facilitate research and operations. Self-initiated tasks include but are not limited to providing technical subject matter expertise to resolve issues related to health physics, accelerator safety, dosimetry, instrumentation, radiological materials and/or radiation generating devices as applicable to LBNL operations and managing regulatory and site required documents such as policies, procedures and technical basis documents to ensure LBNL radiation protection programs meet all regulatory requirements.

Field Support

• Act as lead on medium to very large projects, and serve as in a technical leadership role to other professionals on assigned technical program matters.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and make sound recommendations to upper Laboratory and EHS Division Management on issues having the potential for impact beyond assigned technical programs.
• Provide guidance, direction and recommendations to research and operations personnel regarding effective and compliant implementation of radiation protection policies, programs, procedures, permits, work control documents and regulatory requirements.
• Independently and in consultation with Lab personnel, analyze, interpret and recommend radiological safety engineering and ALARA concepts required to maintain a safe work place for employees performing radiological work.
• Perform complex radiological hazard reviews, ALARA reviews and evaluate work plans to develop safety controls to establish safe work environments. Identify design requirements and oversee the design of radiation shielding.
• Respond to on-site radiological emergencies in a field and technical subject matter expert role to support on-site operational personnel. Personally investigate and report radiological incidents and recommend optimum solutions.
• Independently, develop and deliver training to Lab personnel.
• Perform observations of experiments and work activities to ensure safe work practices and compliance with radiation protection policies, programs, procedures, permits, work control documents and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and maintain close relationships with Laboratory personnel, anticipating their needs and supporting planning and implementing their objectives by furnishing radiation protection input.
• Lead or participate in technical review committees as necessary to support the safe design, startup and routine operation of LBNL accelerator facilities. Lead or participate in accelerator facility safety basis and configuration control design, overseeing the implementation of necessary controls to ensure personnel safety and supporting line management in the implementation of change management.

• Independently develop and maintain technical program documentation, software and hardware in assigned subject areas ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and standards.
• Independently evaluate performance of assigned technical programs to identify potential improvements.
• Independently compile and submit regulatory reports, requests for information and other regulatory information as assigned.
• Independently act as point of contact with members of the public and regulatory agencies for assigned technical programs. Represent LBNL in technical standards development to ensure the Lab’s interests are represented.
• Review federal, state and local laws, pertaining to radiation protection, to identify changes regarding statutes and rulings. Evaluate existing programs to determine their adequacy for new or emerging hazards or changing regulatory direction. Brief upper Laboratory and EHS Division Management on the impact of these issues and make sound recommendations through executive-level briefings and reports on cost-effective solutions.
• Independently lead the review and updating of assigned procedures, policies and other documentation to ensure RPG programs reflect current, regulations, relevant guidance documents, and safe work practices.

QA and assurance

• Independently review and analyze results of radiation protection surveys or inspections to ensure quality, procedural compliance, and best practices.
• Independently provide oversight of high risk and highly complex radiological operations.
• Independently perform audits and assessments of assigned areas and programs, identify deficiencies and opportunities for improvement.
• Independently oversee the management and maintenance of all applicable RPG files and records necessary to satisfy regulatory requirements, policies, and procedures.
• Independently provide technical oversight of less experienced staff, acting as an advisor to assist them meet schedules and/or resolve technical problems.
• Lead audit teams in assigned areas, both at LBNL and when invited at other sites

Required

• B.S. in Physics, Radiological Engineering, Engineering, or related field and 15 years of experience; or M.S. and 10 years of experience; or PhD. and 7 years of experience or equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Expert knowledge of Federal, state and local regulatory requirements for management of radioactive materials, radiation generating devices, accelerators and transportation of radioactive materials.
• Recognized advanced practitioner with exceptional technical competence of radiation protection principles and practices as applied to research establishments or other complex facilities.
• Operational experience of alpha-emitting radionuclide handling facilities, high hazard DOE facilities, or multi-purpose accelerator facilities

Preferred

• Advanced degree
• Relevant professional certification
• Experience with radiation detection and measurement equipment and techniques
• Experience with external and/or internal dosimetry programs
• Experience with Microshield, Varskin, MCNP, FLUKA or other relevant modeling codes