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Government Information Specialist

Environmental Protection Agency
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is in Office of General Counsel, National Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Office.

About: The Office of General Counsel (OGC)

This is an office-centered position*--you must physically report to the duty station stated in this announcement on a regular basis.

*Work-from-home flexibilities may be authorized as described in the Benefits section.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
04/17/2024 to 04/24/2024
Salary
$68,405 to - $107,590 per year

Salary will be based on the grade level for which you are selected.

Pay scale & grade
GS 09 - 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be required to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Announcement number
EPA-CN-DE-2024-0004
Control number
787236900

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Duties

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At the entry level of this position, you will:

  • Review, analyze and research the Agency’s information assets for response to information requests.
  • Assist with making release determinations to grant or deny official requests for information and prepare responses to requesters and Agency management.
  • Ensure personal information and data is collected, maintained, used, or disseminated only as authorized by law.
  • Implement and/or distribute written privacy policies and procedures that promote commitment to privacy and access to information.

When entering a Federal job at a grade level lower than the highest promotion potential level, you may be promoted to more complex duties and work more independently, as your career progresses. NOTE: Career ladder promotions are not automatic, and all eligibility and qualifications requirements must be met in order to progress to the next grade level.

One or more positions may be filled (in the organization advertised and/or in other organizations), if appropriate to the position.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen.
  • You must submit a resume and required documents--see How to Apply section.

This position is designated as Moderate Risk and requires a background investigation. Unless an appropriate background investigation is already on record with the Office of Personnel Management, you must undergo a background investigation. All conditions of the pre-employment security process must be met before an official letter of employment can be issued with a report for duty date.

If you are selected, you may be required to complete a one-year probationary period.

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Qualifications

NOTE:  You must meet qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

To qualify for the GS-09 level, you must have one of the following:

  • 1 year of full-time* specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level defined as researching government information management rules and regulations to assist in the disclosure of information in response to official requests; applying records management guidance pertaining to retention, disclosure and destruction of agency records.
  • 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; the education must provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position
  • equivalent combination of education and experience

To qualify for the GS-11 level, you must have one of the following:

  • 1 year of full-time* specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level defined as researching government information management rules and regulations to make recommendations regarding disclosure of information in response to official requests; applying records management guidance pertaining to retention, disclosure and destruction of agency records.
  • 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; the education must provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position
  • equivalent combination of education and experience

Your answers to the online assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:

  • Knowledge of the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act.
  • Skill in applying government information management laws, regulations, and  principles.
  • Skill in written communication.
  • Skill in oral communication.
  • Skill in managing information through the use of information technology.
  • Knowledge of Federal and Agency records management systems, regulations, principles, and policies.
  • Ability to implement procedures to ensure timely notification of privacy breaches.

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.

*If you have part-time work experience, read this: EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures.

Additional information

Except in special circumstances, those new to the federal government will be hired at the starting salary (step 1) of the applicable grade range listed in the Overview section.

EPA participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. For additional information: EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures.

Are you a Displaced Federal Employee? If so, please read the Required Documents section and visit the EPA website for additional information: EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values at EPA. Our excellence can only be fully realized by staff who share our commitment to these values. Successful candidates are committed to advancing equity and inclusion in the Agency’s workplace and mission. We encourage applications from candidates with a variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance. At EPA, diversity is a vital element in bringing a balance of perspectives to bear on every challenge we face. We are committed to creating a diverse workforce because we know that the individual strengths and abilities of our employees make us a stronger organization. The more inclusive our employee base is, the greater the variety of ideas that are generated, and the more representative we are of the nation we serve. To learn more about how EPA values and supports our diverse workforce, visit Equal Opportunity Employment at EPA.

If you are selected, travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid by EPA. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting to work in this position will be your responsibility.

This position is in the bargaining unit.

How you will be evaluated

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

We will review your resume and required documents to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. Your resume must address the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed in the Qualifications section. If you meet basic qualification requirements, your application will be further evaluated based on your answers to the online assessment. Your responses to the online assessment will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for the position. You are being evaluated under the category rating method which means, if you are determined to be qualified, you will be placed into the ‘Best Qualified’, ‘Well Qualified’, or ‘Qualified’ category. NOTE:  Preference eligible veterans must be selected, or decline further consideration, before applicants who are ineligible for veterans’ preference can be selected (to learn more, visit Veterans' Preference).

We will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the assessment questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. We will evaluate your qualifications and eligibility and notify you if you meet minimum qualification requirements. If you are referred for consideration, you may be subject to additional assessments (e.g., technical writing sample or other work sample, job knowledge test, case scenario analysis, scientific data assessment, structured interview, etc.).

NOTE: We do not require a separate statement responding to the competencies, also referred to as Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). However, your resume should clearly show possession of these competencies.


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