This position is located in the Office of Regulatory Management Services in Washington, D.C.
The incumbent serves as a Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act (FOIA/PA) technical analyst with the responsibility of planning, developing, and directing FOIA and PA programs in the Forest Service Washington Office.
For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Margaret Scofield at margaret.scofield@usda.gov.
Summary
This position is located in the Office of Regulatory Management Services in Washington, D.C.
The incumbent serves as a Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act (FOIA/PA) technical analyst with the responsibility of planning, developing, and directing FOIA and PA programs in the Forest Service Washington Office.
For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Margaret Scofield at margaret.scofield@usda.gov.
This announcement is only open to current permanent Federal employees with competitive status, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP eligibles, VEOA eligibles, reinstatement eligibles, persons with disabilities, certain military spouses, 30% or more disabled veterans, Farm Service Agency permanent county employees, and those eligible for other Special Hiring Authorities within the local commuting area of Washington, D.C. Candidates outside of the local commuting area of Washington, D.C. will not be considered.
Serve as a Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act (FOIA/PA) analyst, functioning as a technical FOIA and PA expert.
Serve as acting Branch manager with authority to make decisions and commitments on all phases of the Branch's area of responsibility.
Develop, implement, and manage the FOIA and PA program for all agency program staffs including multiple detached components.
Participate in the planning, organization, and administration of FOIA and PA programs.
Develop guidance and procedural information regarding the agency's FOIA and PA regulations and policies.
Evaluate activities of field offices to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and policies concerning FOIA and PA.
Develop agency briefings and training programs on FOIA and PA policy, regulations, and procedures.
Devise and develop detailed plans, goals, and objectives for the long-range implementation and administration of major FOIA and PA matters.
Provide advice in sensitive or controversial areas that result in new guidelines on FOIA and PA matters.
Recommend legislative, regulatory, or administrative remedies to complex issues or deficiencies in policy.
Design and develop reports for management officials.
Independently answer questions related to FOIA and PA for field units nationwide.
At discretion of supervisor, performs responsibility of team lead by reviewing and approving FOIA responses for release to requesters, processing FOIA appeals, and leading staff meetings.
Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov
Qualifications
In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.
GS-13: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least to the GS-12 grade level. Specialized experience may include:
Reviewed and analyzed complex Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and/or Privacy Act (PA) requests for information to determine the validity and applicability of the request and to determine who has responsibility for providing documentation to respond to requests. Participated with a Branch manager and other members of the Branch in the overall planning, organization, and administration of FOIA and PA programs. Developed guidance and procedural information regarding the agency's FOIA and PA regulations and policies. Provided advice and guidance to supervisors and managers regarding FOIA/PA policies and procedures and prepared and presented FOIA/PA briefings and training for management officials and employees.
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.
TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Additional information
This position is eligible for telework.
Virtual duty locations are not available.
Government housing is not available.
Forest Service daycare facilities may be available.
To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.
If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is not guaranteed.
Information on special hiring authorities such as the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA), 30 percent disabled veterans, and individuals with disabilities may be found on the USAJOBS website.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies listed below:
Manages and Organizes Information, Oral Communication, Project Management, and Technical Competence
Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Referral to the hiring manager will be based on the following:
If you meet the qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified, you will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities must meet minimum qualifications to be referred.
Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in the mail service, your system failure, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.
Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) supervisor's phone number and whether or not the supervisor may be contacted for a reference check; 5) other qualifications.
In addition to the above, you must submit the documents below if you claim any of the following:
Current and former Federal employees: 1) Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing that you are/were in the competitive service, highest grade (or promotion potential) held on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND 2) Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. Do not submit a performance plan.
Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.
Current permanent FSA County employees: most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action, (SF-50 or equivalent) showing your highest grade (or promotion potential) held on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) per above.
VEOA and 30% Disabled Veterans: please review the Required Documents for Hiring Authorities Quick Guide on the Forest Service website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/required_docs_fsjobs.pdf
If claiming eligibility under a special hiring authority not listed above, please review the Required Documents for Hiring Authorities Quick Guide on the Forest Service website.
Please view Tips for Applicants - a guide to the Forest Service application process: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd575087.pdf
Read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin. You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
Applying online is highly encouraged. We are available to assist you during business hours (8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m.(MST)), Monday - Friday. If applying online poses a hardship, contact the Agency Contact listed below well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages must be returned to Human Resources no later than noon ET on the closing date of the announcement in order for it to be entered into the system prior to the closing date.
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. Contact the Agency Contact to request this.
To begin, in USAJOBS select "Apply" and follow the instructions to attach your resume and supporting documents, complete the assessment questionnaire, and submit your application.
Note: You must indicate by your responses to the questionnaire, all categories of eligibilities for which you would like to be considered. You will only be considered for the eligibilities that you select.
USDA Forest Service HRM Contact Center
DO NOT MAIL IN APPLICATIONS, SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
Albuquerque, NM 87109
US
Next steps
Your application will be reviewed to verify that you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for the position prior to issuing referral lists to the selecting official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. Log in to your USAJOBS account to check your application status.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, illegible fax transmissions, delays in the mail service, your system failure, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.
Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) supervisor's phone number and whether or not the supervisor may be contacted for a reference check; 5) other qualifications.
In addition to the above, you must submit the documents below if you claim any of the following:
Current and former Federal employees: 1) Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing that you are/were in the competitive service, highest grade (or promotion potential) held on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND 2) Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable. Do not submit a performance plan.
Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP priority: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with your application per 5 CFR 330.
Current permanent FSA County employees: most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action, (SF-50 or equivalent) showing your highest grade (or promotion potential) held on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade AND most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) per above.
VEOA and 30% Disabled Veterans: please review the Required Documents for Hiring Authorities Quick Guide on the Forest Service website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/required_docs_fsjobs.pdf
If claiming eligibility under a special hiring authority not listed above, please review the Required Documents for Hiring Authorities Quick Guide on the Forest Service website.
Please view Tips for Applicants - a guide to the Forest Service application process: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd575087.pdf
Read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin. You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
Applying online is highly encouraged. We are available to assist you during business hours (8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m.(MST)), Monday - Friday. If applying online poses a hardship, contact the Agency Contact listed below well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages must be returned to Human Resources no later than noon ET on the closing date of the announcement in order for it to be entered into the system prior to the closing date.
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. Contact the Agency Contact to request this.
To begin, in USAJOBS select "Apply" and follow the instructions to attach your resume and supporting documents, complete the assessment questionnaire, and submit your application.
Note: You must indicate by your responses to the questionnaire, all categories of eligibilities for which you would like to be considered. You will only be considered for the eligibilities that you select.
USDA Forest Service HRM Contact Center
DO NOT MAIL IN APPLICATIONS, SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
Albuquerque, NM 87109
US
Next steps
Your application will be reviewed to verify that you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for the position prior to issuing referral lists to the selecting official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. Log in to your USAJOBS account to check your application status.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
