This position is located in Washington Headquarters Services (WHS), Executive Services Directorate (ESD). The incumbent will administer, analyze, supervise, or perform work involved in establishing, disseminating or managing Government information. Formulates policy, advises agency management, and ensures compliance with Federal laws governing the flow of information, while safeguarding Government information and supporting accountability and transparency.

Duties

Incumbent typical work assignments may include the following: Interpreting and applying laws, regulations, policies, and guidance to provide access to Federal agency records and information, while ensuring protected information is appropriately disclosed. Making determinations about disclosures, issuance of denials, redactions, access to Federal agency records and use and dissemination of personally identifiable information. Serving as an independent FOIA case action officer, working cases of advanced levels of complexity. Working directly with the DoD Office of General Counsel (OGC) and the Department of Justice in drafting legal affidavits in support of litigation filed pursuant to the FOIA. Preparing and analyzing reports; responses to queries, justifications, and background papers on the technical aspects of areas of expertise and assignment.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration)
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period
• Must be determined suitable for federal employment
• Required to participate in the direct deposit program
• This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing
• This position requires you to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret (TS) security clearance with Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) and SAP components
• This position may require you to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays and/or overtime
• This position may occasionally require 10% travel away from the normal duty station for official business on military or commercial aircraft

Qualifications

For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the length of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration. Read more about what should I include in my federal resume? at https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include/ This vacancy is a career ladder position; it may be filled at the GS-09, GS-11, GS-12 or GS-13 level. If you are selected below the full performance level, you will be placed under a career development plan and may be non-competitively promoted if your performance is satisfactory, you successfully complete all requirements and you are recommended by management. Promotion is not guaranteed, and no promise of promotion is implied. You may qualify at the GS-09 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your ability to: Apply FOIA laws, regulations, polices and guidelines; and Assist in the review and analysis of Freedom of Information Act requests. OR Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related OR Combination of education and experience. You may qualify at the GS-11 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your ability to: Receive and assign to the appropriate office proposed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) packages; Serve as a liaison to external customers and recipients to provide basic information on FOIA submissions; and Draft written and oral responses on FOIA matters. OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related OR Combination of education and experience. You may qualify at the GS-12 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your ability to: Receive, assemble, and review proposed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) packages; Serve as liaison to external customers and recipients to clarify and inform on the submission of FOIA requests; Prepare written conclusions on FOIA matters. You may qualify at the GS-13 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your ability to: Review Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) release packages; Develop and implement FOIA policies and procedures as required by FOIA for public access to information; Conduct FOIA training; and Prepare written conclusions on complex FOIA matters. 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. ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: The VOW Act Chapter 21 of Title 5, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 2108a, requires Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, at the time they apply for a Federal job, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, assuming the service member is otherwise eligible. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. The service member's military service dates are necessary in order to determine whether he or she meets the definition of "veteran" under 5 U.S.C. 2108(1). The "certification" must reflect the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date of submission. The "certification" must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters and must indicate when your terminal leave will begin (if applicable), your rank, dates of active duty service, the type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable). Further, under paragraph (h) of the rule, agencies are required to verify a qualifying separation from military service prior to appointment, through the DD-214 or other appropriate documentation. Your preference and/or appointment eligibility will be verified prior to appointment. Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible." Military members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if member is on terminal leave. Current or Former Political Appointees: Beginning January 1, 2010, agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level under the provisions of title 5, United States Code. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office. Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment: Position title; Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee); Agency; and, Beginning and ending dates of appointment. All qualifications, education, and time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.

Education

Education cannot be substituted for experience at the GS-12 or GS-13 level.

ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY AT THE GS-09 OR GS-11 LEVEL(S)? You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

ARE YOU QUALIFYING BASED ON EDUCATION or A COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE?
You must provide sufficient documentation of your education in your resume. You are strongly encouraged to provide a copy of transcripts or degrees in your application package. It is also acceptable to document your applicable course listing in your resume (course number, credits earned, etc.). 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. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency. If selected, an official/sealed transcript will be required prior to appointment.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if the selectee fails to meet the pre-employment requirements, including failure to report to any of the scheduled appointments.

If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application. Please view the following link for information on how to obtain an alternative application https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?%20title=Alternate_Application_Information

Appointment Authorities: For more information on appointment authority eligibility requirements:

• https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/individuals-with-disabilities/
• https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans/
• https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/military-spouses/
• Other Special Appointment Authorities https://www.usajobs.gov/
• Interchange Agreements https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=Types-of-Appointments

Contacts

• Address WHS Executive Services Directorate Human Resources Directorate 4800 Mark Center Drive Alexandria, VA 22350 US
• Name: Washington HQ Services
• Email: [email protected]