Duties

Summary

This is a Bargaining Unit position.
This is not a (drug) testing designated position (TDP).

This position is located in the Small Business Administration, Office of Capital Access, Immediate Office located in Washington, D.C.

The purpose of this position is to review, analyze and resolve problems in the effectiveness and efficiency of Capital Access Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) operations and program activities.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

At the full performance level (GS-12) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

• Performs analysis of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to determine proper referral.
• Evaluates the content, format, information and data for all incoming and outgoing inquires.
• Examines and evaluates (FOIA) appeals and performs analysis and research in order to responds to appeals.
• Prepares all necessary documents needed to complete the appeal process.
• Serves as liaison to the public regarding the disclosure of Agency records and enforces the privacy provision of the Open Government Act of 2007.
• Prepares reoccurring and special data reports associated with FOIA and Records Management requests and appeals.
• Advises customers and management on privacy policies and procedures related to properly filling FOIA requests.
• Provides training to customers and management regarding privacy information and guidelines.
• Facilitates the reviews and clearance of FOIA inquiries intended for release to the public.
• Reviews and advises of changes in regulations and policies regarding FOIA and Records Management.
• Recommends measures to improve the quality and timelines of FOIA and Records Management requests.
• Monitors the FOIA Tracking System; assign FOIA inquires; upload FOIA responses; maintain updates, troubleshoot minor problems; respond to user questions and monitor reports.
• Identifies resources and responsibilities needed for adequate records management.
• Ensures compliance with National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and other federal laws and regulations for records management.
• Analyzes and evaluates the creation, receipt, maintenance and disposition of physical and electronic records.
• Performs a variety of administrative duties to include processing correspondence; sorting and distributing incoming mail; assisting with inventory and other duties as assigned to support the mission and function of the office.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
12

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a US Citizen.
• You must successfully complete a background investigation.
• You may be required to serve on a one-year probationary period.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience and/or education for the respective grade level in which you are applying. This experience must be clearly articulated in your resume.

For GS-09:

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-7 grade level in the Federal service) obtained in either the private or public sector that demonstrates your experience in preparing written conclusions on Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) matters and applying records management policies and procedures.
OR
Education: Successful completion of at least a Master's or equivalent graduate degree or (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position or LL.B. or J.D. , if related. You must include transcripts.
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position. To combine education and experience, first divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond 18 semester hours by 18. (If your education is currently described in quarter hours, convert them to semester hours by dividing by 1.5). Then divide your total months of qualifying specialized experience by 12. Finally, add the two percentages together. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts.

Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on OPM's Qualifications web site: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0300/management-and-program-analysis-series-0343/

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; religious; 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.

All qualification requirements must be met by 11:59 pm (Eastern Time) on the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

Education

APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE: 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 (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.)

Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Verify School accreditation .

All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.

Foreign Education:

• 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, click on: Foreign Education .

Additional information

Salary: In almost all cases, pay on a new appointment will be set at the minimum rate (GS-9 step 1, $57,510.00 Per Year).

The Full Performance Level of this position is a GS-12.

SUITABILITY, CLEARANCE & REQUIREMENTS: A background investigation may be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.

Career and InterAgency Career Transition Assistance Programs: If you are applying for a special selection priority under SBA's Career Transition Assistance Plan (open to surplus SBA employees only) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (open to surplus and displaced Federal employees), you must:

Meet CTAP eligibility criteria;

Be rated well-qualified for the position with a rating of 85 or above based on the competencies listed above; and

Submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP eligibility. For more information: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp

Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. For additional information visit www.sss.gov .

Consistent with work requirements and current SBA Policy, and all applicable provisions of the collective bargaining agreement with AFGE the SBA offers employees opportunities to perform work at an alternative location (e.g. home).

Telework may be available. For information on Telework visit: http://www.telework.gov/

Additional vacancies may be filled from this vacancy announcement if additional vacancies occur within 180 days of the date the certificates were issued.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Applicants meeting basic eligibility requirements will be further evaluated based on the information provided in the Occupational Questionnaire.

To preview this questionnaire, click on the following the link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10648252

You will be rated based on your responses to the occupational questionnaire. The occupational questions relate to the following Competencies required to do the work of this position:

• Information Assurance
• Information Management
• Knowledge of Freedom of Information Act
• Speaking
• Writing

Your application will be evaluated under the Category Rating method based on your responses to the assessment questions. You will receive a score based on the responses to the assessment questions. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience your score can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities. If you meet basic requirements for the position, your application will be evaluated and placed into one of three categories:

1. Best-Qualified: highly proficient with an overall comprehensive level of knowledge, skills and abilities related to the job based on a complete review of experience, education, and training as described in an applicant's responses to the assessment questions and resume.
2. Well-Qualified: competent in the position with an overall accomplished level of knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the job based on a complete review of experience, training, and education as applicable, as described in an applicant's responses to the assessment questions and resume.
3. Qualified: an overall basic level of knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the job based on a complete review of experience, education, and training, as described in an applicant's responses to the assessment questions and resume.

Candidates eligible for veterans' preference will be placed ahead of other candidates in the appropriate category for which they have been rated. Additionally, preference eligibles who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent and who meet Minimum Qualification Requirements will automatically be placed in the Best Qualified Category.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

1. Your Resume - must contain the following information:

• Name, address, telephone number, email address;
• Supervisor's contact information, if available (indicate if you would prefer to be notified before your supervisor is contacted);
• Job Title (if Federal Service, provide series and grade; if not in GS plan, provide GS equivalent grade);
• If qualifying based on related unpaid (e.g. volunteer service) experience, you must provide hours worked per week and beginning/ending dates (mm/dd/yyyy to mm/dd/yyyy);
• If other than full time you must provide hours worked per week.
• An integral part of our selection process includes the completion of reference checks. Please provide the names and telephone numbers of three professional references (e.g., current and/or former supervisors, college or university professors, managers or coordinators of volunteer activities, etc.) who know your qualifications relative to this position and who we can contact to verify your credentials. Do not list personal friends or relatives.
• PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume/application does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Your resume must contain sufficiently detailed information upon which to make a qualification determination. Please ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates (mm/dd/yyyy - mm/dd/yyyy) of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, and if the position is/was in the Federal government, you should provide the position series and grade level.
• Should you submit multiple resumes, only the latest uploaded resume will be reviewed.

2. A complete Occupational Questionnaire
3. In addition to the online application (resume and responses to the occupational questionnaire), you are required to submit the following forms, if applicable. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure all documents are legible.

• If you are using education as a substitution for experience (the announcement will state whether this is allowed), or if there is an educational requirement for this position, you must submit a copy of your transcripts (unofficial or official) that clearly describes your qualifying education. If selected, official transcripts will be required;
• If you are claiming Veteran status, you must submit a copy of all required documents to support your claim (showing character of service)--see VetGuide ;
• Veterans who are still in the service may be granted tentative preference on the basis of information contained in their applications, but they must produce a DD-214 (showing the character of service) or other proof of service to receive consideration for veterans' preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit FedsHireVets.gov .

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.