This position is located in the Office of Safety, Health, and Environmental Management (OSHEM). The Office of Safety, Health, and Environmental Management (OSHEM) provides policy, guidance, and assistance for the Smithsonian's safety, occupational health and wellness, fire protection, industrial hygiene, and environmental management programs. OSHEM leads the Smithsonian in securing a safe and healthful environment​ for its workforce, visitors, property, and collections.
Basic Qualifications: The education must be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education(external link) at the time the degree was obtained. Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: A bachelor’s or graduate/higher level degree in industrial hygiene, occupational health sciences, occupational and environmental health, toxicology, safety sciences, or related science; or A bachelor’s degree in a branch of engineering, physical science, or life science that included 12 semester hours in chemistry, including organic chemistry, and 18 additional semester hours of courses in any combination of chemistry, physics, engineering, health physics, environmental health, biostatistics, biology, physiology, toxicology, epidemiology, or industrial hygiene; or Certification from the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH). Courses in the history or teaching of chemistry are not acceptable. Evaluation of Education All science or engineering courses offered in fulfillment of the above requirements must be acceptable for credit toward the completion of a standard 4-year professional curriculum leading to a bachelor’s degree in science or engineering at an accredited college or university. For engineering degrees to be acceptable, the curriculum must be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) as a professional engineering curriculum. Evaluation of Experience Qualifying experience involves the recognition, evaluation, corrective actions, and elimination of environmental conditions in the workplace that causes sickness, impaired health, or illness. This experience must demonstrate a professional knowledge of the theory and application of the principles of industrial hygiene and closely related sciences such as physics and engineering controls. Such work must have involved experience in all of the following areas: the acquisition of quantitative and qualitative data, and the measurement of exposures for a variety of chemical, physical, and biological stresses; the analysis of the data acquired and the prediction of probable effects of exposures on the health and well-being of workers; and the selection and recommendation of appropriate controls, including management, medical, engineering, education or training, and personal protective equipment. In addition to the basic qualification requirement above: Experience: GS-12: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal Service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as reviewing, and providing guidance on radiation safety policies and programs, conducting periodic inspections to identify and assess radiation safety hazards and providing guidance in the development of radiation safety audits/inspections. Specifically, the experience must include demonstrated experience with dosimetry, radioactive waste management, laboratory and workplace surveys, inventory and recordkeeping, contamination control, conducting specific training related to the use of radioactive materials, management of contracts, compliance with the management of a byproduct materials license, and protecting against unwarranted exposures to ionizing radiation. GS-13: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal Service. For this position, specialized experience is defined as reviewing, and providing guidance on radiation safety policies and programs, conducting periodic inspections to identify and assess radiation safety hazards and providing guidance in the development of radiation safety audits/inspections, including resolving potential hazardous material issues. Specifically, the experience must include demonstrated experience with dosimetry, radioactive waste management, laboratory and workplace surveys, inventory and recordkeeping, contamination control, conducting specific training related to the use of radioactive materials, management of contracts, compliance with the management of a byproduct materials license, and protecting against unwarranted exposures to ionizing radiation. Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages and should clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and specialized experience required for this position. Do not copy language directly from the vacancy announcement, as you will be deemed ineligible for consideration. Instead, provide detailed, descriptive information about your actual experience. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience. Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week. Important Note: Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire or other assessment tool for consistency. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your resume, you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience. Your resume should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.
The Radiation Safety Officer area of responsibility will center on the recognition, evaluation, and control of environmental factors or stresses arising in the workplace or public area which may cause illness, impaired health and well-being, or significant discomfort among Smithsonian workers or others affected by property or operation of the Smithsonian. In this position, you will: GS-12/13: Serve as a Radiation Safety/advisor with responsibility for organizing and managing all features of the Smithsonian Institution’s (SI) Radiation monitoring program to include measurement, training, leak test survey investigation(s), evaluation, and analysis for the Radiation monitoring program. Oversee the daily operation of radiation safety program to ensure regulatory compliance as mandated by local, state, and federal agencies, including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Occupational Safety and Health administration (OSHA). Serve as technical subject matter expert, consultant, advisor. The incumbent also shall plan, administer, coordinate, evaluate the mission, overall operation, coupled with providing guidance and oversight of radioisotopes or radionuclides and monitoring Ionizing Radiation for the Smithsonian Institution (SI). Provide technical assistance and guidance on radiological control problems; advises permit holders on radioactive material inventory problems, shielding designs, waste handling procedures, dosimetry, and licensing requirements. Evaluate, collects, prepares, and inventories radioactive materials and/or hazardous chemicals for transport and disposal. Evaluates and tests inventories of sealed sources of radioactive materials. Approve radiation use permits (within scope of the NRC radioactive materials license) amends permits and authorizes new radiation workers. GS-13: (In addition to the duties above at the GS-13 level, the following duties include the below.) Monitor and evaluates contractors hired by the Smithsonian Institution to provide industrial hygiene/radiation safety radiological environmental services. Develop specific training handbooks, manuals, pamphlets, bulletin reports and related regulatory analysis/impact statements for use by the Smithsonian Institution personnel and by outside museums and other organizations.