Radiation safety officer Jobs in Durham, NC

Dangerous Goods & Radiation Protection Officer

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Position Summary

The Dangerous Goods & Radiation Protection Officer (RPO/RSO) is responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing the company's dangerous goods and radiation safety programs across global logistics operations. This role ensures full regulatory compliance for the transport, handling, and temporary storage of hazardous materials, including radiopharmaceuticals, within a 3PL and time-critical courier environment.

The position serves as the internal subject-matter expert, supporting daily operations, client onboarding, and regulatory compliance across air, ground, and international shipments. The role is critical to maintaining safe, compliant, and efficient movement of clinical trial materials, commercial pharmaceuticals, and radioactive shipments.

Key Responsibilities

Dangerous Goods Program Management

• Direct and oversee the company's dangerous goods compliance program across all transport modes (air, ground, and international).
• Enforce adherence to applicable regulations, such as those on dangerous goods by air (IATA DGR), by air transport authorities (ICAO Technical Instructions), by sea (IMDG Code), and by the U.S. Department of Transportation (49 CFR).
• Design, refine, and enforce SOPs, work instructions, and operational controls for the handling and transport of dangerous goods.
• Deliver technical guidance on classification, packaging, marking, labeling, and documentation requirements.
• Authorize and verify dangerous goods shipments to confirm compliance before transport.
• Guide time-critical logistics operations with immediate compliance direction.

Radiation Protection Program

• Serve as the designated Radiation Protection Officer / Radiation Safety Officer for the organization.
• Design and sustain a radiation protection program that meets regulatory standards and industry best practices.
• Ensure safe handling, transport, and temporary storage of radiopharmaceuticals and other Class 7 materials.
• Supervise radiation safety procedures, such as receiving packages, confirming survey results, and tracking exposure levels.
• Keep records of radiation exposure and ensure they comply with regulatory dose limits, following the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principles to minimize exposure.
• Lead responses to radiation-related incidents, investigate them, and implement corrective actions.

Operational Oversight & Support

• Deliver hands-on support to operations teams managing dangerous goods and radiopharmaceutical shipments.
• Define and apply acceptance criteria for incoming shipments from clients and shippers.
• Coordinate shipment planning, routing, and contingency management for sensitive, time-critical materials.
• Partner with warehouse, transport, and customer service teams to enforce compliance throughout the shipment lifecycle.
• Facilitate onboarding for new clients by reviewing product types, shipping profiles, and compliance needs.

Regulatory Compliance & Audit Management

• Maintain all required licenses, registrations, and permits for hazardous and radioactive materials.
• Act as the primary point of contact for regulatory agencies, inspections, and audits.
• Execute internal audits, facility inspections, and compliance assessments.
• Uphold accurate documentation, maintain detailed records, and submit required reports to authorities.
• Investigate incidents, conduct root cause analyses, and implement corrective and preventive actions.

Training & Competency Development

• Design and deliver dangerous goods and radiation safety training to operational staff.
• Ensure all employees maintain required certifications and recurrent training.
• Cultivate a culture of safety, compliance, and accountability throughout all operations.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Health Physics, Radiation Protection, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Logistics, or a related field, or equivalent relevant work experience.

Certifications (Preferred)

• Radiation Safety Officer (RSO/RPO) designation or eligibility
• IATA Dangerous Goods Certification (appropriate category for shipper/operator)
• DOT Hazmat Training (49 CFR)
• DGSA certification (if applicable to the region of operation)

Experience

• 510+ years of experience in dangerous goods compliance, hazardous materials logistics, or radiopharmaceutical operations.
• Direct experience within a 3PL, freight forwarding, airline, or specialized courier environment strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting time-sensitive clinical trial or radiopharmaceutical shipments.
• Familiarity with global shipping regulations and multi-modal transport requirements.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong working knowledge of dangerous goods and radiation safety regulations
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, time-critical logistics environment
• Practical understanding of radiopharmaceutical handling and transport requirements
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills under operational pressure
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate regulations into practical guidance
• Close attention to detail with a strong compliance mindset

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets. The base pay for this position ranges from $72,000/year to $117,000/year. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to, market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and education/training and a candidate's work experience. Hired applicants may be eligible for annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs depending on the level of the position. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and are dependent upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, individual performance, business unit performance, and/or the company's performance.

Hired applicants may be eligible for Medical/prescription drug coverage, Dental coverage, Vision coverage, Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account, Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, Basic and Supplemental Life Insurance & Accidental Death and Dismemberment, Disability Income Protection Plan, Employee Assistance Program, 401(k) retirement program, Vacation, Paid Holidays and Personal time, Paid Sick and Family and Medical Leave time as required by law.

Permanent

UPS is committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.

UPS is an equal opportunity employer. UPS does not discriminate on the basis of race/color/religion/sex/national origin/veteran/disability/age/sexual orientation/gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law.

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National of the U.S., an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, or an alien authorized to work in the U.S. for this employer.