Health Physicist

Join the Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) team at Harvard University and help champion a culture of safety across research facilities. As a Health Physicist and key member of the Radiation Safety Services team, you will serve as a subject matter expert, providing professional guidance on the safe use of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. In this collaborative role, you will partner directly with researchers to find safe, practical solutions that support their scientific objectives while ensuring regulatory compliance. We are looking for an engaging, service-oriented professional who can communicate effectively across all levels of the University.

Work Schedule: This role requires an in-person presence on the Cambridge and Longwood campuses to support laboratories. This is a full-time (40 hours/week) position with flexibility based on operational needs and scheduled laboratory support.

Job-Specific Responsibilities 

• Mentorship & Technical Leadership: Provide technical guidance and mentoring to Associate Health Physicists and other EHS staff, as assigned, and support consistent implementation of radiation safety program requirements across labs.

• Program Development: Own assigned elements of the Radiation Safety Program (e.g., SOP governance and periodic review). Maintain and advance proficiency in Health Physics instrumentation, methods, and best practices, and ensure program documentation remains current and inspection ready.

• Radiological Surveillance & Operations: Perform routine and job-specific surveys using dose-rate and contamination meters. Analyze results, conduct x-ray cabinet leakage surveys, and execute technical decontamination activities as needed.

• Researcher Support & Partnership: Act as the primary point of contact for assigned laboratories. Build strong relationships with researchers, provide proactive assistance, training, and safety oversight in a positive, solutions-oriented manner.

• Maintain rigorous records: In a timely manner, document all inspections, radiological surveys, meter calibrations, meter QC checks, sample results, package receipt records, and shipping records for regulatory compliance.

• Conduct Permit Inspections: Conduct laboratory inspections to verify safe storage, use, and disposal of radiation sources (e.g., RAM, laser, x-ray, UV, RF, magnets), including review of engineering controls, training, SOPs, and required documentation.

• RAM waste processing and disposal: Support the radioactive waste program by evaluating, aggregating, and processing radioactive material (RAM) for appropriate disposal pathways. Harvard will provide DOT Hazmat Shipper training and qualification support, with ongoing maintenance of this qualification as part of the role.

• Develop working knowledge of EHS Program: Understand the structure and function of all areas of EHS. Maintain familiarity with and participate in emergency cross training procedures.

• Emergency Response: Participate in a rotating on-call schedule to triage and/or respond to daytime and after-hours laboratory safety incidents, consistent with EHS Emergency Response Team requirements.

• Perform other duties as assigned by supervision/management.

Working Conditions:

• Participate in EH&S Emergency Response Team on rotating basis; will be required to carry a mobile phone and respond to emergencies during non-business hours with other EHS staff

• Periodic participation on-site during off hours, holidays, and weekends may be required to support projects

Physical Requirements:

• Must have sufficient mobility, dexterity, and endurance to perform emergency response activities and field visits 

• Must be capable of using personal protective equipment and monitoring equipment, be able to access any area of the University to perform designated work functions including but not limited to inspections, job safety assessments, and emergency response