Incumbent has oversight for data governance program & initiatives in the Health Care System & supporting catchment area. Makes unique facility-level determinations about disclosures, issuance of denials, redactions, access, use/dissemination of agency records. Formulates policy, ensures compliance with federal & state laws & conducts research of federal implementing regulations. Provides guidance while communicating information to the Executive leadership, facility staff & outside stakeholders.

Duties

Please note: This is a detail/temporary promotion not to exceed one year and selectee will be required to be on-station at the Amarillo VA HCS in Amarillo TX. Duties include, but are not limited to: Facility Data Governance Director and Information Strategist Supports developing a local level strategy for data governance, which includes leading from the executive office and creating a unique program that includes diverse processes and specific policies which are independent of other facilities Developing the local privacy strategy that integrates the Health Care System with data governance program goals, national strategic priorities and VA core values Leveraging key functions of the authority delegated from the facility Director to make final decisions of data disclosure, initiate independent investigations, conduct compliance activities and implement physical, technical and administrative safeguards across the facility Interacting with external stakeholders to include Veteran Service Organizations (VSO's), Congressional representatives, internal and external partners, community leaders, attorneys, news media, affiliate universities, commercial entities and the local public with regards to the protection, release and transparency of information Developing and executing strategic management initiatives that establishes areas of control of information within the facility and interfaces with all business operations across service lines/departments Creating unique written policies that define the enterprise privacy principles, guidance and practices that influence the data governance model for the organization Performing complex analysis of key policy inquiries that can encompass any and all information collected, used or disclosed in the facility Contributing to significant agency decisions, policy recommendations and executive leadership consultations based on an in-depth knowledge of government regulatory and federal and state statutory requirements, case law and Office of Inspector General (OIG), Government Accounting Office (GAO) and National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) verdicts In the absence of guidance, makes important decisions and creates policies that are in accordance with generally accepted privacy principles Serving as a senior team leader and independently planning, coordinating and administering major, high- priority privacy investigative cases which are integral to agency data governance objectives Performance Measurement, Assessment and Improvement Planning and conducting monitoring activities which measure the overall level of operational compliance by the facility With only general and broad guidance, must possess vast knowledge of the varying policies and work processes throughout the facility Possessing the ability to apply a wide range of qualitative and quantitative methods for the assessment and improvement of data governance program effectiveness Assessing gaps in policy, measure the knowledge of individual staff and facilitate improvements against the ever-changing policies, regulations and statutes that impact the privacy and FOIA programs Creating a communications process and tools that are flexible, customizable and interactive to address the VHA Medical Center or Healthcare System's unique compliance challenges and educational/training needs Teaching and training employees on general data protection procedures and detailed service specific practices for daily operations Using technology to provide required privacy/FOIA training and supplemental education to both clinical and administrative staff based on a detailed risk-based gap analysis Coaching supervisors to train staff on the appropriate access to protected health information Data Lifecycle Management, Protection and Disclosure Classifying and addressing issues stemming from conflict of regulations and laws and differences in compliance with facility business practices Performing assessment of privacy-related risks associated with business activities that involve processing of personal and sensitive data Leading a team that determines potential privacy risk to individuals, evaluating both new and existing controls to reduce risk and documenting solutions to mitigate the risks within the entire organization Managing a system-wide communication strategy as it relates to the request timely release and amendment of records from the facility Work Schedule: Fulltime, Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Government Information Specialist (Privacy/FOIA Officer) - Detail/Temporary Promotion/PD99843-S and PD99538-S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Required Not a Bargaining Unit position Current Supervisor approval is required prior to accepting this detail/temporary promotion.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/20/2023. 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 and for a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. 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. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: GS-11 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: planning and conducting monitoring activities which measure the overall level of operational compliance by the facility; performing complex analysis of key policy inquiries that can encompass any and all information collected, used or disclosed in the facility; teaching and training employees on general data protection procedures and detailed service specific practices for daily operations; developing a communication strategy that fosters awareness for both internal and external partners to improve compliance, providing training and engaging the public and developing and executing strategic management initiatives that establishes areas of control of information within the facility and interfacing with all business operations across service lines/departments. OR Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-11 level. A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)OR Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-11 level. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-11. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. GS-12 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: independently performing in-depth legal research that pertains to both federal and state statutes to render expertise, providing solutions and facilitating corrective action. Independently investigating non-compliance of privacy related issues at all levels of the organization and outside of the organization when VHA information is involved; solely responsible for all aspects of the Privacy/FOIA Program to include Strategic and Risk analysis, planning, program outreach, coordinating training, developing metrics and ensuring that federally mandated information governance and accountability measures are in place; coaching supervisors to train staff on the appropriate access to protected health information. Teaching staff to identify, respond and report potential violations of sensitive information. Educating executive leadership, managerial and front-line staff annually on FOIA with respect to their responsibilities as they relate to FOIA; interacting high ranking external stakeholders to include Veteran Service Organizations (VSO's), Congressional representatives, internal and external partners, community leaders, attorneys, news media, affiliate universities, commercial entities and the local public with regards to the protection, release and transparency of information within the facility and creating unique written policies that define the enterprise privacy principles, guidance and practices that influence the data governance model for the organization. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Compliance Oral communication Critical thinking Education and training Writing 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 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. 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

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.

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

There is no educational substitution for GS-12.

Contacts

• Address Thomas E Creek VA Medical Center 6010 Amarillo Boulevard, West Amarillo, TX 79106 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]