Government Information Specialist

Clarification from the agency

Current permanent Federal employees with competitive status; Reinstatement eligibles; Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act; Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees; CTAP/RPL/ICTAP; VEOA eligibles; 30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans; Military Spouses; Interchange Agreement and Other Miscellaneous Authorities; People with Disabilities; Peace Corps and VISTA.

• Processes Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA) and other information requests that are often complex and challenging.
• Applies a wide range of qualitative methods when evaluating requests for legal sufficiency and jurisdiction.
• Applies the proper exemptions to protect information in accordance with the FOIA/PA statutes, legal precedents, and current U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and OIG guidance.
• Communicates with requestors both orally and in writing, including negotiating with them as well as preparing and transmitting acknowledgement/release letters.
• Supports the OIG Records Management Program concerning the full spectrum of records management issues.
• Ensures proper control, maintenance, and disposition of records.
• Provides support regarding information law issues within OIG, such as duties relating to Controlled Unclassified Information, System of Records Notices (SORNs), document review, litigation support, and other related issues that may arise.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• 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 depending on your appointment type, unless previous federal service is creditable. During this time your employment will be evaluated, and 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 or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
• This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP).
• If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter. Selectee is subject to financial Disclosure Requirements in accordance with 5 CFR, Part 2635, Sub part E regarding business or personal transactions with applicants, borrowers, or business contacts who have or who are seeking business with this Agency. Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected you will be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

Time in Grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet the time in grade requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. (One year at the GS-09 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-11 level; one year at the GS-11 level is required to meet time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 level.)

Specialized Experience for GS-11: To be considered qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience as described below. You must have one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience that is at least equivalent in difficulty and complexity to work performed at the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service or comparable level of experience from outside the Federal service that demonstrates all of the following:

• Experience gathering information, identifying and analyzing issues, and developing recommendations to resolve substantive issues regarding the Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act programs.
• Experience responding to requests for organizational records or other information.
• Experience organizing and maintaining sensitive records in accordance with legal requirements.

OR
Education substitution: Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. (Note: You must provide a copy of your transcripts)
OR
Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages. (Note: You must provide a copy of your transcripts)

Specialized Experience for GS-12: To be considered qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience as described below. You must have one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience that is at least equivalent in difficulty and complexity to work performed at the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service or comparable level of experience from outside the Federal service that demonstrates all of the following:

• Experience processing Privacy Act and Freedom of Information Act requests.
• Experience drafting and responding to requests for organizational information.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across all organizational levels, including the ability to work with varied stakeholders.
• Skills in organizing work and establishing priorities in line with organizational goals, ensuring timely and effective execution while handling multiple matters at the same time.
• Ability to identify and ensuring protected information is appropriately disclosed in accordance with legal requirements.
• Experience managing, organizing, and maintaining sensitive records in accordance with legal requirements.

NOTE: You must include evidence of this specialized experience in your resume, including dates of experience (month/year) and hours worked/work schedule, to be considered qualified for this position.
Documenting experience: In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience. Qualifications are based on breadth/level of experience. In addition to describing duties performed, applicants must provide the exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) and the number of hours worked per week. Qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information including work schedule, failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Applicants are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to develop their federal resume. For resume writing guidance, visit USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a federal resume?

NOTE: To be considered for this position, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the GS-0306 series set forth in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards by the closing date of the announcement. A copy is available at:General Schedule Administrative and Management Positions

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. 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 (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13055944

Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

Required for all applicants: Resume that includes: Personal Information: name, address, contact information; Education; Work Experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if federal); other qualifications. Resume cannot exceed 2 pages.

If education is being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application if it includes your name and the necessary course information; however, if you are selected, official transcripts will be required prior to entering on duty. Education must have been successfully obtained from an accredited school, college or university. If any education was completed at a foreign institute, you must submit with your application evidence that the institute was appropriately accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as equivalent to U.S. education standards. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation.

Current and Former Federal employees:

• Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action(s) (SF-50) showing you are/were in the competitive service, highest grade held (or promotion potential) on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND
• Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. A performance plan is not an acceptable substitute.

Current permanent FSA County employees: Provide the same documents as "Current and Former Federal employees".

30% or More Disabled Veterans:You must submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty DD214 (copy indicating character of service, Member Copy #4 or #2) plus the proof of entitlement of this preference as listed on the SF-15 Application for 10-pt Veteran's Preference, Standard Form 15.

VEOA: You must submit your last DD214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) form indicating dates and character of service and discharge type under honorable conditions. If currently on active duty, you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted.

Certain Military Spouses: Must submit Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders; OR verification of the member's 100% disability (VA Letter); and/or verification of the member's death while on active duty (DD-1300 and Death Certificate) AND verification of the marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage).

Schedule A: Letter from a physician, local, state or federal rehabilitation office citing eligibility under 5 CFR 213.3102(u).Learn more.

Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act: Copies of Notification of Personnel Action(s) (SF-50) showing the employee served in eligible appointment(s) for a period(s) of more than 24 mos w/o a break between appointments of two+ years. Include initial hire actions, extensions, conversions and separation SF-50s for each period. Submit performance rating(s) showing acceptable performance for each period counted towards eligibility signed by supervisor(s). If documentation does not exist for one or more periods, submit a statement from supervisor(s) indicating acceptable performance. Applicants who do not have performance documentation for any period shall provide a reason why the documentation is not available and statement that performance for all periods was at an acceptable level.

Peace Corp: Include a copy of your Certification of Volunteer Service and latest SF-50s.

CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (if separated), current performance appraisal with rating of at least "Fully Successful" or equivalent, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.

If claiming eligibility under a special hiring authority or an interchange agreement with another merit system not listed above, see the requirements for that authority and submit the required supporting documentation. Go to Hiring Paths or Special Hiring Authority for more information.

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