The Finger Lakes Healthcare System is recruiting one Government Information Special. The Integrated VA FL HCS Privacy/FOIA Officer has oversight for the data governance program and initiatives in the Healthcare System, including Bath VAMC & Canandaigua VAMC and several CBOCs, and its supporting catchment area. The position makes unique facility-level determinations about disclosures, issuance of denials, redactions, access, use and dissemination of federal agency records.

Duties

Responsibilities include the safeguarding of Government information while supporting accountability and transparency initiatives. The Privacy/FOIA Officer reports directly to a Senior Executive member of the VHA facility (i.e., Facility Director, or Assistant Facility Director) and is 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. The work involves implementing unique policies and procedures to manage agency information, providing assistance and services to the general public and VA staff members. The work requires researching, interpreting and applying laws, regulations, policies and guidance for access and disclosure of VA agency records and information. 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. Develops the local privacy strategy that integrates the VHA Medical Center or Healthcare System with data governance program goals, national strategic priorities and VA core values. Leverages 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. Additionally, the Privacy/FOIA Officer will interact with 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. Develops and executes strategic management initiatives that establishes areas of control of information within the facility and interfaces with all business operations across service lines/departments. Creates unique written policies that define the enterprise privacy principles, guidance and practices that influence the data governance model for the organization. Systematically approves all facility policies and reviews business practices to ensure appropriate use and protection of information specific to each functional area. As a direct report to senior leadership, uses influence to make recommendations for the establishment, modification or elimination of service specific policies or work practices. Strengthens and sustains the operational life cycle of the privacy/FOIA program by developing a communication strategy that fosters awareness for both internal and external partners to improve compliance, provide training and engage the public. Exerts influence on senior leaders within the agency to adopt data governance into their business planning and daily operations. Provides subject matter expertise directly and independently with senior leadership, local and facility Law Enforcement, Office of Chief Counsel in the District, VHA Central Office and VISN leadership regarding data governance. Represents the agency authoritatively to key officials and organizations both within and outside of VA Resolves major issues and concerns with regards to data governance in the absence of VHA program office or Office of General Counsel (OGC) oversight. Routinely makes independent key decisions that can have serious implications for the agency in the absence of situational guidance. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 0800-1630 Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Government Information Special/PD99843S Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/30/2023. 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 GS12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS11. 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: Specialized Experience GS12: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience with supporting and 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; Experience with developing the local privacy strategy that integrates the VHA Medical Center or Healthcare System with data governance program goals, national strategic priorities and VA core values; Ability to leverage 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; Ability to interact with 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; Experience with 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; Ability to create 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: ComplianceCustomer ServicePlanning and EvaluatingRisk ManagementStrategic ThinkingTechnical Competence 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 of standing 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

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

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 Bath VA Medical Center 76 Veterans Avenue Bath, NY 14810 US
• Name: Tara Lanigan
• Phone: 612-467-6517
• Email: [email protected]