Government Information Specialist (FOIA Analyst) Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. JP-25-029 Department Office of Justice Programs
Salary $99,200.00 to $153,354.00 Grade 12 to 13
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 11/15/2024 Close Date 12/6/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

This position is located in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office of the General Counsel. This OGC FOIA Analyst position handles the full range of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA) requests, responses and related compliance matters.

Duties

FOIA and PA Program Administration and Management

  • Responsible for all aspects of processing assigned Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA) requests for federal records, as well as related FOIA/PA functions such as providing support for FOIA litigation and FOIA/PA reporting requirements.
  • Provide assistance and expert guidance to OJP program and business offices relating to specific FOIA/PA requests, assess the responsiveness and completeness of records provided by the agency and coordinate with external submitters of records and external requesters to develop FOIA/PA responses that are consistent with applicable statutes, regulations, and policy.
  • In collaboration as needed with the OJP FOIA Officer, analyzes records prior to disclosure to determine whether they are, in whole or in part, exempt from disclosure under FOIA or PA, makes disclosure and exemption determinations, and processes records for release by redacting exempt material and assigning the appropriate legal basis for each exemption.
  • Supports FOIA litigation efforts by processing records for release and preparing related documents such as declarations and Vaughn Indecies, as well as contributing to FOIA and PA-related functions such as preparation of the Annual FOIA Report.
  • Conducts the initial evaluation of requests to verify presence of necessary specificity and establish request distribution or referral plan. Negotiates with submitters of records and requesters to establish mutually acceptable solutions consistent with statutes, regulations, and corresponding policy.
FOIA and PA Advice and Guidance
  • Stays updated on legal developments, policies, and procedures related to the disclosure of federal records under FOIA and PA. Offers expert advice and assistance to OJP program and business offices regarding FOIA and PA requirements.
  • Makes recommendations for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of FOIA/PA processes. Collaborates and communicates with the Department's Office of Information Policy to address unique procedural challenges and ensure consistent FOIA processing across the DOJ.
  • Participates in the development and delivery of Agency briefings and training programs on FOIA and PA legal requirements, policy, procedures and best practices. Conducts research, gathers information, and prepares responses for requests referred to higher offices for handling. Reviews data to determine whether they are exempt or non-exempt from disclosure.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Subject to background/suitability investigation/determination.
  • Federal payments are required to be made by Direct Deposit.
  • Requires registration for the Selective Service. Visit www.sss.gov.
  • Pre-employment drug testing required.
  • 1-year trial period may be required.
  • Security Requirements: Non-Sensitive/Moderate Risk

Qualifications

Specialized Experience:

GS-12: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level. Specialized experience is experience which is in or related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Examples of specialized experience include:

Processing federal FOIA/PA requests; reviewing records in relation to FOIA/PA requests to confirm responsiveness and identify exempt material; redacting FOIA/PA responsive records; communicating with FOIA/PA requesters to clarify or narrow requests; and closing FOIA/PA requests.

GS-13: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level. Specialized experience is experience which is in or related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Examples of specialized experience include:

Processing all stages of federal FOIA/PA requests from intake to closure, including conducting FOIA/PA intake, identifying offices likely to have responsive records, making disclosure and exemption determinations, processing records for release by redacting exempt material and assigning the appropriate legal basis for each exemption, negotiating with submitters of records and requesters to establish mutually acceptable solutions, and closing FOIA/PA requests; supporting FOIA/PA litigation, including the preparation of declarations, Vaughn indices, and processing and production of records pursuant to scheduling orders; and providing expert advice and guidance regarding FOIA and PA requirements.

Technical Qualifications:

Applicants who meet the basic entry and minimum qualification requirements, as described above, will be further evaluated on the following technical qualifications:

  • Knowledge of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act, related portions of the Code of Federal Regulations, and FOIA and Privacy Act policies and procedures.
  • Oral Communication
  • Written Communication
  • Ability to plan and organize work


Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM's website: https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.aspAll qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

There is no education requirement for this position.

Additional information

  • This position is for a term of four years, may not be extended, and does not confer competitive status.
  • This position may be eligible for telework per agency policy.
  • OJP offers opportunities for flexible work schedules.
  • Recruitment incentives may not be authorized.
  • This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
  • Please do not indicate current or former position salary in your application or resume.
  • As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.
  • This position has a duty station of Washington, D.C. The selectee will be required to physically report to the OJP office building at least four (4) days per bi-weekly pay period and may incorporate leave and official travel plans into this reporting requirement. The office director or supervisor may request the selectee's presence in the office more frequently, as determined by the needs of the office. The selectee will be responsible for covering all commuting-related travel expenses. OJP employees are eligible for one transportation benefit - parking or the Department of Justice (DOJ) transit subsidy.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

For All U.S. Citizens: Your application will be evaluated and rated under DOJ's Category Rating and Selection Procedures. Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are basically qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the online assessment questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. Your application will then be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Highly Qualified, or Qualified. Names of all candidates in the best qualified category will be sent to the hiring official for employment consideration. Candidates within the best qualified category who are eligible for veterans preference will receive selection priority over non-veteran preference eligibles.

For Noncompetitive Eligible candidates: Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on the announcement. If you are basically qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the online assessment questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your resume and application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

For Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)/Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) applicants: The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, or if your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. Under merit promotion procedures, to be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and score 85 or better on established ranking criteria. Under category rating procedures, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified or better category using established category rating criteria.

Required Documents

REMINDER: ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 11:59 Eastern Time (Washington, D.C. time) ON 12/06/2024 .Required Documents

  1. Resume (To receive credit for experience, your employment history must be documented in month/year format (MM/YYYY), reflecting starting date and ending date and include the number of hours worked per week. Failure to follow this format may result in disqualification),
  2. Veterans' Preference Documentation (if applicable; see below),
  3. SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (current and former federal employees; see below for more information).
Note: Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Veterans Preference

In order to verify your veteran preference entitlement, submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty); official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty that certifies you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty service within 120 days after the certification is submitted; or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that shows your military service was performed under honorable conditions.

If you are a disabled veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, or widow/widower of a veteran, spouse of a disabled veteran or the natural parent of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Pt Veteran Preference, and the other required documentation listed on the reverse of the SF-15 to support your preference claim.

Although veteran preference points are not assigned under the category rating procedures described under How You Will Be Evaluated, veterans' preference eligibles are listed ahead of non-veterans within each category for which qualified. In addition, qualified veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more are placed at the top of the highest quality category (i.e., Best Qualified).

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP / Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)If you are claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, you must submit proof by the closing date of the announcement that you meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(u) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP or you will not receive priority consideration. The proof includes a copy of the Agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action for Competitive Appointment.

Non-competitive Eligibility
You can apply for a non-competitive appointment if you meet the basic eligibility requirements and you are eligible for special appointment such as those authorized for the severely disabled; veterans w/ service-connected disabilities of 30% or more; returning volunteers from the Peace Corps or Vista, Veterans' Recruitment Appointment, etc. Appropriate documentation to support your claim must be included in your application, along with the type of special appointment you are seeking.

Current/Former Federal Employees
If you are a current or former Federal employee in a permanent, competitive service position, you must submit documents to confirm your status or reinstatement eligibility.
  • Submit an SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) or other official agency documentation that shows your current (or most recent) grade and competitive service status. (The "position occupied" block on the SF-50 should show a "1" and your "tenure" block should show a "1" or "2".
  • Submit your most recent Performance Appraisal (dated within the last 18 months) or a separate statement explaining why you are unable to submit your appraisal. If not provided at time of application, it will be required at time of interview
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.

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.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the supporting documentation specified in the Required Documents section above.

A complete application package, to include the responses to the online Assessment Questionnaire, must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 12/06/2024to receive consideration.

To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.

  • Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
  • You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. If you need help with the application process, please see the USAJOBS Help Site .

If you are unable to apply online, please contact Amanda Elder atamanda.elder@usdoj.govor 202-598-0698 for alternate application procedures.

Agency contact information

Amanda Elder
Address
Office of the General Counsel
DO NOT MAIL
Washington, DC 20531
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once your completed application is certified and received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application is made you will be notified of your status and/or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required you will be contacted. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. We expect to make a final job offer within 80 days after the closing date of the announcement.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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