Government Information Specialist

Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks; Fayetteville (AR); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks is seeking a developmental GS-9 Government Information Specialist in the Privacy/Freedom of Information Act program office. The role offers a career ladder to GS-11 and involves privacy, FOIA, PSETS, and FSA operations, including reporting, data analysis, program assessment, and administrative duties.

The position may involve telework and requires duties such as evaluating compliance, coordinating with staff, and presenting findings to committees.

Qualifications

• U.S. citizen status required.
• Experience with Privacy, FOIA, PSETS and FSA operations preferred.
• Ability to analyze data and prepare reports.

Responsibilities

• Assist in assessment, development, implementation, coordination and evaluation.
• Develop tools to measure privacy incidents, FOIA requests, and HIPAA compliance.
• Maintain compliance files and support reporting to committees.
• Conduct Facility Site Assessments and consolidate related data.
• Ensure proper use of ROI Records Management software and respond to information requests.

Skills

Privacy compliance

FOIA processing

Tools

ROI Records Management software

Job description

Summary

This is a developmental GS-9 Government Information Specialist position located in the Privacy/Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Program Office, Veterans Healthcare System of the Ozarks. The position is part of a career ladder to GS-11 and performs progressively responsible duties involving Privacy, FOIA, PSETS, and FSA operations, including reporting, data analysis, program assessment, administrative operations, coordination, and evaluation.

Major Duties

Duties include but are not limited to: Provide support to the facility's by assisting in the assessment, development, implementation, coordination and evaluation. Develop and implements tools that measure the hospital's compliance to the privacy incidents/complaints and HIPAA standards. Maintain compliance files and library. Performs a variety of typing using word processing equipment, databases, and spreadsheet software to record, revise, correct, merge, print and program material Conducts Facility Site Assessment (FSA) - quarterly reports (consolidating Privacy, Records Management, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Facility Complexity, and Privacy Research). Establishes and implements reporting processes for the appropriate accounting of all disclosures of privacy protected information made by the facility. Ensure the appropriate utilization of the Release of Information (ROI) Records Management software by the facility ROI Department and other areas making disclosures of patient health information. Prepare and address the identified pre-review documentation requests, and/or are specific and complete in response to post-review response questions or action items. Analyzes TJC Accreditation Survey, PCA, FSA, PSETS and any other related measurement data using the appropriate statistical process control techniques and tools. Collects and summarizes data; identifies opportunities for improvement and presents findings on a monthly basis to appropriate committees. Ensures methods and procedures are carried out in conformance with regulations and higher headquarters directives. Reviews and initiates action and provides guidance to staff members pertaining to compliance issue Performs other related duties as assigned. 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. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, (Subject to change based on the needs of the Agency) Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Government Information Specialist/PD033050 and PD033080 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary. It requires sitting, walking, bending and carrying light items such as books, papers and files. The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Evaluations

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position: Communications Security Manages and Organizes Information Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. 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. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. 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. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Resume SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Resume Requirement: Your resume must include the following information: Job title, description of duties, beginning and ending date (month/year) of employment, and average hours worked per week. The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please 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 Other (1) Performance Appraisal Resume Separation Notice (RIF) 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. 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. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. 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. VA Only: Area of consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: 1st Area of Consideration - current permanent "Add the Official Facility Name" employees including satellites; 2nd Area of Consideration - current permanent Veterans Healthcare Administration employees; 3rd Area of Consideration - current permanent VA Nationwide employees.

Other Information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced 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 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/.