Government Information Specialist

Full Job Description

The facility Privacy/FOIA Officer has oversight for the data governance program and initiatives in the VHA Medical Center or Healthcare System and its supporting catchment area.

The position makes unique facility-level determinations about disclosures, issuance of denials, redactions, access, use and dissemination of federal agency records.

The position formulates policy, ensures compliance with federal and state laws and conducts thorough research of federal implementing regulations.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/06/2026.

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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. 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.

GS-11 Minimum Qualifications: 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-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Working with Disclosure Legislation, statutes, the Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Act, and other guidelines to effectively deal with the release or non-release of information on requests; providing technical guidance and direction ensuring proper Disclosure compliance; and researching and responding to basic questions or requests concerning the release of confidential information OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience.

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have: Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M if related.

OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education.

Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the grade levels specified above, and may be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages.

The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for that grade level.

(Note: Only graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be used to qualify applicants for positions at grades GS-9 and GS-11.) GS-12 Minimum Qualifications: 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: Experience as a Privacy/FOIA officer working independently with little supervision; formulating policy; ensuring compliance with federal and state laws and conducting thorough research of implementing regulations, policies, and procedures to manage agency/organization information; providing assistance and services to the general public and staff members; and communicating information to the Executive leadership, facility staff, and outside stakeholders.

Education: There is no educational substitute at this grade level.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communications External Awareness Manages and Organizes Information Security 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.

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/.

Major Duties:

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met.

Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Duties may include but are not limited to: 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.

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.

Leverages 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.

Interacts 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.

Develops and executes strategic management initiatives that establishes areas of control of information within the facility and interfaces with all business operations across service lines/departments.

Creates unique written policies that define the enterprise privacy principles, guidance and practices that influence the data governance model for the organization.

Systematically approves all facility policies and reviews business practices to ensure appropriate use and protection of information specific to each functional area.

As a direct report to senior leadership, uses influence to make recommendations for the establishment, modification or elimination of service specific policies or work practices.

Strengthens and sustains the operational life cycle of the privacy/FOIA program by developing a communication strategy that fosters awareness for both internal and external partners to improve compliance, provide training and engage the public.

Exerts influence on senior leaders within the agency to adopt data governance into their business planning and daily operations.

Provides 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.

Represents the agency authoritatively to key officials and organizations both within and outside of VA.

Resolves major issues and concerns with regards to data governance in the absence of VHA program office or Office of General Counsel (OGC) oversight.

Routinely makes independent key decisions that can have serious implications for the agency in the absence of situational guidance.

Performs complex analysis of key policy inquiries that can encompass any and all information collected, used or disclosed in the facility.

Contributes to significant agency decisions, policy recommendations and executive leadership consultations based on an in-depth knowledge of government regulatory and federal and state statutory requirements, case law and Office of Inspector General (OIG), Government Accounting Office (GAO) and National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) verdicts.

Serves as a senior team leader and independently plans, coordinates and administers major, high- priority privacy investigative cases which are integral to agency data governance objectives.

Coordinates and delegates complex investigative responsibilities that frequently collaborate with Office of Chief Counsel in the District, human resources, executive leadership and labor partners.

Leads a team that analyzes and evaluates complex data, conducts meetings, briefings and suggests potential administrative action to leadership pursuant to a privacy violation.

Plans and conducts monitoring activities which measure the overall level of operational compliance by the facility. Other tasks/duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full time. Monday through Friday.

7:00am to 3:30pm. Telework: This position may be authorized for Ad-hoc telework. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Government Information Specialist/PD99843S and PD99538S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.