Career Center

Summary

The supervisory TMP performs the most complex tasks and oversees TMPs and dosimetrists - ensuring radiation safety - accurate dosimetry - proper radiation measurement - treatment planning oversight - dose verification - procedure improvement - image quality monitoring - quality assurance - support for optimizing radiation use - and compliance with federal and state regulations.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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: The American Board of Radiology (ABR) in any of the following field titles: Therapeutic Medical Physics Therapeutic Radiologic or Therapeutic Radiological Physics Radiologic Physics or Radiological Physics The American Board of Medical Physics (ABMP) in the subfield of Radiation Oncology Physics
• 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: GS-14 Supervisory Therapeutic Medical Physicist Experience
• In addition to the basic requirements - completion of a minimum of 1 year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to oversee the technical development and implementation of new radiotherapy techniques and modalities
• This includes knowledge of current standards of care - VA policies - trends and changes in delivery technology - as well as fair - principled - and decisive leadership practices
• Ability to optimize technical infrastructure and workflow for streamlined operations in the department of radiation oncology
• This includes the knowledge and application of techniques such as Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) - Root Cause Analysis (RCA) - and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
• Ability to assess the qualifications and abilities of current and prospective employees - to include staff performance evaluations and professional development
• Advanced knowledge of regulatory requirements - manufacturer's standards - and professional society guidelines for performing quality assurance of radiation therapy equipment to include accelerators - simulators - and high dose rate/low dose rate brachytherapy delivery systems
• Ability to use written and verbal communication with a strong command of technical writing considerations
• Ability to collaborate with the members of other disciplines and supervisors and to represent the profession both in and outside of VHA
• This includes knowledge of the roles - contributions - and interrelationships with other health care specialties and supporting divisions
• Knowledge of instructional methods and documenting competencies
• Ability to manage and supervises employees
• Preferred Experience: Board Certified in Specialty
• Experience with Elekta linear accelerators is strongly preferred
• Experience with Raystation treatment planning system and / or Mim software is a bonus Experience with the VA is preferred Excellent references - with at least two from current/past supervisor Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is at the GS-14
• Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary
• Some work may require movement between offices - hospitals - warehouses - and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work
• Work may also require walking/standing - in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site
• Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

Duties

• Major Duties: A supervisory TMP provides professional - scientific - and clinical practice of therapeutic medical physics for external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy treatment procedures from treatment simulation to treatment planning to the actual treatment delivery
• Oversees the technical and programmatic development and 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
• Has supervisory responsibility for a staff that includes lower level TMP positions and other clinical and professional staff that has technical responsibilities within the unit
• 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
• Optimizes technical infrastructure and workflow for streamlined operations in the department of radiation oncology through the mastery and application of techniques such as Process Mapping - Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) - Root Cause Analysis (RCA) - and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
• 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 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
• The supervisory level TMP may also provide consultative services to the National Radiation Oncology Program (NROP) - the National Health Physics Program (NHPP) - other VHA program offices and other federal agencies
• The supervisory level TMP will be a knowledgeable user and subject matter expert in the use of the Raystation treatment planning system - Elekta delivery system - and QA equipment and software
• The supervisory level TMP will also be an expert in the following special procedures: stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT)
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30PM
• may change based on the service's needs
• Telework: Ad-Hoc only
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized