Government Information Specialist

Veterans Health Administration•Madison, WI

About The Position

This position is located at the William 5. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, a Level 1b Complexity VHA Facility, and is organizationally aligned under the Office of the Director. The Government Information Specialist formulates policy, advises agency and facility management, and ensures compliance with Federal and State laws governing the collection, maintenance, disclosure, and safeguarding of Government information while supporting accountability and transparency. The specialist implements, manages, and monitors the facility Privacy and FOIA programs; develops facility-specific policies and procedures; reviews processes, workflows, contracts, and agreements; and assesses how sensitive personal information is collected, used, stored, and maintained. The position advises management and staff on applicable privacy, FOIA, and, where appropriate, HIPAA requirements; coordinates program implementation with higher organizational levels; and prepares reports and responses to inquiries, requests, complaints, appeals, and data breaches. The position represents the facility on committees, teams, and work groups and provides guidance on information-use, disclosure, and privacy matters. Its policies and procedures apply throughout the facility, including Community Based Offsite Clinics within the hospital’s geographical catchment area and operational reach. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telework may be authorized; eligibility will be discussed during the interview. This is not a virtual position.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level, typically including relevant experience advising management and staff on policies and procedures; researching and responding to FOIA requests; preparing privacy inquiry responses; assisting with privacy-related investigations; investigating data breaches and recommending remediation; entering privacy complaints, incidents, and breaches into PSETS; reviewing FOIA appeals; and representing the facility on committees and work groups.
Current Federal employees and former Federal employees applying for reinstatement or under VEOA must meet the GS-11 time-in-grade requirement: 52 weeks at GS-09. Applicable SF-50 documentation must be submitted.
Complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment.
Complete a background/security investigation and online onboarding process; provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a condition of employment for VA Health Care Personnel.
Serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
The work does not inherently include physical requirements essential to performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment; a pre-placement physical examination is not required.

Responsibilities

Implement, manage, and monitor facility Privacy and FOIA programs by distributing information, preparing facility-specific policy guidance, reviewing processes and workflows, reviewing contracts and agreements, and assessing the facility’s privacy posture.
Advise management and staff on applicable statutory and policy requirements, including Title 38 U.S.C. Sections 5701, 5705, and 7332, the Privacy Act, FOIA, and, where appropriate, HIPAA; ensure staff understand and fulfill their responsibilities.
Coordinate program implementation and management with higher organizational levels and prepare reports and information.
Keep abreast of developments in disclosure, including legislative resolutions and issues encountered in FOIA and Privacy programs.
Research, analyze, and respond to facility FOIA requests, applying FOIA exemptions as required.
Review and analyze appeals of denials of access to records requested under FOIA and recommend final agency decisions on releasing or withholding records.
Prepare responses to privacy inquiries from Congressional Offices, Human Resources, news media, and the HHS Office for Civil Rights.
Investigate HHS OCR requests concerning HIPAA privacy complaints in coordination with the VHA Privacy Office.
Assist with investigations of privacy-related inquiries from the Office of Special Counsel by the VHA Privacy Office and VHA Office of the Medical Inspector, and provide required information or materials.
Process complaints and investigate allegations involving facility privacy practices, access to individually identifiable health information, or disclosure or release of such information.
Investigate data breaches and suggest appropriate remediation.
Enter privacy complaints, incidents, and data breaches into the Privacy and Security Event Tracking System (PSETS).
Represent the facility on committees, teams, and work groups and provide guidance on information use, disclosure, and privacy-related functions.
Develop facility privacy and FOIA policies and procedures in compliance with VA/VHA policies and procedures, and ensure implementation throughout the facility and its Community Based Offsite Clinics.
Perform other related duties as assigned.