Government Information Specialist

Summary

This position is located in the Offi ce of Domestic Operations, Visa Services Directorate, Bureau ofConsular Affairs, U.S. Department of State (CA/VO/DO). The Offi ce of Domestic Operations providesguidance to and support for domestic consular processing. The incumbent serves as a GovernmentInformation Specialist, performing a range of policy, legal, and technical functions related to themanagement of visa information.

Duties

• •Reviews and analyzes FOIA requests for the release of information received from a variety of sources and conducts reviews of visa policy , appeals, litigations, precedents.
• •Analyzes requested documents or portions thereof and, in cases where exemptions to FOIA are justifiable, redacts those portions of the document or documents that are exempt from release.
• •Conducts reevaluations of denial decisions that have been appealed by requestors and drafts written responses communicating reevaluation decisions.
• •Reviews, analyzes, and makes release or denial determinations of sensitive records requested under applicable acts, laws, or executive orders.
• •Researches case law to identify judicial interpretations applicable to specific FOIA requests.

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. 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 overseeing the work of and/or supervising staff. Experience reviewing records pursuant to laws and regulations. Examples of this could include but is not limited to timely redacting and annotating records, preparing timely responses, and ensuring confidentiality. Experience supporting general office operations. Examples of this could include but is not limited to managing a database, compiling reports, drafting correspondence, directly communications, and serving as a public liaison. Experience working with U.S. immigration programs; experience with U.S. visas highly desired. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-12 position. 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 overseeing the work of and/or supervising staff. Experience reviewing records pursuant to FOIA and implementing instructions. Examples of this could include but are not limited to interpreting and applying laws, regulations, legal decisions, policies, procedures and directives pertaining to the protection and release of FOIA Information. Experience coordinating and tracking FOIA requests to ensure that the responses are accurate, legally sufficient and timely. Experience explaining the redaction of sensitive issues. Examples of this could include but is not limited to evaluating records to determine the application of FOIA, communicating orally and in writing with employees, leadership, other organizations and/or the public regarding FOIA issues. Experience working with U.S. immigration programs; experience with U.S. visas highly desired. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-13 position.