Career Center

The position of Radiation Safety Specialist supports all aspects of the DFCI radiation safety program, reporting to the Radiation Safety Officer.?? The radiation safety program provides support to clinical and research operations using radioactive materials, and a variety of radiation-producing devices.?? The Radiation Safety Specialist is required to communicate and coordinate effectively with other members of Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) and other DFCI departments regarding safety practices and compliance requirements. This position requires collaborative work with a variety of support staff and contractor personnel.??

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute brings together world renowned clinicians, innovative researchers and dedicated professionals, allies in the common mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS and related diseases. Combining extremely talented people with the best technologies in a genuinely positive environment, we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all ages; we conduct research that advances treatment; we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers; we reach out to underserved members of our community; and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

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• Daily/continuous review and evaluation of radiological surveys; conduct confirmatory or supplementary radiological surveys, as needed.
• Under the oversight of the RSO or Associate RSO, investigate exposures, accidents, spills and other deviations from approved radiation safety practices. Consult as needed with users to recommend or evaluate corrective actions.
• Provide emergency and spill assistance; assist in cleanup of radioactive spills and provide guidance to supporting personnel. Provide documentation of incident, remediation, and follow-up / corrective actions.
• Collect information supporting Radiation Safety audits and assist in program reviews.
• Conduct or assist training for clinical and research staff in radiation safety practices.
• Assist in monitoring personnel radiation exposures and coordinate with RSO or Associate RSO as needed.
• Conduct radioactive inventory and sealed source leak testing.
• Participate in procedure development and implementation.
• Perform effluent and evacuation calculations & postings.
• Collaboratively work with Radiation Safety Program Coordinator to maintain documentation of instrument calibrations and service activities.
• In conjunction with contracted service providers supporting the radiation safety program, evaluate instrument performance and identify deficiencies for follow-up/resolution. Maintain inventory of survey instruments and calibration records.
• Perform survey instrument and analytical equipment QA/QC checks and document performance assessments.
• Assist the Laser Safety Officer (LSO) in implementing the laser/non-ionizing radiation safety program. Perform on-site evaluation / audits if laser systems in use.
• Maintain up-to-date DOT training as a shipper of Class 7 hazardous materials (training will be provided)
• Distributed campus locations mandate some travel between sites; requires the ability to walk (the equivalent of approximately 2 miles daily) and typically requires 40% sitting and 60% standing/ walking/traveling.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Radiation Safety Officer.

• Bachelor???s Degree in engineering or scientific discipline preferred.
• 3 years practical experience in academic or medical ionizing radiation protection programs may be substituted.
• experience with radiation safety regulatory requirements in a medical or academic radiation safety program.
• Eligible to successfully complete the process of determination as ???Trustworthy & Reliable??? for unescorted access to significant quantities of radioactive material (???quantities of concern???). This includes an employment and academic background check, fingerprinting and a criminal history check.?? The background investigation is to be conducted after hire, during a 3-month probationary period and is a condition of continued employment.

Knowledge & Abilities:

• Practical understanding of ionizing radiation hazards and protection principles when working with radioactive materials.
• Familiarity with the principles of radiation detection and interactions of ionizing radiation with matter.
• Familiarity with applications used in office administration (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)??

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to evaluate worksites for potential hazards and conduct radiological assessments. The successful candidate will receive training/mentoring to assess exposure monitoring/dosimetry results in the context of regulatory and DFCI administrative limits.
• The ability to write coherent reports and relate information to all levels of DFCI staff.
• The ability to understand and comply with applicable regulations and agencies such as USDOT, Massachusetts DPH, and USNRC; training will be provided by Radiation Safety technical staff.??

Technical Knowledge or Skills:

• Familiarity with typical office applications (email, calendar, spreadsheet, word/document editing, database tools).
• Practical understanding of radiological instruments, detector principles, instrument calibration and QC
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements relevant to defensible measurements & surveys

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

• Requires the ability to lift up to 50 lbs. maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 lbs.
• Occasionally pushing, pulling objects weighing up to 150 lbs.; must be able to maneuver loaded 55-gallon drums with unpowered moving equipment (drum dolly, cart, etc.).
• Exposure to hazardous conditions within regulatory limits, such as exposure to radiation and radiation producing equipment, chemicals, biological agents, laser, and radioactive waste (mixed waste, low-level radioactive laboratory waste, and biohazardous waste).
• Full-time position requiring on-site presence.??

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we work every day to create an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where every patient, family, and staff member feels they belong.?? As relentless as we are in our mission At to reduce the burden of cancer for all, we are equally committed to diversifying our faculty and staff.?? Cancer knows no boundaries and when it comes to hiring the most dedicated and diverse professionals, neither do we. If working in this kind of organization inspires you, we encourage you to apply.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other groups as protected by law.