Government Information Specialist (FOIA)
- Employer
- USAJobs
- Location
- Washington, D.C
- Closing date
- Nov 30, 2021
View more
- Industry
- Government and Public Services, Federal
- Function
- Administrative
- Hours
- Full Time
- Career Level
- Experienced (Non-Manager)
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Duties
The following are the duties of this position at the GS-12. If you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties, and will receive training to help you grow in this position.
As a/an Government Information Specialist (FOIA), you will:
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
The official duty station for this position will be in Washington, District of Columbia. Failure to report to duty at this location may be grounds for a disciplinary action, including removal.
Key Requirements:
Please refer to "Conditions of Employment." Must be U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
Qualifications
You must meet the following requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
Specialized Experience: For the GS-11, you must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized Experience for this position includes:
-responding to routine Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act requests and other disclosure inquiries from a wide range of internal and external individuals or groups; AND
-resolving routine issues related to disclosure rules, regulations, and procedures; AND
-assisting in the drafting of FOIA response letters some of which contain the denial of information based on the law; AND
-assisting in the review and analysis of information for a disclosure determination based on a harm analysis, i.e., harm that could result if the information were disclosed; AND
-assisting with electronic monitoring and tracking of projects and/or FOIA/Privacy Act requests, appeals and litigation in a case management database.
OR Education: You may substitute education for general or specialized experience as follows: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.M if related. Only graduate level education in excess of the first two years 36 semester hours (54 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education.
OR Combination: You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. To combine education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the specialized experience requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the education requirement must equal at least 100 percent.
Specialized Experience: For the GS-12, you must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized Experience for this position includes:
-accurately responding to routine Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act requests and other disclosure inquiries from a range of internal and external individuals or groups under general supervision; AND
-drafting FOIA response letters which describe the information released, or the justification for withholding information based on applicable FOIA exemptions for supervisory approval/signature; AND
-evaluating, analyzing and redacting information for a disclosure determination that complies with rules, regulations, and procedures; AND
-managing records and electronic files in accordance with established records retention rules and regulations; AND
-electronic monitoring and tracking of projects and/or FOIA requests, appeals, and litigation assignments.
Experience may have been gained in either the public, private sector or volunteer service . One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week on your resume.
Time-in-Grade: In addition to the above requirements, you must meet the following time-in-grade requirement, if applicable:
For the GS-11 you must have been at the GS-09 level for 52 weeks.
For the GS-12 you must have been at the GS-11 level for 52 weeks.
Time After Competitive Appointment: Candidates who are current Federal employees serving on a non-temporary competitive appointment must have served at least three months in that appointment.
Education
The education generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions .
Additional information
OTHER INFORMATION:
All new and current Federal employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by November 22, 2021, unless they are eligible and approved for limited legal exemptions for medical or religious accommodation. Employees will be considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 2 weeks after they have received the requisite number of doses of a COVID-19 vaccine that has been approved or authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or that has been listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization.
Deadlines to receive vaccine doses to meet the November 22, 2021, are listed below:
HUD employees are subject to a number of government-wide and HUD specific ethics laws and regulations, including restrictions on working in a real estate related business, and having Section 8 tenants, along with other prohibited interests and activities. To review applicable ethics rules and HUD specific restrictions, please visit https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/general_counsel/ethics .
The following are the duties of this position at the GS-12. If you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties, and will receive training to help you grow in this position.
As a/an Government Information Specialist (FOIA), you will:
- Independently review and analyze FOIA/PA requests and the records responses to such requests and consult with program officials about concerns they may have about release of those records.
- Review, develop and/or revise Departmental procedures, regulations and guidance for all elements to ensure compliance with changing litigation, case law, and guidance.
- Coordinate directly with requesters and other federal agencies to facilitate the processing of FOIA/PA requests, determine material to be exempted from release based on the legal FOIA/PA exemption codes, write final draft correspondence for signature on behalf of the office director to requesters describing the processing of their FOIA/PA requests and explaining what is and is not releasable to them under the FOIA/PA as well as the specific exemptions that were used to withhold information from them.
- Assist in the preparation of materials for training classes and orientation briefings for the Department.
- Maintain data required for reports, briefings, slides, and necessary information to meet the requirements of the regulations and to keep the Senior Leadership fully apprised of the FOIA activities.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
The official duty station for this position will be in Washington, District of Columbia. Failure to report to duty at this location may be grounds for a disciplinary action, including removal.
Key Requirements:
Qualifications
You must meet the following requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
Specialized Experience: For the GS-11, you must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized Experience for this position includes:
-responding to routine Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act requests and other disclosure inquiries from a wide range of internal and external individuals or groups; AND
-resolving routine issues related to disclosure rules, regulations, and procedures; AND
-assisting in the drafting of FOIA response letters some of which contain the denial of information based on the law; AND
-assisting in the review and analysis of information for a disclosure determination based on a harm analysis, i.e., harm that could result if the information were disclosed; AND
-assisting with electronic monitoring and tracking of projects and/or FOIA/Privacy Act requests, appeals and litigation in a case management database.
OR Education: You may substitute education for general or specialized experience as follows: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.M if related. Only graduate level education in excess of the first two years 36 semester hours (54 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education.
OR Combination: You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. To combine education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the specialized experience requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the education requirement must equal at least 100 percent.
Specialized Experience: For the GS-12, you must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized Experience for this position includes:
-accurately responding to routine Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act requests and other disclosure inquiries from a range of internal and external individuals or groups under general supervision; AND
-drafting FOIA response letters which describe the information released, or the justification for withholding information based on applicable FOIA exemptions for supervisory approval/signature; AND
-evaluating, analyzing and redacting information for a disclosure determination that complies with rules, regulations, and procedures; AND
-managing records and electronic files in accordance with established records retention rules and regulations; AND
-electronic monitoring and tracking of projects and/or FOIA requests, appeals, and litigation assignments.
Experience may have been gained in either the public, private sector or volunteer service . One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week on your resume.
Time-in-Grade: In addition to the above requirements, you must meet the following time-in-grade requirement, if applicable:
For the GS-11 you must have been at the GS-09 level for 52 weeks.
For the GS-12 you must have been at the GS-11 level for 52 weeks.
Time After Competitive Appointment: Candidates who are current Federal employees serving on a non-temporary competitive appointment must have served at least three months in that appointment.
Education
The education generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to the OPM instructions .
Additional information
OTHER INFORMATION:
- We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
- Relocation expenses will not be paid.
- Relocation incentive will not be paid.
- Recruitment incentive will not be paid.
- This is a bargaining unit position.
- This position is Non-Exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
- HUD offers alternative and flexible work schedules.
- A one year probationary period may be required.
- Must successfully complete a background investigation.
- Public Trust - Background Investigation will be required.
- Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
- Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
- If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
- Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form i-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S.
All new and current Federal employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by November 22, 2021, unless they are eligible and approved for limited legal exemptions for medical or religious accommodation. Employees will be considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 2 weeks after they have received the requisite number of doses of a COVID-19 vaccine that has been approved or authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or that has been listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization.
Deadlines to receive vaccine doses to meet the November 22, 2021, are listed below:
- If receiving the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, the deadlines are as follows:
- first dose by October 11, 2021, and
second dose by November 8, 2021
- If receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, the deadlines are as follows:
- first dose is October 18, 2021, and
second dose is November 8, 2021
- If receiving the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine, the deadlines are as follows:
- first and only dose is November 8, 2021
HUD employees are subject to a number of government-wide and HUD specific ethics laws and regulations, including restrictions on working in a real estate related business, and having Section 8 tenants, along with other prohibited interests and activities. To review applicable ethics rules and HUD specific restrictions, please visit https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/general_counsel/ethics .
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