Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
Title: Senior Health Physicist/Radiation Safety Officer
Schedule (FT/PT): Regular Full Time
Travel Required: Yes (25-50%)
Government Clearance: Ability to ObtainPOSITION PURPOSE: The Senior Health Physicist (SHP) / Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) is responsible for the development, implementation, oversight, and continuous improvement of radiation protection programs to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations governing the possession, use, transport, storage, and disposal of radioactive materials. The position provides technical leadership for radiological health and safety programs supporting environmental remediation, decommissioning, waste management, industrial, and government projects.
The SHP/RSO serves as the organization's subject matter expert on radiation protection and radioactive materials management, ensuring the protection of workers, the public, and the environment through the application of ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principles and industry best practices. The SHP / RSO will perform special project technical evaluation, development, design, planning, and support activities for dosimetry, air monitoring, instrumentation, MARSSIM / Final Status Survey, etc. Potential areas of assistance include performing complex survey and sampling design, data assessment and interpretation, hazard assessment and control, and guideline development. In addition to direct support of active projects across the northeast US, this position will assist with North Wind business development/proposal efforts and provide professional-level Health Physics support, subject matter expertise, and oversight of other operations as requested.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:Radiation Safety Program Management- Serve as the designated Radiation Safety Officer for licensed radioactive material programs.
- Develop, implement, and maintain radiation protection policies, procedures, and standard operating practices.
- Administer radiation safety programs in accordance with NRC, Agreement State, DOE, DOT, EPA, OSHA, and client-specific requirements.
- Maintain radiation use authorizations, licenses, permits, and associated records.
- Lead internal audits, program assessments, and readiness reviews.
Technical Radiological Support- Provide technical guidance for radiological characterization, surveys, and assessments.
- Support environmental remediation, decommissioning, radioactive waste management, and site investigation projects.
- Perform dose assessments, shielding evaluations, exposure modeling, and risk analyses.
- Review and approve radiological work plans, health and safety plans, and technical reports.
- Evaluate radiological hazards and develop appropriate controls.
Final Status Survey Program Management- Lead all aspects of Final Status Survey planning, implementation, and closeout activities.
- Manage FSS teams consisting of health physicists, survey technicians, field personnel, GIS specialists, and data management staff.
- Develop project schedules, budgets, staffing plans, and resource forecasts.
- Coordinate survey execution activities across multiple facilities, structures, systems, and land areas.
- Ensure surveys are completed in accordance with approved project procedures, Quality Assurance Plans, and Data Quality Objectives (DQOs).
Survey Design and Technical Leadership- Develop and review Final Status Survey Plans and survey packages.
- Direct survey unit classification and characterization activities.
- Establish survey methodologies, instrumentation requirements, scan coverage, and sampling strategies.
- Apply MARSSIM principles to survey design and implementation.
- Determine survey sample sizes, decision error rates, and statistical evaluation requirements.
- Ensure appropriate use of statistical tests and compliance demonstration methodologies.
Data Management and Analysis- Oversee collection, validation, verification, and management of radiological survey data.
- Review survey data packages for completeness and technical accuracy.
- Direct statistical evaluations of survey results.
- Evaluate compliance with Derived Concentration Guideline Levels (DCGLs) and release criteria.
- Ensure defensible documentation and traceability of all survey activities.
Regulatory Compliance- Ensure organizational compliance with applicable radiation protection regulations and license conditions.
- Interface with regulatory agencies during inspections, audits, and enforcement activities.
- Prepare and submit required regulatory reports and notifications.
- Monitor regulatory developments and implement necessary program changes.
Personnel Monitoring and Training- Oversee occupational dose monitoring programs, including personnel dosimetry and bioassay programs where applicable.
- Investigate radiological incidents, unusual occurrences, and exposure events.
- Develop and deliver radiation safety training for employees, subcontractors, and clients.
- Maintain qualification and training records.
Field Operations Support- Conduct radiological surveys, contamination assessments, and field inspections.
- Provide oversight during radiological remediation, waste packaging, transportation, and disposal activities.
- Support emergency response activities involving radioactive materials.
- Evaluate and approve radiological work permits and exposure controls.
Program Leadership- Mentor junior health physicists, industrial hygienists, and environmental professionals.
- Support business development activities, technical proposals, and client presentations.
- Serve as technical lead or project manager on radiological projects.
- Participate in professional organizations and maintain professional certifications.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:Education and Certifications:- B.S. degree in Health Physics or related field.
- Certification in Comprehensive Health Physics by the American Board of Health Physics (CHP).
- Qualification to serve as Radiation Safety Officer under applicable NRC or Agreement State requirements.
Experience:- Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in health physics, radiation protection, radiological engineering, and/or radiation safety.
- At least 10 years of experience in implementation and oversight of NRC, DOE, and/or DoD Radiation Protection programs in compliance with 10 CFR 835, including external and internal dosimetry programs.
- At least 10 years of experience in radiological decommissioning, remediation and/or waste management programs, including the design, implementation and documentation of Verification/Final Status Surveys for unrestricted release of buildings and land areas.
- Experience in using the RESRAD computer code.
- Experience implementing the Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual (MARSSIM), particularly related to the statistical evaluation of lab and field radiological analysis results of samples.
- Experience with addressing comments to assist agencies (DOE, NRC, EPA, etc.) to approve plans, procedures, applications and other technical submittals.
- Experience with business development, including interpreting Request for Proposal language and writing proposals to assist in the pursuit of new work.
Technical Knowledge:- Radiation physics and instrumentation.
- Internal and external dosimetry.
- Radiation protection principles and practices.
- Radioactive waste management and disposal.
- Radiological characterization and decontamination.
- Transportation of radioactive materials.
- Environmental monitoring and sampling.
- ALARA program implementation.
- Emergency response and incident investigation
Regulatory Knowledge:Working knowledge of:
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulations.
- Agreement State regulations.
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Orders.
- U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) hazardous materials regulations.
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements.
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards.
- MARSSIM and related guidance documents.
Professional Skills- Strong technical writing and report preparation.
- Excellent client and regulator communication skills.
- Leadership and personnel management.
- Project management and budgeting.
- Proposal development and business development support.
Physical Requirements- Ability to perform field inspections and radiological surveys.
- Ability to wear personal protective equipment, including respiratory protection.
- Ability to access active industrial, construction, remediation, and government facilities.
- Ability to travel up to 25-50% as project demands require.
- Ability to lift and carry field equipment weighing up to 40 pounds.
Special Requirements: - Current 40 Hour HAZWOPER qualification or the ability to obtain qualification.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:- MS degree in health physics or related field preferred.
- Additional safety-related certifications (CIH, CSP) preferred.
- Experience with Beryllium, Special Nuclear Material (SNM), and/or Transuranic Waste (TRU) preferred
- Experience with Emergency Management preferred
- Experience with Non-Destructive Assay (NDA), gamma spectroscopy and/or alpha spectroscopy preferred
WORKING ENVIRONMENT:The work is conducted both indoors and outdoors. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is normally mild to moderate. The employee may be exposed to moving mechanical equipment, machinery and vehicles.
North Wind offers a competitive pay and benefits package to include health, life, and disability insurance benefits, 401(k) with company match, generous paid leave and tuition reimbursement for eligible employees. As a company, we are committed to employee wellness, professional development, and work-life balance. We value safety, reliability, and commitment to our people! For more information about our benefits or hiring philosophy, visit the North Wind Career Opportunities Page.
