This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Compliance, Risk and Remediation (CRR), Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Service, Office of Privacy and Records Management (OPRM), Office of Information Security (OIS). Open to the first 100 applicants or until September whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

Duties

The FOIA Service oversees and manages Department-wide FOIA efforts by working collaboratively with VA Staff Offices and Administrations to ensure adherence to Federal FOIA laws, regulations, directives and other mandates. The incumbent serves as a technical advisor, authority and consultant on matters involving requests for information under the FOIA. The incumbent also analyzes the impact of court decisions and legal interpretations of the FOIA, notifies and coordinates with the records custodian concerning the release of information under the FOIA, and adjudicates whether the release of information is consistent with the Statute and its interpretation by the courts. Major Duties : Evaluating FOIA requests, responses, programs, operations and policies to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and legislative mandates. Reviews all responsive records to ensure that requirements for their release are met, consults with the originator or custodian of the records and determines the appropriate response for each request, and the estimated timeframes for responding. Performs the work of interpreting and applying laws, regulations, policies and guidance to provide access to records and information while ensuring exempted information is appropriately withheld. Responsible for training and developing lower graded analysts; and for providing guidance to VA personnel who must respond to FOIA requests, FOIA appeals, FOIA litigation, and Privacy Act requests for access and amendment. Coordinates comments on revised directives as part of the review process and incorporates comments or resolves issues into the final directives. Prepares any rules or notices which FOIA requires to be published in the Federal Register, up to and including the FOIA regulations. Develops and maintains data in the automated FOIA tracking database, identifies frequently requested FOIA and other material to determine if they can be published on the FOIA Electronic Reading Room. Work with the FOIA Service's Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), assists in the coordination of contractor work activities that maximizes efficiency, effectiveness, timeliness on responses and other work activities required to meet program requirements. Provide guidance to OIT leadership, management and staff on VA FOIA policy; Federal FOIA laws, regulations, directives and other privacy mandates. affecting the privacy of veterans and VA staff. Conduct research, prepare guidance and respond to FOIA matters raised by a variety of stakeholder groups (e.g., Congressional inquiries, privacy advocates, watchdog organizations, news media, and veteran constituent groups} Identify FOIA program deficiencies and make recommendations to the team leader and Service Director for changes to improve operations in conformance with policy requirements Position Description/PD#: Government Information Specialist /16193-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Travel Required: Occasional travel may be required as needed for this position. Work Schedule: 8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday Compressed/Flexible: As determined by the Agency Policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Physical Demands: The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. Working Conditions: Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate controlled office. May require occasional travel. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Designated Drug Testing Position: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Selectee is subject to background/suitability investigation
• Selected applicant will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, all qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement September 12, 2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. To qualify for this position at the GS11 level you meet specialized experience or education requirement : Specialized Experience: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-9 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience is defined as: Advise the Department's senior information managers; develop policies and procedures for managing and improving the FOIA program. Oversee the provision of guidance to program offices to ensure that the Department complies with and protects individual privacy as mandated by the FOIA, Expertise and skill in applying a wide range of qualitative and quantitative methods for the assessment of a variety FOIA related activities. Train lower graded personnel on the intricacies of program related functions, monitor progress, and supplement weaknesses with alternative training methods. Direct work efforts across organizational lines, including the ability to monitor progress to ensure that realistic objectives and milestones are established. OR, Education : Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Successful completion of a Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.M., if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Note: (Transcripts are REQUIRED and must show the course work directly related to this position.) To qualify for this position at the GS12 level you must meet the following : Specialized Experience: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience is defined as: Advise the Department's senior information managers. Develop policies and procedures for managing and improving the FOIA program. Expertise and skill in applying a wide range of qualitative and quantitative methods for the assessment of a variety FOIA related activities. Train lower graded personnel on the intricacies of program related functions, monitor progress, and supplement weaknesses with alternative training methods. Direct work efforts across organizational lines, including the ability to monitor progress to ensure that realistic objectives and milestones are established. To qualify for this position at the GS13 level you must meet the following : Specialized Experience : You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: . Advise the Department's senior information managers. Develop policies and procedures for managing and improving the FOIA program. Expertise and skill in applying a wide range of qualitative and quantitative methods for the assessment of a variety FOIA related activities. Train lower graded personnel on the intricacies of program related functions, monitor progress, and supplement weaknesses with alternative training methods. Direct work efforts across organizational lines, including the ability to monitor progress to ensure that realistic objectives and milestones are established. Preferred Experience : Demonstrated experience related to analyzing the impact of court decisions and legal interpretations of the FOIA, notifies and coordinates the records custodian concerning the release of information under the FOIA, and adjudicates whether the release of information is consistent with the statute and its interpretation by the courts. Successful completion of a COMBINATION of education and experience as described above. You must include transcripts with your application materials. 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. (Education can only be substituted for experience at the GS -11 level.)

Education must be from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For additional information, refer to the U.S. Department of
Education web site at http://www.ed.gov.

Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) or you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the courses.

Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. For example, specific courses accepted for college-level credit by an accredited U.S. college or university, or foreign education evaluated by an organization recognized for accreditation by the Department of Education as education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. college or university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information.

All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

Contacts

• Address DAS for Information Technology - 103 810 Vermont Ave. NW Washington, DC 20240 US
• Name: Seve Irby
• Phone: 000-000-0000
• Email: [email protected]