Government Information Specialist-Privacy/FOIA Officer

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/28/2026. 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-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: Control of information to include: the creation, use, disclosure, or destruction; Knowledge and understanding of all data governance related federal legislation in implementing regulations, executive orders, federal agency policies and procedures, case law, and precedent decisions related to the information disclosure, security, privacy, and protection in order to manage a facility Privacy and FOIA program.; Knowledge of data quality improvement practices and the ability to develop a system of internal monitoring that identifies potential organizational risks, trends, and severity unique to the facility; developing recommendations for significant changes (e.g., VA policies, practices, etc.) to transform the way work is performed, evaluating policies and guiding agency decisions.

Education

There is no education substitution at this grade level. 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/.

Duties include, but are not limited to: Develops the local privacy strategy that integrates the Battle Creek VA Medical Center with data governance program goals, national strategic priorities, and VA core values. 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.

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.

Using an expert understanding of all applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines, independently analyzes all interrelated issues that affect the privacy/FOIA program. Plans and conducts monitoring activities which measure the overall level of operational compliance by the facility. Contributes to national VHA performance data by submitting reports with findings and recommendations to senior leadership and national program offices.

Makes changes to facility policies and procedures after gaps in compliance are identified. Develops and integrates policy-based processes, roles and controls that influences how data is created, collected, used, stored and destroyed throughout the organization. Independently investigates non-compliance of privacy related issues at all levels of the organization and outside of the organization when VHA information is involved. Advocates for Veterans, patients and employees that are victims of privacy violations.

Conducts detailed investigatory interviews with staff, patients and vendors to collect facts in response to privacy complaints. Identifies privacy risk within the organization and ensures corrective action is taken to mitigate the safety of patients' privacy. Independently performs in-depth legal research that pertains to both federal and state statutes to render expertise, provide solutions and facilitate corrective action.

Reviews federal court determinations and pertinent case law to make determinations in Privacy, FOIA and other health care related matters that involve the agency. Coordinates with the Office of Chief Counsel in the District to help protect Government interests regarding privacy and FOIA when legal ramifications exist. Adjudicates complex privacy and FOIA decisions that affect employees, Veterans, patients, and commercial businesses in the absence of supervision.

Responsible for the determining the authority to disclose information from the Battle Creek VA Medical Center. Manages a system-wide communication strategy as it relates to the request timely release and amendment of records from the facility. Ensures that agency correspondence for data governance is transparent, timely, accurate and complete in response to requests for information from the general public, Congressional representatives, law enforcement, courts, and commercial business.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: This position may be authorized for ad-hoc telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Government Information Specialist-Privacy/FOIA Officer/PD99843S