The incumbent will report directly to a Senior Executive member of the VHA facility (i.e., Facility Director, or Associate 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.

Duties

Major duties include, but are not limited to the following: Formulate policy, ensure compliance with federal and state laws and conducts thorough research of federal implementing regulations. Provide guidance while communicating complex information to the Executive leadership, facility staff and outside stakeholders. Make unique facility-level determinations about disclosures, issuance of denials, redactions, access, use and dissemination of federal agency records. Responsible for safeguarding of Government information while supporting accountability and transparency initiatives. Support 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. Develop 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. 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. 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. Develop and execute strategic management initiatives that establish area of control of information within the facility and interfaces with all business operations across service lines/departments. Provide 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. Teach staff to identify, respond and report potential violations of sensitive information. Independently investigate non-compliance of privacy related issues at all levels of the organization and outside of the organization when VHA information is involved. Advocate for Veterans, patients and employees that are victims of privacy violations. Manage a system-wide communication strategy as it relates to the request timely release and amendment of records from the facility. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Position Description/PD#: Government Information Specialist/PD014990 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved 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, 03/18/2024. 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-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. 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 and/or education as described below: 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: supporting general office operations such as managing a database, compiling reports, drafting correspondence, and customer service; comprehensive knowledge and understanding of all data governance related federal legislation and implementing regulations, Executive Orders, federal and agency policies and procedures, case law and precedent related to information disclosure, security, privacy and protection. 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 two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B or J.D., if related that demonstrates the knowledge, skill, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation.. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond the amount required for the next lower grade level to qualify for positions at grade GS-9. To combine education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the specialized experience requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education comparted to the education requirement must equal at least 100 percent. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: CommunicationsExternal AwarenessManages and Organizes InformationSecurity 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. Preferred Experience: Specialized experience and a working knowledge of applicable Privacy Act and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) laws and regulations. Knowledge of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other Federal privacy laws. Knowledge and understanding of records management and the Government Paperwork Reduction Act. Possess strong analytical thinking skills. Ability to provide training and personal development. Knowledge of ADP security. Physical Requirements and Work Environment: 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. The work may be performed in an office setting with adequate light, heat, air conditioning and ventilation. Traveling off-station to VA outpatient clinics, contracted community-based clinics, business associate offices and between campuses to provide training and attend/conduct meetings is necessary. May require occasional travel. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Columbia VA Health Care System 6439 Garners Ferry Road Columbia, SC 29209 US
• Name: Christen Watson
• Phone: 404-694-2114
• Email: [email protected]