This position is located in the Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act (FOIA/PA) Unit of the Office of the Chief Legal Advisor within the Antitrust Division (ATR). The FOIA/PA Unit provides several major functions for the Division, serves as a Division resource, and protects the Division's interests with respect to confidentiality and disclosure issues.
Summary
This position is located in the Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act (FOIA/PA) Unit of the Office of the Chief Legal Advisor within the Antitrust Division (ATR). The FOIA/PA Unit provides several major functions for the Division, serves as a Division resource, and protects the Division's interests with respect to confidentiality and disclosure issues.
As a Government Information Specialist, for the Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act Unit within the Antitrust Division you will provide a wide range of administrative and legal support services associated with such functions as impact analysis of legislative, administrative, judicial decisions, opinions, determinations, and rulings on matters relevant to the Antitrust Division and the FOIA/PA program. Responsibilities will include:
Performing review and research of facts, documents, statutes, regulations, case law, and legal requirements in order to prepare proposed responses to FOIA/PA requests.
Evaluating incoming requests to determine whether there is any basis to assert an exemption to disclosure.
Conducting extensive record searches and making disclosure recommendations.
Transmitting FOIA/PA requests with instructions to conduct searches for records.
Drafting proposed responses to FOIA/PA requests, citing applicable FOIA exemptions, statutes, legal precedent, and Department regulations.
Coordinating issue resolution.
Providing analysis and advice on program issues.
Conducting studies on the proper implementation of FOIA/PA requirements; and the relevance, accuracy, and completeness of PA records.
Coordinating and processing FOIA/PA requests.
Handling sensitive records.
Researching and gathering information in response to FOIA/PA requests.
Using a computerized software program to mark and recommend documents for redaction and disclosure.
Reviewing information to determine its exempt or non-exempt status under the FOIA or PA.
Compiling and maintaining document inventories and indices for FOIA/PA requests.
Drafting pleadings, declarations, Vaughn indices, and rebuttals.
Identifying and preparing other documents needed to defend complex FOIA/PA litigation, including exhibits and supporting evidence.
Consulting, assisting, and coordinating with Division attorneys, economists, and staff, Department components, and other Federal agencies.
Assisting in development of agency briefings and training programs on FOIA and PA policy, regulations, and procedures.
Assisting in day-to-day administrative operations related to the processing of FOIA/PA requests.
Assisting in maintaining and monitoring an integrated records and reporting system.
Other duties as assigned.
As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.
You must be a U.S. Citizen to be considered for this position.
You must undergo a pre-employment security investigation.
You may be required to take and successfully clear a drug test.
You must submit a complete application package by the closing date of this announcement.
You must meet all time-in-grade and qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
SELECTIVE SERVICE: All male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must have registered for the selective service (see SSS.gov). If selected for this position, the applicant must sign a statement certifying his registration, or the applicant must demonstrate exempt status under the Selective Service Law.
DIRECT DEPOSIT: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
This is a full-time, non-supervisory, permanent appointment in the competitive service ineligible for inclusion in a bargaining unit
This appointment may require completion of a one-year probationary period, in accordance with 5 CFR 315.801.
The Antitrust Division participates in the E-Verify program.
When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval.
This position offers career mobility opportunities to qualified Legal Division/Office of Solicitor General employees, who are encouraged to apply.
Applications mailed using government postage and/or internal federal government mailing systems are in violation of agency and postal regulations and will not be accepted.
Please note: Additional selections may be made from this announcement. Also, a writing sample and a combination of 3 to 5 business and academic references may be requested of individuals identified as best qualified, to be forwarded to the selecting official along with your application package, upon referral.
Qualifications
To qualify for consideration at the GS-9 level, you must possess one of the below requirements:
Possess at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-7 level. EXAMPLES of qualifying specialized experience at this level include: interpreting and processing Freedom of Information Act requests or appeals; determining the nature of records requests; coordinating and tracking FOIA/PA requests or appeals. OR
Hold a Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. OR
Possess a combination of experience and education. To combine education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the requirement must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate level education in excess of the first 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education.
To qualify for consideration at the GS-11 level, you must possess one of the below requirements:
Possess at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-9 level. EXAMPLES of qualifying specialized experience at this level include: evaluating Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)/Privacy Act (PA) issues/requests in terms of cited legislation and content to determine legislative applicability; interpreting and advising on new developments and recent court decisions, legislative activities, and Congressional initiatives regarding release of information under the FOIA and Privacy Act; processing complex FOIA/PA requests for access to highly sensitive records including confidential commercial information, classified materials and grand jury information. OR
Hold a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. OR
Possess a combination of experience and education. To combine education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the requirement must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate level education in excess of the first 36 semester hours (54 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education.
To qualify for consideration at the GS-12 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-11 level. EXAMPLES of qualifying specialized experience at this level include: applying analytical and evaluative methods to perform extensive research, review, and analysis of documentary material to determine the appropriate application of FOIA/PA exemptions and statutes; analyzing complex requests for information to determine compliance with agency and government-wide FOIA regulations and procedures; experience in compiling, reconciling, and correlating voluminous workload data from a variety of sources with different reporting requirements and formats; carefully cross-checking the data, analyzing it, and interpreting it to obtain accurate and relevant information.
To qualify for consideration at the GS-13 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-12 level. EXAMPLES of qualifying specialized experience at this level include: ensuring comprehensive responses to FOIA/PA requests are in compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and Division guidance; providing technical guidance or direction on complex issues regarding requests for the release of potentially sensitive or confidential information containing Personally Identifying Information or other non-public information; training junior colleagues on the application of FOIA exemptions to responsive records; preparing FOIA referrals and responses, and coordinating appeal-stage work.
Please note: Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position as described below, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled.
Education
Education must be reviewed and certified by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be creditable toward your qualifications. Therefore, you should provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that 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 more information about this requirement, please visit the U.S. Department of Education website for Foreign Education Evaluation
*All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.
Additional information
The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified or better category using established category rating criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is online.
The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over candidates from other agencies for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority over other applicants who are not employees of the Department of Justice if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified or better category using established category rating criteria. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is online.
The Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) allows veterans to apply to announcements that are only open to "status" candidates, which means "current competitive service employees." To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, your latest discharge must be issued under honorable conditions (this means an honorable or general discharge), AND you must be either (1) a preference eligible (defined in title 5 U.S.C. 2108(3)), OR (2) a veteran who substantially completed 3 or more years of active service. When applying under VEOA, you must rate and rank among the best qualified when compared to current employee applicants in order to be considered for appointment. Veterans' preference does not apply to internal agency actions such as promotions, transfers, reassignments and reinstatements.
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.
Your application will be evaluated under DOJ's Merit Promotion Plan, and rated under DOJ's Category Rating and Selection Procedures.
Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the basic qualifications for the position listed in this announcement. Please note: Basic qualifications will be determined based on a comparison of your resume against the quality and extent of experience or related education as reflected in the position requirements.
If you are found to be minimally qualified for this position, your resume and supporting documentation will be further assessed and compared to the responses of your occupational/assessment questionnaire. The numeric rating you receive will be based on your responses to the questionnaire. The rating is a measure of the degree to which your background matches the competencies, knowledge, skills, and abilities required for this position, and will determine the rank in which you place (Qualified, Highly Qualified, or Best Qualified).
Your application will be further assessed based upon the following competencies:
Your application will be further assessed based upon the following competencies, knowledge, skills, and abilities:
FOIA Processing;
FOIA Searches;
FOIA/PA Program;
Oral Communication; and
Writing.
If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score can and will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities. Please follow all instructions carefully as errors or omissions may affect your rating.
Performance Appraisals and Awards:
You will receive an additional point added to your final score for a fully successful or higher performance rating. An additional point will also be added to your final score for any one performance award received within the past three years that relates to the position for which you are applying. Please provide only one recent award. To receive credit, you must provide a copy of your performance rating and a copy of your performance award SF-50.
Fair & Transparent
The Federal hiring process is setup to be fair and transparent. Please read the guidance available from USAJobs.
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.
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.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package which includes:
1. A copy of your resume or equivalent - Applicants will be evaluated based on a comparison of the position requirements against the quality and extent of experience or related education as reflected in their resume and cover letter. Applicants are encouraged to ensure work experiences, as represented in their resume, clearly show the possession of knowledge of the subject matter pertinent to the position, and the competencies and technical skills to successfully perform the duties of the position. A cover letter is optional.
RESUME REQUIREMENTS: ALL APPLICANTS: you must submit a resume supporting your specialized experience and responses to the online questionnaire. The federal government has very specific resume requirements. If you have not written a federal resume before, you may want to watch this Resume Writing Tutorialvideo on the USAJOBS YouTube channel, or read through a helpful Resume Writing FAQon the USAJOBS Help Site to learn what details you should, and should not, include in your resume. A CV (curriculum vitae) may not contain enough information to meet theseresume requirements.
Your resume should list all work experience (paid and unpaid); you must list the full name and address of each employer.
For all types of work experience, you should indicate the start and end date (include month and year); you must also list the average number of hours per week that you worked.
Your resume should also include any education and training you have completed (list the program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
2. A completed assessment questionnaire. A preview is available here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11809032
3. A copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applying as a status candidate with current or former
Federal service) which shows type of service appointment, tenure group, grade, and salary. If you are applying for a higher grade, please provide the SF-50 Form, which shows the length of time you have been in your current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF50s include promotions, Within Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s over one year old). If you have promotion potential in your current position, please provide proof.
4. A copy of your most recent performance appraisal (if current federal employee).
5. A copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, documenting receipt of a performance award received
within the last 3 years (if applicable).
6. A copy of your transcript, if you qualify for consideration based on education. An unofficial transcript is acceptable to qualify, however, it must include your full name. If selected for the position, an official transcript must be provided.
7. Documentation of eligibility for special hiring authorities (if applicable) to prove appointment eligibility. Examples include Schedule A disability letter, Peace Corps volunteer letter and:
Documentation of eligibility for CTAP and ICTAP (if applicable) - You must provide written notification of your eligibility for CTAP and/or ICTAP; your most recent Performance Appraisal, and your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action.
Veterans' Preference Documentation (if applicable) - If you are a discharged, non-disabled veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character discharge (Member Copy-4), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives.
If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, and 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
If you are a disabled veteran, Purple Heart recipient, or mother or spouse of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit a completed SF-15 and all additional proof required by the SF-15, as applicable. If you don't have your Department of Veterans Affairs letter establishing proof of disability, you may request it online or call 1-800-827-1000.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 02/03/2023 to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
The following instructions outline our application process. You must complete the online application process and submit any required documents by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. We are available to assist you during business hours (8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, you must contact us by noon Eastern Standard Time on the announcement's closing date. If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Personnel Section. Please contact Karen Jung by email at Karen.Jung@usdoj.gov or by phone at (202) 514-8885 to obtain an alternative application.
If you require a reasonable accommodation for disability during any part of the application and hiring process, please contact Karen Jung by phone at 202-514-8885 or by email at Karen.Jung@usdoj.gov. The Antitrust Division provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. You must contact us by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the announcement's closing date to request accommodation. Callers with hearing or speech impairment can access their state's telecommunications relay service (TRS) to make TTY calls by dialing 7-1-1.
Antitrust Division
450 5th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20530
US
Next steps
Once the online questionnaire is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After the announcement closes, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications based on the application we receive. Ranking will be determined based on responses to the Assessment Questionnaire. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 30 to 60 days of the closing date of this announcement.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package which includes:
1. A copy of your resume or equivalent - Applicants will be evaluated based on a comparison of the position requirements against the quality and extent of experience or related education as reflected in their resume and cover letter. Applicants are encouraged to ensure work experiences, as represented in their resume, clearly show the possession of knowledge of the subject matter pertinent to the position, and the competencies and technical skills to successfully perform the duties of the position. A cover letter is optional.
RESUME REQUIREMENTS: ALL APPLICANTS: you must submit a resume supporting your specialized experience and responses to the online questionnaire. The federal government has very specific resume requirements. If you have not written a federal resume before, you may want to watch this Resume Writing Tutorialvideo on the USAJOBS YouTube channel, or read through a helpful Resume Writing FAQon the USAJOBS Help Site to learn what details you should, and should not, include in your resume. A CV (curriculum vitae) may not contain enough information to meet theseresume requirements.
Your resume should list all work experience (paid and unpaid); you must list the full name and address of each employer.
For all types of work experience, you should indicate the start and end date (include month and year); you must also list the average number of hours per week that you worked.
Your resume should also include any education and training you have completed (list the program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
2. A completed assessment questionnaire. A preview is available here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11809032
3. A copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applying as a status candidate with current or former
Federal service) which shows type of service appointment, tenure group, grade, and salary. If you are applying for a higher grade, please provide the SF-50 Form, which shows the length of time you have been in your current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF50s include promotions, Within Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s over one year old). If you have promotion potential in your current position, please provide proof.
4. A copy of your most recent performance appraisal (if current federal employee).
5. A copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, documenting receipt of a performance award received
within the last 3 years (if applicable).
6. A copy of your transcript, if you qualify for consideration based on education. An unofficial transcript is acceptable to qualify, however, it must include your full name. If selected for the position, an official transcript must be provided.
7. Documentation of eligibility for special hiring authorities (if applicable) to prove appointment eligibility. Examples include Schedule A disability letter, Peace Corps volunteer letter and:
Documentation of eligibility for CTAP and ICTAP (if applicable) - You must provide written notification of your eligibility for CTAP and/or ICTAP; your most recent Performance Appraisal, and your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action.
Veterans' Preference Documentation (if applicable) - If you are a discharged, non-disabled veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character discharge (Member Copy-4), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives.
If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, and 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
If you are a disabled veteran, Purple Heart recipient, or mother or spouse of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit a completed SF-15 and all additional proof required by the SF-15, as applicable. If you don't have your Department of Veterans Affairs letter establishing proof of disability, you may request it online or call 1-800-827-1000.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 02/03/2023 to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
The following instructions outline our application process. You must complete the online application process and submit any required documents by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. We are available to assist you during business hours (8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, you must contact us by noon Eastern Standard Time on the announcement's closing date. If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Personnel Section. Please contact Karen Jung by email at Karen.Jung@usdoj.gov or by phone at (202) 514-8885 to obtain an alternative application.
If you require a reasonable accommodation for disability during any part of the application and hiring process, please contact Karen Jung by phone at 202-514-8885 or by email at Karen.Jung@usdoj.gov. The Antitrust Division provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. You must contact us by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the announcement's closing date to request accommodation. Callers with hearing or speech impairment can access their state's telecommunications relay service (TRS) to make TTY calls by dialing 7-1-1.
Antitrust Division
450 5th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20530
US
Next steps
Once the online questionnaire is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After the announcement closes, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications based on the application we receive. Ranking will be determined based on responses to the Assessment Questionnaire. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 30 to 60 days of the closing date of this announcement.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
