Clarification from the agency

Current federal civilian employees in the competitive service on permanent career or career-conditional appointments; Former federal employees with reinstatement eligibility; and Applicants eligible under special hiring authorities (Schedule A, etc.).

APPLICATION LIMIT: This vacancy announcement is limited to the first 50 applications received and will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the day that we receive the 50th application, or at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the listed closing date, whichever occurs first.  

We encourage you to read this entire vacancy announcement prior to submitting your application.

As a Government Information Specialist, GS-0306-14, you will be responsible for:

• Conduct quality reviews of responses to Privacy Act and FOIA requests, ensuring appropriate feedback and quality improvement mechanisms are in place to promote continuous improvement. Analyze trends in the quality of products and responses to FOIA and Privacy Act cases; identifies gaps and deficiencies; and develops and implements training approaches, tools, and modules to address findings and to improve quality. Develop and provide in-person, print, and web-based training to Department employees and contractors regarding FOIA, the Privacy Act, and the FSC’s operations and mission.
• As an expert in Privacy Act and FOIA, supports efforts to ensure the prompt, efficient, and successful handling of FOIA and Privacy Act requests received by the Department. Provide guidance and instruction to Department staff for the appropriate receipt, handling, and recording of FOIA and Privacy Act requests. Support agency compliance with FOIA management policies and operating procedures. Furnish reliable, accurate, and timely information on FOIA compliance as required by relevant laws, statutes, regulations and directives, including mandated reports on the status of the ED FOIA Program’s operations.
• Advise the Chief FOIA Officer and FSC leadership on a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods to identify, assess, analyze, and improve product quality and process effectiveness. Analyze and evaluate on a quantitative/qualitative basis the efficiency and effectiveness of line program operations in meeting established goals and objectives and develops and evaluates new or modifies processes, policies, and procedures to address deficiencies and better meet program objectives and goals. Devise tools, measures, and performance metrics to provide information to management on program efficiency, product quality, and operational performance. Develop procedures and systems for assessing the effectiveness of programs/management processes.
• Support the implementation and management of Department-wide systems and databases that support the successful and efficient handling of FOIA and Privacy Act requests, including through contract management activities, as needed. Manages projects and prepares justifications for contractual and budgetary requirements necessary to accomplish assigned objectives. May serve in a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) capacity. Other duties as assigned. 

Conditions of employment

• Relocation will not be paid.
• Males 18 and over must be registered with the Selective Service.
• You may be subject to serve a one-year probationary period.
• Must be a US Citizen.
• Background Investigation is required.

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

If you are a current federal employee, you must meet all time-in-grade and time-after competitive appointment qualifications within 30 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement. To verify that you meet these requirements, we will review your responses to the core eligibility questions on the occupational questionnaire, as well as your submitted resume and required documents. To make an accurate determination, you will need to include on your resume your federal position title, pay plan, occupational series, grade level, agency, dates for which you held the grade level (stated as MM/YYYY to MM/YYYY, OR MM/YYYY to PRESENT), and total hours worked per week. 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).

Conditions of Employment

TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY:

• You may be eligible for occasional telework in which you are required to report to the office on a regular basis. Participation must be requested and approved by the supervisor and there must be a signed telework agreement. The number of telework days approved is determined by the agency policy, emergency situations, the approval of your immediate supervisor. You must have access to high speed internet and cell phone service meeting current Agency policy from the approved work location.  

Qualifications

Specialized Experience for the GS-14
One year of experience in either federal or non-federal service that is equivalent to at least a GS-13 performing two (2) out of three (3) of the following duties or work assignments:

1. Experience providing technical assistance to internal and external customers regarding laws, regulations, and policies pertaining to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act. 
2. Experience in applying redactions to records in accordance with exemptions outlined in the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act.
3. Experience in identifying and implementing mechanisms to improve processes and quality of resulting products.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
The quality of your experience will be measured by the extent to which you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). You do not need to provide separate narrative responses to these KSAs, as they will be measured by your responses to the occupational questionnaire (you may preview the occupational questionnaire by clicking the link at the end of the Evaluations section of this vacancy announcement).

1. Knowledge of federal, state and/or local laws, regulations, and directives concerning the management, distribution, or destruction of records, including the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act of 1974.
2. Knowledge of records management processes and procedures. 
3. Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative analytical methodologies to develop processes and reports dealing with paperwork reduction and records management.
4. Ability to plan and coordinate contract administration activities for long term, extensive technical service contracts for services and administration.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We use a multi-step process to review and evaluate applicants:

1. Eligibility and Minimum Qualifications

Once the vacancy announcement closes, we will review your submitted resume and documents to determine if you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, including any required education, experience, and/or selective placement factors. You will be rated as ineligible if you are outside of the area of consideration (i.e., who may apply) or your application is missing any required documents. You will be rated as not qualified if you do not possess the minimum qualification requirements.

2. Rating and Ranking

If you are found to meet both the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, we will assess the quality of your experience and the extent to which you possess the required KSAs by comparing your submitted resume and documents against your responses to the occupational questionnaire. (The occupational questionnaire is the list of questions in the automated system that you will have an opportunity to answer once you apply for the position). Based on the outcome of this evaluation, you will be assigned a numerical score (out of 100 possible). If your responses to the occupational questionnaire are not substantiated by your submitted resume, you may be eliminated from receiving further consideration.

3. Referral and Selection

If you are found to be amongst the most highly qualified applicants, you will be referred to the selecting official. As part of the assessment and selection process, the selecting official may invite you to participate in a structured interview, check your references, and/or request that you submit a writing sample or complete a written assessment or exercise to further evaluate your qualifications for this position.