Government Information Specialist

Summary

This position is located in the Management Support Unit (MSU), Directorate of Overseas Citizens Services (OCS), Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Department of State. MSU is responsible for the release or protection of information requested under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Privacy Act (PA), or Executive Order (EO) 12356.

Duties

• •Reviews requests involving other Bureau and Department organizations when the information requested for release or denial originated with other organizations.
• •Reviews and analyzes a broad range of requests for the release of information received from a wide variety of sources.
• •Reviews, analyzes, and makes original release or denial determinations of sensitive records requested under applicable acts, laws, or executive orders; reviews records requested through administrative access programs.
• •Provides analysis and advice in support of information and records management programs and activities that are focused on providing the public with a right of access to OCS records in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
• •At the GS-12 level, the incumbent performs essentially the same duties as outlined above; however, the scope and complexity of assignments are of less responsibility and independence and receives closer than normal supervision.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F. Applying for the GS-12 Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service that provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience reviewing FOIA records pursuant to laws and regulations. Experience managing a database, compiling reports, drafting correspondence, and serving as a public liaison on FOIA issues. Experience using Adobe, FOIA Express or similar redaction tool to excise information from records and annotate the appropriate exemptions code near the redacted material. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-12 position. Applying for the GS-13 Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service that provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience interpreting and applying laws, regulations, legal decisions, policies, procedures and directives pertaining to the protection and release of FOIA and PA Information. Experience coordinating and tracking FOIA/PA requests to ensure that the responses are accurate, legally sufficient and timely. Experience evaluating records to determine the application of FOIA and PA, communicating orally and in writing with employees, leadership, other organizations and/or the public regarding FOIA/PA issues. Experience using Adobe, FOIA Express or a similar redaction tool to excise information from records and annotate the appropriate exemptions code near the redacted material. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-13 position.

Education

Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.