Consistently ranked as the best place to work in the Department of the Interior (DOI), and the top 10% of all agency subcomponents, the Office of Inspector General is an independent office providing independent oversight to promote accountability, integrity, economy, efficiency, and effectiveness within the DOI. We offer exceptional work-life benefits, including flexible work schedules, a robust telework program, ample training opportunities, and a comprehensive employee recognition program.
Summary
Consistently ranked as the best place to work in the Department of the Interior (DOI), and the top 10% of all agency subcomponents, the Office of Inspector General is an independent office providing independent oversight to promote accountability, integrity, economy, efficiency, and effectiveness within the DOI. We offer exceptional work-life benefits, including flexible work schedules, a robust telework program, ample training opportunities, and a comprehensive employee recognition program.
All current career/career-conditional or former federal employees with reinstatement eligibility; CTAP and ICTAP eligibles within the local commuting area; Veterans' Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA); Interchange Agreement; Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA); Persons eligible under other Special Hiring Authorities; Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista; and Military Spouses
The Office of General Counsel (OGC) is seeking a Government Information Specialist to join our team in supporting our commitment to transparency and compliance. OGC provides independent legal advice and training to the Inspector General and OIG staff, covering the full range of activities within the OIG, including investigations, audits, inspections, and evaluations. OGC manages the OIG ethics, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Privacy Act (PA), and record retention programs.
As a Government Information Specialist, you will be a part of the Information Law Division, responding to and managing requests made under the FOIA and PA, as well as other information disclosure requests. Your responsibilities include:
Serving as a subject matter expert on reviewing, analyzing, and adjudicating FOIA and PA requests. This includes intaking requests, evaluating the request, processing records, and responding to requests in a timely manner; reviewing, analyzing, and adjudicating records subject to public disclosure; and applying relevant law and regulations to determine whether information can be disclosed.
Upon intake, evaluating requests for case tracking categorization, fee determination, and expedited processing; interpreting the scope of FOIA and PA requests; ensuring that reasonable searches are conducted and properly documented; applying legally defensible withholdings and exclusions in accordance with the FOIA and the PA; and adjudicating complex FOIA and PA requests in a timely manner.
Drafting a variety of FOIA/PA acknowledgement and determination letters and related correspondence; preparing reports for internal and external distribution; maintaining accurate electronic case files and disposing of records according to applicable schedules.
Serving as the FOIA public liaison to narrow requests and explain responses to requestors; coordinating with FOIA professionals from other agencies regarding referrals, consults, and misdirected requests; presenting updates and trainings to OIG staff; in response to FOIA/PA requests, engaging with OIG personnel to determine potentially responsive records and advising on executing reasonable searches, documenting searches, and transferring records.
Successful completion of a background investigation.
May be required to complete a one year probationary period.
Time-in-grade requirement - Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for the Selective Service.
Effective January 1, 2010, OPM must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employees in the executive branch.
Qualifications
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Merit Promotion candidates (Federal employees) must meet time-in-grade requirements by the announcement closing date.
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.
Minimum Qualifications GS-11:
To qualify for the GS-11, you must possess one of the following:
Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree; or possession of an LL.M. degree, if related, in a course of study that directly reflects the job-related competencies necessary to satisfy the minimum qualifications and perform the duties of the position;
One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service performing all of the following: assisting requestors with a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or Privacy Act (PA) request and entering and retrieving data in an automated database tool, such as Microsoft Excel, to track FOIA or PA request statuses; OR
A combination of education and experience, as listed above.
Note: If using education to qualify, transcripts are required at the time of application.
Minimum Qualifications GS-12:
To qualify for the GS-12 level, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service performing all of the following
Receiving, responding to, and tracking FOIA or PA requests,
Analyzing and redacting information in compliance with information disclosure rules and procedures, AND
Compiling responsive documentation in response to FOIA or PA requests.
Note: There is no substitution of education for experience at this level.
Minimum Qualifications GS-13:
To qualify for the GS-13 level, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service performing all of the following
Reviewing FOIA or PA release packages,
Authoring final responses or reviewing responses prepared by others to FOIA or PA information requests, AND
Resolving FOIA or PA-related issues with external customers, such as the media, Congress, or members of the public
Note: There is no substitution of education for experience at this level.
Education
ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.
GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.
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
Additional information
Applicants must meet initial and periodic suitability determinations based on favorable background investigations and updates.
A Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized.
Additional selections may be made from this vacancy announcement.
Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.
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.
Applicants will be evaluated based on how well they meet the qualifications as listed in this announcement. Applicants will be evaluated based on their possession of the following competencies:
Knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies related to the FOIA and the PA sufficient to independently interpret and apply to difficult or sensitive requests
Ability to analyze and apply FOIA and PA principles and redactions to various types of documents
Written communication
Oral communication
After the closing date of the announcement, we will review your resume per Category Rating or Numerical Scoring procedures to ensure that qualification and eligibility requirements are met. If we use the Category Rating procedure, and it is determined that you meet the minimum qualification requirements, your application will then be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified based on the degree that your application demonstrates possession of:
Knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies related to the FOIA
Ability to utilize software and office management tools in processing FOIA or PA requests
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.
All documentation applicable to you must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to submit the required documents will disqualify you from further consideration for this position.
Resume (required) - Your resume must sufficiently describe how your experience fully meets the specialized experience requirements as stated in this announcement for each grade level(s) you are applying (see "Qualifications" section). Your resume must also support your responses to the assessment questionnaire. Credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. We cannot assume you have performed the duties and gained the experience required for this position regardless of your employment history or academic career. We strongly recommend you use the USA Jobs Online Resume Builder to submit a resume. If you choose to use your own formatted resume, you must ensure it contains all of the following for each experience/position listed: job title, name of employer, beginning and ending dates of employment (month/day/year format), hours worked per week, detailed description of duties performed, and if a Federal position, series and grade or equivalent. We will not access web pages linked to your resume to determine your qualifications. Do not include a photograph or video of yourself or any sensitive information.
SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action(required for current or former Federal employees) - If you are a current or former Federal employee, you must provide the most recent Notification of Personnel Action (Form SF-50) that verifies career/career-conditional status (box 24 must show "1" or "2" and box 34 must show "1"), title, series, and grade (do not submit an Award SF-50). Also, provide the SF-50 that reflects the highest grade level held on a permanent basis or the full performance level of your current position, whichever is higher.
Bureau of Land Management - Under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) two groups of individuals are eligible to apply under this announcement: current and/or former employees serving or who have served under time-limited competitive appointments at land management agencies.- Current appointees: 1) must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time-limited appointment with a land management agency; 2) must have served under one or more time-limited appointment(s) by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; and 3) must have performed at an acceptable level during each period of service (Performance Appraisal Required). Former appointees: 1) must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time-limited appointment with a land management agency; 2) must have served under one or more time-limited appointment(s) by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; 3) must have separated for reasons other than misconduct or performance; and 4) must have performed at an acceptable level through the service period (Performance Appraisal Required).
Documentation Verifying Education (if applicable) - If you are using education to meet minimum qualifications, you must submit transcripts. If selected, official copies of transcripts will be required prior to receiving a firm job offer and entering on duty.
Foreign Education Equivalency Documentation - Required if you have qualifying education completed outside of the United States and are using education to qualify.
Performance Appraisal and Awards - While not required, due weight will be given to appraisals and awards submitted during the interview/selection process conducted by the hiring manager. Such documents will not be used in determining if you meet the experience requirements.
CTAP/ICTAP Eligibility - Such as a RIF separation notice, certificate of expected separation, SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action stating you were separated by RIF, OR a letter from your agency documenting your priority consideration status.
Veteran's Documentation - DD-214, SF-15, and VA Letter, or certification of discharge or release from active duty within 120 days. For current active duty service members, a "certification" is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted with your application package. The certification letter should be on the letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates, including the expected discharge or release date, and (2) the character of service. If selected for this position, you must provide a copy of your terminal leave documentation, if applicable
Required Documents Continued Under "How to Apply"
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.
Former Peace Corp and VISTA volunteers - If you are applying under this eligibility you MUST indicate on your application the special program and submit proof of eligibility with your application. Individuals who are eligible for consideration will be considered non-competitively for this vacancy.
Miscellaneous Authorities Not Regulated by U.S. OPM/Special Hiring Authorities - If you are applying for this position based on eligibility under the Interchange Agreement or Miscellaneous Authorities Not Regulated by U.S. OPM, or Special Hiring Authorities you MUST select the appropriate eligibility and submit proof to be considered.
For a list of authorities, visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=MiscellaneousAuthoritiesRegulated and https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/special-authorities
Military Spouse - If applying as a Military Spouse Eligible under E.O. 13832 and you are a spouse of a member of the armed forces on active duty, the spouse of a 100 percent disabled member of the armed forces, and/or the spouse of a deceased member of the armed forces you must submit acceptable documentation of your appointment eligibility which may include the following:
A copy of the service member's permanent change of station orders, that lists you as authorized to accompany the Military member to the specific location to which the member is assigned, reassigned, or transferred to and the effective date of the permanent change of station; and verification of the marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage);
Verification of the marriage to the service member if not listed on orders (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage);
Verification of the member's 100 percent disability (VA Letter); and/or
Verification of the member's death while on active duty (DD-1300 and Death Certificate).
How to Apply
To apply for this job opportunity, you must submit a complete application package including a resume and an on-line application through the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) application system, USAJOBS. This information will be transferred to the DOI OIG's Automated Application System. You have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to complete the following application process:
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 and 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 assistance with creating an USAJOBS account and for information on viewing your Application status, please visit: (https://help.usajobs.gov/get-started) AND (https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to).
OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL
1849 C St.
Washington, DC 20240
US
Next steps
Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After the closing date of the announcement, we will review your resume to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. You will be notified by email of your rating and/or referral of your resume to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. You will be informed of the outcome via e-mail. We expect to make a selection within 45 to 60 days of the closing date of the vacancy announcement.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
All documentation applicable to you must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to submit the required documents will disqualify you from further consideration for this position.
Resume (required) - Your resume must sufficiently describe how your experience fully meets the specialized experience requirements as stated in this announcement for each grade level(s) you are applying (see "Qualifications" section). Your resume must also support your responses to the assessment questionnaire. Credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. We cannot assume you have performed the duties and gained the experience required for this position regardless of your employment history or academic career. We strongly recommend you use the USA Jobs Online Resume Builder to submit a resume. If you choose to use your own formatted resume, you must ensure it contains all of the following for each experience/position listed: job title, name of employer, beginning and ending dates of employment (month/day/year format), hours worked per week, detailed description of duties performed, and if a Federal position, series and grade or equivalent. We will not access web pages linked to your resume to determine your qualifications. Do not include a photograph or video of yourself or any sensitive information.
SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action(required for current or former Federal employees) - If you are a current or former Federal employee, you must provide the most recent Notification of Personnel Action (Form SF-50) that verifies career/career-conditional status (box 24 must show "1" or "2" and box 34 must show "1"), title, series, and grade (do not submit an Award SF-50). Also, provide the SF-50 that reflects the highest grade level held on a permanent basis or the full performance level of your current position, whichever is higher.
Bureau of Land Management - Under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) two groups of individuals are eligible to apply under this announcement: current and/or former employees serving or who have served under time-limited competitive appointments at land management agencies.- Current appointees: 1) must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time-limited appointment with a land management agency; 2) must have served under one or more time-limited appointment(s) by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; and 3) must have performed at an acceptable level during each period of service (Performance Appraisal Required). Former appointees: 1) must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time-limited appointment with a land management agency; 2) must have served under one or more time-limited appointment(s) by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; 3) must have separated for reasons other than misconduct or performance; and 4) must have performed at an acceptable level through the service period (Performance Appraisal Required).
Documentation Verifying Education (if applicable) - If you are using education to meet minimum qualifications, you must submit transcripts. If selected, official copies of transcripts will be required prior to receiving a firm job offer and entering on duty.
Foreign Education Equivalency Documentation - Required if you have qualifying education completed outside of the United States and are using education to qualify.
Performance Appraisal and Awards - While not required, due weight will be given to appraisals and awards submitted during the interview/selection process conducted by the hiring manager. Such documents will not be used in determining if you meet the experience requirements.
CTAP/ICTAP Eligibility - Such as a RIF separation notice, certificate of expected separation, SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action stating you were separated by RIF, OR a letter from your agency documenting your priority consideration status.
Veteran's Documentation - DD-214, SF-15, and VA Letter, or certification of discharge or release from active duty within 120 days. For current active duty service members, a "certification" is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted with your application package. The certification letter should be on the letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates, including the expected discharge or release date, and (2) the character of service. If selected for this position, you must provide a copy of your terminal leave documentation, if applicable
Required Documents Continued Under "How to Apply"
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.
Former Peace Corp and VISTA volunteers - If you are applying under this eligibility you MUST indicate on your application the special program and submit proof of eligibility with your application. Individuals who are eligible for consideration will be considered non-competitively for this vacancy.
Miscellaneous Authorities Not Regulated by U.S. OPM/Special Hiring Authorities - If you are applying for this position based on eligibility under the Interchange Agreement or Miscellaneous Authorities Not Regulated by U.S. OPM, or Special Hiring Authorities you MUST select the appropriate eligibility and submit proof to be considered.
For a list of authorities, visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=MiscellaneousAuthoritiesRegulated and https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/special-authorities
Military Spouse - If applying as a Military Spouse Eligible under E.O. 13832 and you are a spouse of a member of the armed forces on active duty, the spouse of a 100 percent disabled member of the armed forces, and/or the spouse of a deceased member of the armed forces you must submit acceptable documentation of your appointment eligibility which may include the following:
A copy of the service member's permanent change of station orders, that lists you as authorized to accompany the Military member to the specific location to which the member is assigned, reassigned, or transferred to and the effective date of the permanent change of station; and verification of the marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage);
Verification of the marriage to the service member if not listed on orders (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage);
Verification of the member's 100 percent disability (VA Letter); and/or
Verification of the member's death while on active duty (DD-1300 and Death Certificate).
How to Apply
To apply for this job opportunity, you must submit a complete application package including a resume and an on-line application through the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) application system, USAJOBS. This information will be transferred to the DOI OIG's Automated Application System. You have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to complete the following application process:
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 and 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 assistance with creating an USAJOBS account and for information on viewing your Application status, please visit: (https://help.usajobs.gov/get-started) AND (https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to).
OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL
1849 C St.
Washington, DC 20240
US
Next steps
Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After the closing date of the announcement, we will review your resume to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. You will be notified by email of your rating and/or referral of your resume to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. You will be informed of the outcome via e-mail. We expect to make a selection within 45 to 60 days of the closing date of the vacancy announcement.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
