Government Information Specialist

Summary

About the Position: This position is located at DoWEA Headquarters in Alexandria, VA. The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) is transitioning to the Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA).

Duties

• •Input tracking data into automated control systems to monitor the intake and processing status of all incoming FOIA (Freedom of Information Act )and Privacy Act requests.
• •Administer FOIA and Privacy Act program requirements to ensure full regulatory compliance across headquarters and field schools.
• •Advise members of the public, media representatives, and external requesters on agency FOIA and Privacy Act guidelines and submission rules.
• •Compose formal determination letters to requesters explaining the disposition, search findings, and release status of requested agency files.
• •Review incoming case files to ensure that litigation freezes and records retention holds are properly published and enforced.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities. Current Competitive Service Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) Civilian Employee Current Department of War (DoW) Civilian Employee Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473 Priority Placement Program, DoW Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoW Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoW MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement Priority Placement Program, DoW Retained Grade Preference Eligible Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998 In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. GS-09: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes assisting with the intake, logging, and preliminary processing of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Privacy Act (PA), or public information access requests using an automated tracking database; conducting standard searches across office files, databases, or records systems to locate responsive documents; AND drafting routine correspondence, acknowledgment notices, or response letters to requesters explaining request status, procedures, or basic fee requirements under established guidance. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07). OR Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Business Management or Business Administration. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-07). GS-11: One year of specialized experience which includes processing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA) requests, including conducting searches for responsive agency records; reviewing and redacting sensitive records by applying statutory disclosure exemptions and preparing justifications for withheld information; AND communicating and negotiating with requesters to clarify the scope of requests, explain agency release procedures, or address fee and processing issues. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09). OR Education: Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Business Management or Business Administration OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages. Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-09).

Education

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html