Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education
• Master's degree or higher in a physics, science, or engineering discipline recognized by an accredited college or university with at least 30 semester hours in medical physics, health physics, radiological science, physics, engineering, chemistry, or biology
• or an equivalent foreign degree and coursework substantiated by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services
• Board Certification
• Persons hired or reassigned to TMP positions in the VHA must be board certified in the field of therapeutic medical physics by an approved certifying body
• The board certificate must be current and the applicant must abide by the certifying body's requirements for continuing education
• Approved Certifying Bodies (a) The American Board of Radiology (ABR) in any of the following field titles: 1
• Therapeutic Medical Physics 2
• Therapeutic Radiologic or Therapeutic Radiological Physics 3
• Radiologic Physics or Radiological Physics (b) The American Board of Medical Physics (ABMP) in the subfield of Radiation Oncology Physics
• (c) The Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine (CCPM) in the subfield of Radiation Oncology Physics
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• English Language Proficiency
• TMPs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d)
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• GS-14 Supervisory Therapeutic Medical Physicist (a) Experience
• In addition to the basic requirements, completion of a minimum of 1 year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• (b) Assignments
• For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• A supervisory TMP provides professional, scientific, and clinical practice of therapeutic medical physics for external beam and brachytherapy treatment procedures from treatment simulation to treatment planning to the actual treatment delivery
• The incumbent oversees the technical development and 8 implementation of new radiotherapy techniques and modalities
• oversees the activities of all other TMPs, dosimetrists, and other staff members assigned to the unit
• directs the technical aspects of treatment procedures
• and, performs duties qualifying them as a supervisor to include planning and directing work, developing performance plans, evaluating staff performance, and other administrative functions
• The supervisory TMP has full supervisory responsibility for a staff that includes lower level TMP positions and other clinical and professional staff within the unit
• The employee directs the implementation of new equipment and processes through oversight of the following activities: assesses radiation therapy equipment needs
• monitors acceptance testing and commissioning of new radiation therapy equipment
• evaluates the adequacy of room shielding and radiation surveys
• develops and implements treatment processes in concert with a radiation oncologist
• and, ensures the precision and accuracy of treatment delivery
• The employee optimizes technical infrastructure and workflow for streamlined operations in the department of radiation oncology through the mastery and application of techniques such as Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA), Root Cause Analysis (RCA), and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
• The employee directs the radiation therapy treatment planning team through oversight of the following activities: designs and approves of treatment plans
• monitors the accuracy of treatment data recorded in the patient's medical records
• provides consultation to the radiation oncologist regarding difficult treatment cases
• performs patient-specific treatment validation measurements
• develops medical physics policies and procedures for the delivery and quality assessment of advanced treatment modalities such as intensity modulated radiation therapy, stereotactic body radiation therapy and brachytherapy
• The employee develops, operates, and documents the medical physics quality assurance program
• ensures regulatory compliance
• supervises the Radiation Safety Officer's radiation safety program
• and, trains and educates radiation oncology team members in safe operations in Radiation Oncology
• References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/83 PART II APPENDIX G48The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14
• Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, although physical effort will be required
• Some lifting, bending and moving of videoconferencing or technical equipment for installation and troubleshooting is required
• Occasionally climbs ladders to adjust overhead equipment and lifts or moves objects weighing up to forty pounds
• occasionally lifts or moves heavier items with assistance from others.