The facility Privacy/FOLA Officer has oversight for the data governance program and initiatives in the VHA Medical Center or Healthcare System and it's supporting catchment area. The position makes unique facility-level determinations about disclosures, issuance of denials, redactions , access, use and dissemination of federal agency records. Provides guidance while communicating complex information to the Executive leadership, facility staff and outside stakeholders.

Duties

Duties to include but not limited to the following: Supports developing a local level strategy for data governance, which includes leading from the executive office and creating a unique program that includes 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. Participate in developing and implanting policies and procedures for processing correspondence requests in accordance with Federal, State and local statutes. Research, plan, prepare, coordinate of regulations and policy directives related to Privacy Act and HIPAA Privacy Rule, release of information and confidentiality issues. Participate as Privacy/FOIA representative on facility and VISN committees, teams and work groups with information security and privacy related functions and responsibilities. Process complaints and investigate allegations of unauthorized or impermissible activities related to the handling or release of privacy protected information. Investigate complaints, incidents and data breaches and recommends appropriate remediation.. Enter all privacy complaints, incidents and data breaches in Privacy and Security Event Tracking System (PSETS). Review FOIA requests, including requests for health records and scans and enters FOIA requests into FOIA express. Conduct monthly and quarterly monitors as required by VHA policy to ensure privacy processes are being followed. Research and prepare and presents various privacy related issues in response to official inquiries using multiple communication methods. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8am-4:30 PM Telework: Ad-Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Government Information Specialist/PD077840 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/27/2024. 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-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 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-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: Qualifying specialized experience includes but is not limited to: Implements the Privacy and Freedom of Information Act programs (FOIA) for the facility; Assesses the facility's privacy posture through periodic evaluation of the facility's collection, use, storage and maintenance of sensitive personal information; Provides guidance to management and staff regarding HIPAA requirements, policies and procedures; Processes complaints and investigates allegations of illegal or improper activities related to the handling or release of privacy protected information; Collaboratives with Information Security Officer and Contracting Officer to ensure what privacy requirements under VA Handbook 6500.6, Appendix C are required and ensures any Business Associate requiring access to protected health information has the appropriate executed Business Associate Agreement as required by the HIPAA Privacy Rule; Ensures the utilization of the Release of Information (ROI) Records Management software by the ROI Unit; Responds to requests for information; Identifies the need for and maintains records of facility training regarding Privacy and FOIA. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: CommunicationsEducation and TrainingInterpersonal SkillsKnowledge Management 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, 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center 3701 Loop Road East Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 US
• Name: D'Andre Flint
• Phone: 404-219-3292
• Email: D'[email protected]