This position serves as the Privacy and Freedom of Information Act Officer in a VHA facility. The Privacy/FOIA Officer contributes to the fulfillment of the VA mission and vision by planning, designing, implementing and maintaining appropriate and effective program, policies and procedures in a VHA facility.

For more details on elgibility, requirements, and evaluation. Please click “Apply Now”, which will take you to the US Gov job platform.

Job Grade: 9
Total Openings:

Duties:

Implement, manage and evaluate the Privacy and Freedom of information Act programs in the facility by distributing information, preparing facility-specific guidance, reviewing facility processes and products for compliance with program requirements, and assessing the facility privacy posture through periodic evaluation of the facility’s collection, use, storage and maintenance of sensitive personal information. Duties include but are not limited to: Coordinate program implementation and management with higher organizational levels and prepare required and requested reports and information. Develop facility privacy and FOIA policies and procedures in compliance with Department and Administration privacy policies and ensure appropriate implementation within the facility. Processes complaints and investigates allegations of illegal or improper activities related to the handling or release of privacy protected information. Monitor compliance with program requirements. Initiate and conduct internal compliance reviews, assessments and audits within the facility. Ensure the Privacy Act systems of records maintained at the facility are retained in accordance with system of records notice. Ensure processes are in place for the appropriate accounting of all disclosures of privacy protected information made by the facility. Review all research protocols requiring the use of protected health information to ensure all privacy requirements have been met and participate on the facility Research and Development (R&D) Committee or Institutional Review Board (IRB). Respond to FOIA requests and maintain records; coordinate records review and redaction by organizations responsible for the records being requested. Review and respond to appeals of denials of FOIA requests. Work Schedule: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Government Information Specialist/PD005130
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Qualifications:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/28/2022. 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-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. 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-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Responsible for planning, designing, implementing and maintaining appropriate and effective Privacy and Freedom Information policies and procedures. Serves as a liaison with the facility staff ensuring information is disseminated to appropriate areas and employees are adhering to mandates from regulatory agencies. Maintains a strong and consistent focus on privacy and Freedom Information Act. Develops facility-specific privacy and FOIA training materials. Prepare and respond to correspondence, distribute information, review facility processes andproducts for compliance with FOIA program requirements. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master’s or equivalent graduate degree 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degreeor LL.B. or J.D., if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience directly related to the work of the Government Information Specialist position, may be substituted to meet the experience requirements for GS-09 position. For example, an applicant with 6 months of appropriate specialized experience equivalent to GS-07 (50 percent of the experience requirement for GS-09) and 1 year of successfully completed graduate education (18 semester hours), as is describe above, (50 percent of the education requirement for the GS-09) would qualify for a GS-09 position. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
Customer ServiceData ManagementDatabase Management Systems 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 performed in an office setting. There are no unusual physical demands. 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/.

Job Requirements:

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) – See “Additional Information” below for details.