Radiation Safety Specialist

VCU has an exciting opportunity for a Radiation Safety Specialist! This position will ensure regulatory compliance and safe use of radiation at VCU through inspections, training, emergency response, and collaboration with research and clinical personnel to support a strong safety culture.

Department

Occupational Health & Safety

Duties & Responsibilities

Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) partners with the VCU community to promote and facilitate a positive, campus-wide attitude of safety excellence and environmental stewardship to protect university assets and reduce risks.

The Radiation Safety Specialist will perform duties required by VCU’s radiation safety programs to meet all Federal, State and University regulations and policies. This includes, but not limited to: radiation safety surveys and inspection, Laser safety, X-ray audits, and radioactive waste program.

• Conducting radiation safety inspections and audits in both VCU and VCU Health System facilities to identify and mitigate safety risks and ensure regulatory requirements are met.
• Develop and provide training to university and health system personnel and students on radiation safety, proper handling of radioactive materials, and regulatory requirements.
• Inspect, calibrate, and maintain radiation safety equipment.
• Assist with the collection, segregation, inventory, and storage of radioactive waste.
• Provide on-call support, prepare for radiological emergencies, and respond to incidents involving radioactive spills and exposures, including participation in emergency drills.
• Promote a positive safety culture by learning about VCU’s research programs and using a risk-based approach to safety evaluations.
• Collaborate with lab personnel to develop practical, acceptable mitigation strategies for identified hazards.
• Assist team members with a wide range of EHS functions as needed, such as respirator fit testing, hazardous waste management, lab closeout procedures, and incident response.
• Serve as a knowledgeable resource for faculty, staff, and students regarding radiation safety practices.
• Maintain accurate records, inspection reports, and training data using shared drives, spreadsheets, and the EHS-OHS management system (e.g., SciShield).
• Improve university safety documents and procedures by transitioning paper-based forms and protocols to online, user-friendly platforms.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM-related field or equivalent experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practice of health physics and radiation safety.
• Considerable knowledge of applicable state and federal radiation control standards/regulations and medical uses of radioactive material and radiation-producing devices.
• Knowledge of instrumentation used in radiation detection and calibration.
• Knowledge of dosimetry.
• Demonstrate ability to plan and implement radiation surveillance programs and conduct appropriate sampling under emergency conditions.
• Demonstrate ability to manage a technical program and radiation training program.
• Demonstrate ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrate excellent customer service skills.
• Proficient skills in MS Office and Google Suite.
• Ability to work at VCU during emergencies or when the University closes during uncertain weather conditions and others as assigned. Must be able to work on-call.
• Possess a valid Driver’s License.
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.
• A commitment to VCU’s core competencies of accountability/integrity; achievement; collaboration; innovation; and service excellence.

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree or coursework in radiation safety, health physics, nuclear engineering, or a closely related field.
• Certification by NRRPT or eligible for Part 1 of the ABHP exam.
• 3-5 years experience in a medical/research setting.