Government Information Specialist

Summary The Privacy Compliance and Accountability Officer at Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) maintains the Privacy Compliance Assurance (PCA) Program and the auditing and continuous readiness review and remediation (C3R) activities required within VHA CAVHS for validating compliance with Federal privacy, research privacy, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and records management laws, regulations, and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Veterans Health Administration. Responsibilities Major Duties: Works with the Contracting Officer and Contracting Officer's Representative to ensure that contracts, purchase orders, or other acquisition documents include all the clauses needed to safeguard sensitive information, when appropriate, and reviewing to ensure that the Privacy Office is kept involved in the contracting process. This includes coordination with the facility Information Officer (ISSO) and other personnel to ensure the checklist meets requirements outlined in the VA Handbook 6500.6. Develops, in coordination with the facility Education Coordinator/Education Office or other designated office, a local level privacy training strategy that outlines the facility procedures for ensuring compliance with the annual privacy training requirement established by current VHA policy. Coordinates the completion of remediation activities as requested by Privacy Compliance Assurance (PCA). Monitors compliance with Federal statutes and regulations, VA regulations and policies, and VHA policies related to continued readiness, review and remediation activities for privacy, FOIA, records management and other associated programs according to VHA Directive 1605.03. Conducting continuous readiness review and remediation (C3R) activities, oversight of facility remediation actions and reporting of compliance status to facility leadership. Reviews and evaluates all programs covered by VHA Directive 1605.3, at the facility and outlying Community Based Outpatient Clinic accordance with the Directive to ensure compliance with national and facility policy, FOIA and records management policies. Conducts a monthly a monthly physical evaluation of a reasonable cross-section of facility operations in order to review operational compliance with privacy requirements. Coordinates facility responses to the FSA with Privacy, FOIS and Records Officers and completing and submitting the FSA for each program quarterly as required by PCA. Provides all documentation and other materials timely for audits by PCA. Completes and submits the Privacy FSA with Privacy, FOIA and Records Officers and completing and submitting the FSA for each program quarterly as required by PCA. All other duties assigned. Work Schedule: 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/PD047280 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Driver's License: A current, valid state-issued Driver's License is required for this position. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore; please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you will be required to provide a copy of your current, valid state-issued Driver's License. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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: 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 ( 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. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/08/2026. 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-09. 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-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: Experience providing administrative support such as being the first point of contact and routing information; Experience processing and reviewing documents to include FOIA requests, medical records for compliance with VA policy; Experience utilizing electronic systems to gather, review, input, update, access, organize, process and maintain information to ensure compliance with VA Privacy Standards. Communicate effectively in writing to prepare administrative correspondence, technical documents, analytical studies, formal directives, user manuals and regulations/policies. Communicate effectively orally to advise and give recommendations on TJC guidance for the employees at all levels (to include agency level). Utilize a personal computer and software such as word processors, graphics, spreadsheets, database management systems or communications to produce a wide range of documents (e.g., reports, memorandums, letters, etc.), incorporate data from different software applications and update databases or spreadsheets. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M. in a field related to this position that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have successfully completed graduate level education (in excess of the first two years or 36 semester hours) and specialized experience to meet total experience requirements. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at PHYSICAL DEMANDS 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. The work involves considerable walking, standing, and bending conducting rounds, auditing, and providing training to both on-site and off-site personnel. There is also occasional lifting and carrying of such items as boxes and files, weighing up to 30 lbs. 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: 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: Additional Information Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. The 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