Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for X-Ray Program Officer

🎯 Role Definition

The X-Ray Program Officer is a specialized program management and technical lead responsible for the planning, implementation, oversight, and continuous improvement of X‑ray imaging programs and radiation protection initiatives. This role combines clinical imaging knowledge, radiation safety expertise, stakeholder engagement, regulatory compliance, and program-level budgeting and reporting to ensure safe, high-quality, and cost-effective X‑ray services across clinical, research, or public health environments. Ideal for candidates with a background in radiology, health physics, medical physics, or program management.

Keywords: X‑Ray Program Officer, radiation safety, radiology program management, imaging quality assurance, regulatory compliance, dosimetry, DICOM/PACS, clinical operations.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Radiologic Technologist / Radiographer with supervisory experience
Radiation Safety Officer or Health Physicist
Medical Physicist or Imaging Scientist
Program Analyst or Project Manager in healthcare

Advancement To:

Senior X‑Ray Program Officer or Program Manager — Imaging Services
Director, Imaging Quality & Safety
Chief Radiology Operations Officer
Director of Radiation Safety/Compliance

Lateral Moves:

Clinical Operations Manager (Radiology)
Compliance & Quality Assurance Manager (Healthcare)
Grants/Contracts Manager for imaging research programs

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of an organization-wide X‑ray program plan that aligns clinical imaging objectives, radiation safety standards, and institutional strategy; set measurable program goals, KPIs, and performance dashboards.
Oversee regulatory compliance for X‑ray systems and procedures, ensuring adherence to federal, state, and local regulations (e.g., NRC/State Radiation Control Programs, FDA, OSHA), and maintain audit-ready documentation and licensing records.
Design and administer a comprehensive radiation protection program — including inventory management of X‑ray units, shielding assessments, area classifications, exposure monitoring, and personnel dosimetry programs — to minimize occupational and patient dose.
Manage equipment lifecycle activities: coordinate procurement specifications, vendor selection, acceptance testing, preventive maintenance schedules, performance testing (QA/QC), and end-of-life decommissioning for X‑ray and fluoroscopic systems.
Serve as primary technical liaison with clinical departments, radiologists, technologists, biomedical engineering, and IT to standardize imaging protocols (technique charts, dose optimization), improve image quality, and reduce variability across sites.
Lead or coordinate quality assurance and quality control programs for X‑ray modalities (radiography, fluoroscopy, portable units, mammography if applicable), including routine phantom testing, image quality metrics, and corrective action plans when acceptance criteria are not met.
Develop, maintain, and deliver education and training programs for clinical staff and contractors on radiation safety, proper use of X‑ray equipment, ALARA principles, incident reporting, and emergency response procedures.
Develop, review, and update policies, SOPs, and clinical practice guidelines related to X‑ray operations, radiation safety governance, and imaging appropriateness; shepherd policy approvals and enterprise adoption.
Lead incident investigations and root cause analyses for unintended exposures or equipment failures, produce corrective/preventive action plans, and communicate findings to leadership and regulatory bodies as required.
Prepare, manage, and report program budgets and financial forecasts for X‑ray capital expenditures, service contracts, consumables, and safety initiatives; identify cost-saving opportunities and justify investments in imaging technology.
Oversee grant and contract activities related to X‑ray services or imaging research; evaluate proposals, manage awards, ensure compliance with funder terms, and coordinate technical deliverables.
Conduct technical and clinical evaluations of new X‑ray technologies and vendors; prepare business cases, vendor scorecards, clinical impact assessments, and ROI analyses to inform procurement decisions.
Implement and monitor imaging informatics integrations (PACS, RIS, DICOM standards, HL7) and work with IT to ensure secure, auditable transfer and storage of X‑ray images and metadata.
Establish and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) for radiation dose monitoring, exam turnaround time, equipment uptime, and QA compliance; produce monthly/quarterly reports for executive leadership and stakeholders.
Coordinate multi-site program rollout activities and standardization efforts in health systems or regional networks to ensure consistent X‑ray practices, reporting, and safety culture.
Develop vendor contract language and service level agreements (SLAs) specific to X‑ray equipment performance, preventative maintenance, and emergency support; manage vendor performance and escalations.
Provide subject matter expertise in peer review, clinical governance committees, and cross-functional working groups addressing diagnostic accuracy, imaging appropriateness, and radiation risk communication.
Lead research-support activities that require X‑ray resources: protocol feasibility assessments, equipment scheduling, image data collection standards, and regulatory support for institutional review boards (IRBs).
Maintain proactive surveillance of emerging regulations, standards (e.g., ACR, IAEA, IEC), and best practices in radiology and radiation protection; translate changes into actionable program updates and staff training.
Support digital transformation initiatives within imaging services, including dose-tracking platforms, automated QA tools, and AI-assisted image analysis pilots, ensuring validation and governance of new tools.
Represent the organization at conferences, regulatory meetings, and external stakeholder briefings; prepare technical briefs, white papers, and public communications on X‑ray program outcomes and safety performance.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc technical and data analysis requests related to dose trends, utilization, and equipment performance.
Maintain and organize the X‑ray equipment inventory and asset tagging systems, ensuring accurate tracking for audits and capital planning.
Contribute to emergency preparedness planning for radiological incidents, coordinating drills and interdepartmental response protocols.
Facilitate cross-training and mentorship for junior staff, technologists, and new supervisors to build internal program capacity.
Act as backup Radiation Safety Officer when required, including performing area surveys and regulatory inspections.
Collaborate with vendors and clinical researchers to implement site-specific imaging protocols for clinical trials and multicenter studies.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Radiation protection and dosimetry: personnel dosimeter programs, dose optimization, ALARA implementation, and dose-tracking systems.
Regulatory knowledge: familiarity with NRC/state radiation control regulations, FDA guidance on radiological devices, OSHA, and accreditation requirements (e.g., ACR, Joint Commission).
Imaging physics and quality assurance: acceptance testing, phantom-based QA, performance metrics for radiography and fluoroscopy systems.
Equipment lifecycle and procurement: writing technical specifications, conducting vendor evaluations, and managing equipment acceptance testing.
PACS/RIS and imaging informatics: DICOM standard, HL7 interoperability, image archiving workflows, and basic troubleshooting.
Data analysis and reporting: experience with Excel, BI tools, SQL or scripting for dose/utilization analytics and KPI dashboards.
Project and program management: planning, risk management, budget development, and progress reporting for multi-site programs.
Incident investigation and CAPA: root cause analysis methodologies and corrective/preventive action tracking.
Contract and vendor management: drafting SLAs, service contracts, and vendor performance evaluation.
Clinical workflow optimization: protocol standardization, exam appropriateness criteria, and throughput improvement strategies.
Medical device safety and maintenance coordination: preventive maintenance scheduling and failure mode assessments.
Research support & compliance: familiarity with IRB processes, clinical trial imaging standards, and data management requirements.
Technical writing and policy development: drafting SOPs, guidance documents, and regulatory submissions.
Familiarity with radiation shielding assessments, structural protection calculations, or coordination with health physicists/engineers.
Experience with dose-monitoring platforms, QA automation tools, or image analysis software (including AI/ML validation basics).

Soft Skills

Clear, persuasive communicator — able to explain technical issues to clinicians, executives, regulators, and the public.
Collaborative leader — builds consensus across clinical, technical, and administrative stakeholders.
Analytical thinker — uses data to drive decisions, prioritize projects, and measure program impact.
Detail-oriented and organized — maintains rigorous documentation for compliance and audit readiness.
Problem-solver with composure under pressure — leads incident response and rapid remediation.
Influential negotiator — manages vendor relationships and secures favorable contract terms.
Strategic planner — balances short-term operational needs with long-term program investments.
Trainer and mentor — develops team capabilities and fosters a safety culture.
Ethical and accountable — ensures patient and staff safety are prioritized in all decisions.
Adaptable and continuous learner — keeps pace with rapidly evolving imaging technologies and regulations.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Radiologic Technology, Health Physics, Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering, Public Health, or a related technical/healthcare field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Health Administration (MHA), Public Health (MPH), Medical Physics, or similar advanced degree.
Certification such as Certified Radiologic Technologist (ARRT), Certified Health Physicist (CHP), or Radiation Safety Officer certification where applicable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Radiologic Technology / Diagnostic Imaging
Health Physics or Medical Physics
Biomedical Engineering
Public Health or Health Administration
Clinical Informatics / Health Information Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5–10+ years of progressive experience in radiology services, radiation safety, medical physics, or healthcare program management.

Preferred:

At least 3–5 years in a supervisory or program lead capacity managing X‑ray or imaging services across multiple sites.
Demonstrated experience with regulatory inspections and successful audit outcomes.
Track record of leading equipment procurement, QA programs, dose optimization initiatives, and cross-functional process improvements.
Experience implementing or managing imaging informatics systems (PACS/DICOM) and dose-tracking or QA automation platforms.