The incumbent serves as the facility Privacy and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Officer and has oversight for the data governance program and initiatives in the VHA Medical Center . The incumbent is solely responsible for all aspects of the Privacy/FOIA Program to include Strategic and Risk analysis, planning, outreach, training, developing metrics, and ensuring that federally mandated information governance and accountability measures are in place.

Duties

Major duties of this position will include, and are not limited to: Responsible for administering, analyzing, supervising, or performing work involved in establishing, disseminating or managing Government information. Formulate policy, advise agency management, and ensure compliance with Federal laws governing the flow of information. Safeguarding of Government information while supporting accountability and transparency. Oversight for the data governance program and initiatives related to Privacy and the Freedom of Information Act. Creation of unique facility-level determinations about disclosures, access, use, and dissemination of federal agency records and privacy related issues. implement policies and procedures to manage government information and provide information-related assistance and services to the public and VA staff members. Interpreting and applying regulations, policies, and guidance to provide access to VA agency records and information, while ensuring protected information is appropriately disclosed or withheld. Make determinations about disclosures, issuance of denials, redirect actions, access to federal agency records, and use and dissemination of personally identifiable information as well as creating, implementing and ensuring compliance with local, VISN and National policies and procedures regarding the Privacy and FOIA programs. Implement, manage, and evaluate the Privacy and Freedom of Information Act programs in the facility by distributing information; preparing facility specific policy guidance; reviewing facility processes and workflow to ensure information is appropriately safeguarded, used, and disclosed. Coordinate FOIA program implementation and management with higher organizational levels and prepares required or requested reports and information. Develop facility-specific Privacy and FOIA training materials as needed, and provides training within the facility to staff, employees, students, contractors, and volunteers. Identify the need for coordination, monitoring, and maintaining records pertinent to FOIA requests and privacy concerns within the facility. Research, assemble, analyze, evaluate, and respond to all facility FOIA requests for agency information. Maintain FOIA records responsive to the requester. Review and analyze appeals from denials of access to records requested under FOIA and recommends final agency decision on release/non-release of records. Prepare documentation, including processing privacy complaints and performing investigation of allegations of illegal or improper activities related to the handling or release of privacy-protected information. Investigate data breaches, promotes labor partner collaboration when required, and recommends appropriate remediation. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Government Information Specialist (Privacy and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Officer)/PD915930 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/20/2023. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07.The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: For the GS-9 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Processing large volumes of electronic and paper records; Logging, tracking, and managing incoming requests/files and preparing reports as needed; Utilizing computer applications for word processing, manipulating documents in Portable Document Format (PDF), database/spreadsheet creation or management, email, and internet/web navigation; Communicating information in writing and orally to a diverse audience. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a master's or equivalent graduate degree, OR 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, OR LL.B. or J.D., if related.. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond the graduate level. For the GS-11 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Serve as a technical advisor on matters involving requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA); reviews and clears information received for release to the public either directly or through the official disclosure channels; coordinates statistical data for consolidated reports for regular and recurring FOIA and PA reports; tracks all Privacy and FOIA complaints, incident and data breaches into the Privacy Violation Tracking System. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond the graduate lev Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. There will be episodes of moderate lifting or prolonged periods ofstanding and bending in searching various files. There is lifting and carrying of such items as record boxes and bulky files. The work involves considerable walking, standing and bending conducting rounds, auditing and providing training to both on-site and off-site personnel. There is also occasional lifting and carrying of such items as boxes and files, weighing up to 30 lbs. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Aleda E Lutz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1500 Weiss Street Saginaw, MI 48602 US
• Name: Ryan Harrison
• Phone: 813-699-2311
• Email: [email protected]