New job Government Information Specialist in Kansas

Government Information Specialist

Company : US Veterans Health Administration
Salary : $77,488 - $100,739 a year
Location : Kansas

Full Description

Duties

Summary

The Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center is seeking to fill a permanent Government Information Specialist.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Position Description/PD#: PD# 08360-0 Government Information Specialist
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Telework: ADHOC, only as needed
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Fair Labor Standards Act: Exempt
Bargaining Unit Status: Not Covered


Responsibilities

The Privacy Officer is responsible for administering, analyzing, and performing work involved in establishing, disseminating, or managing Government information within the, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Healthcare Centers. Government Information Specialists formulate policy, advise agency and facility management, and ensure compliance with all Federal and State laws governing the collection, maintenance and disclosure of information. The work also involves the safeguarding of Government information while supporting accountability and transparency. The Government Information Specialist (Privacy/FOIA Specialist reports directly to a member of the VHA triad (i.e., Medical Center Director, or Assistant/Associate Medical Center Director).

Government Information Specialist implements policies and procedures to manage information and provides information-related assistance and services to Veterans, the general public, Congress and VA staff members. The work requires interpreting and applying laws, regulations, policies, and guidance to provide access to VA agency records and information, while ensuring protected health information is appropriately used and disclosed. The Privacy/FOIA Specialist makes determinations about disclosures, issuance of denials, redactions, monitoring and access to Federal agency records and use and disclosures of individually identifiable health information.

The Government Information Specialist focuses on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Privacy Act (PA), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Title 38 United States Code (U.S.C) §§ 5701, 5705 and 7332 statutes, and VA implementing regulations that govern the collection, maintenance, and release of information from VA records.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status

No

Promotion Potential

12

  • Job family (Series)

    0306 Government Information Specialist

  • Requirements

    Requirements

    Conditions of Employment

    • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
    • Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
    • 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

    Qualifications

    To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/26/2021.

    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.

    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.

    Current Title 38 Hybrid employees: To qualify for a Title 5 position based on the Interchange agreement, you must meet the following:
    1. Be currently serving under a permanent appointment.
    2. Served continuously for at least 1 year in the other merit system prior to appointment under the interchange agreement.

    Current permanent Veterans Canteen Service employees may apply for consideration under this vacancy announcement.

    GS-12

    SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one-year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09.

    Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience include, but not be limited to:
    • Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of FOIA.
    • Implementing and enforcing regulations, policies, and procedures.
    • Knowledge of administrative and facility programs and organization in response to requests for release of information, complaints, and allegations of improper conduct.
    • Knowledge of HIPAA, HIPAA Privacy Rule, regulatory, licensing, and accrediting agency requirements. Such ass The Joint Commission related to collection, use, maintenance, storage, and release of health information.
    • Knowledge of interrelationship between HIPAA and other Federal privacy laws.
    • Knowledge of programs record keeping requirements.
    • Effective oral and written communication skills to explain Privacy/FOIA requirements and procedures to management and staff.
    • Defend findings and recommendations to management, prepare written responses, reports, and information materials for a variety of audiences.
    • Knowledge of establishing and maintaining good working relationships with managers and staff throughout the agency and with representatives of other organizations with Privacy/FOIA related responsibilities and interests.
    • Effective at developing a system of internal monitoring that identifies potential organizational risks through trending and severity; including assisting service lines/departments in developing appropriate monitoring and auditing processes that mirror the goals of the facility.

    NOTE: Your application package must demonstrate the specialized experience. No assumptions can be made when your application is reviewed.

    Physical Requirements: The Specialist is required to perform privacy walk-throughs throughout the facility, travel to surrounding Clinic Based Outpatient Clinics, and visit local Business Associates place of business or record storage locations, so there may be on certain days a lot of walking. Other than the limited amount of walking there are no unusual physical demands.

    Work Environment: The work is performed in an office setting. The Specialist is required to perform privacy walk-throughs throughout the facility, travel to surrounding Clinic Based Outpatient Clinics, and visit local Business Associates place of business periodically.

    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.

    Additional information

    VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework ADHOC. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

    Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

    Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

    The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

    Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

    It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

    This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

    Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

    For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

    If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.


    How You Will Be Evaluated

    You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

    IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

    Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

    Background checks and security clearance

    Security clearance

    Other

    Drug test required

    No

    Position sensitivity and risk

    Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

    Trust determination process

    Suitability/Fitness

  • Required Documents

    Required Documents

    To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package. Requests for reconsideration of ratings will not be considered for applicants who fail to submit required documents. We cannot be held responsible for incompatible software or inaccurate file uploads.

    • Resume (required) - Resume must include the following information for each job listed: job title, duties, start and end dates, full time, or part time status (include hours worked per week). Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all the questions by addressing your work experience in detail. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.

    The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.
    • Cover Letter
    • DD-214/ Statement of Service
    • Disability Letter (Schedule A)
    • Disability Letter (VA)
    • License
    • Other (1)
    • Performance Appraisal
    • Professional Certification
    • Proof of Marriage Status
    • Resume
    • Separation Notice (RIF)
    • SF-15
    • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
    • Transcript


    SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):
    • Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
    • An SF-50 showing 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
    • Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
    • Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
      • Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
      • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
      • SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.
    Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

    If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

    Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

    Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

  • Benefits

    Benefits

    A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

    Review our benefits

    Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.


Help

This job is open to

  • Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

    Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

  • Federal employees - Competitive service

    Current or former competitive service federal employees.

  • Federal employees - Excepted service

    Current excepted service federal employees.

  • Individuals with disabilities

  • Internal to an agency

    Current federal employees of this agency.

  • Military spouses

  • Veterans

Clarification from the agency

AREAS OF CONSIDERATION - VA-Wide and All Status Eligible; however, first area of consideration will be given to current permanent Robert J. Dole VA employees, second to current permanent VA-Nationwide employees and finally, third area of consideration will be given to all other status eligible candidates.


Apply Now