FOIA Specialist

FOIA Specialist

ARLINGTON, VA 22203

Position Type Full Time

DARPA Security and Intelligence Directorate (SID) is responsible for administering the Agency's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) program in accordance with Public Law, Executive Orders, and the implementing guidance contained in DoD Directives and Instructions. The FOIA Specialist will process responses to FOIA requests from the public, as well as provide guidance and advice to DARPA staff to ensure compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and policies to senior management officials.

The FOIA Specialist is responsible for developing and coordinating with appropriate DARPA staff as necessary to properly respond to FOIA requests.

Duties shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Respond to complex cases, including litigation and appeals, demonstrating expert knowledge of the FOIA, its exemptions, and the administration of the FOIA, ensuring that records are released according to laws, regulations, and agency policy
• Receive, log-in, and process FOIA requests, including completing searches for responsive records, conducting submitter notices, coordinating with subject matter experts (SMEs), analyzing records, preparing detailed high-quality responses, and updating FOIA case management tracking systems to ensure that requests are handled in a timely manner, in accordance with DoD guidance
• Communicate with all levels of public and private organizations to properly process FOIA requests
• Create and maintain detailed FOIA case files, tracking the status of requests from intake to final response
• Conduct line-by-line reviews and analysis of a variety of records in response to FOIA requests to determine which, if any, FOIA exemptions apply, and redact any withheld information before public release, ensuring that red actions are neat, clear, and accurately indicate exemptions
• Communicate and collaborate regarding the status and processing of requests, including clarifying requests when necessary, and resolve issues regarding requests in a timely and service-oriented manner
• Interpret regulations and agency policy to for DARPA personnel, as well as develop and recommend implementation of agency-level FOIA compliance and program oversight structures in conjunction with the OSD FOID, DARPA Public Affairs Office, and General Counsel as necessary
• Recommend and implement agency-wide FOIA policies and procedures, including internal procedures and guidelines, based on new or revised legislation, court decisions, or recommendations
• Develop and recommend refinements to the agency's FOIA program
• Develop and apply guidance associated with the Freedom of Information Act, restrictions on dissemination and withholding of records to the public, principles of classification as embodied in Executive Orders, DoD Directives and Instructions, and Security Classification Guides
• Collect, organize, and analyze qualitative and quantitative data needed for annual reporting of FOIA activities
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities)

• Knowledge of the Freedom of Information Act, including administrative processing, exemptions, submitter notices, and other FOIA processes.
• Experience utilizing FOIAXpress database (or similar FOIA tracking software)
• Attend meetings (either locally or out-of-area) and create meeting summaries or trip reports
• Prepare/present briefings, incorporating graphics (if appropriate) for/to SID and DARPA leaders
• Prepare various security forms associated with their duties
• Assist in entry control and perform escort duties for visitors
• Answer telephones and other modes of administrative communications in the performance of duties
• Perform self-inspections, identify security discrepancies, and report security incidents
• Perform, or support, security inspections, identify security discrepancies and prepare reports
• Perform user-level security administrator and information security responsibilities as required and in compliance with US Codes, Executive Orders, and DoD and DARPA policy
• Perform objective reviews on all documentation encountered during performance of duties
• Possess the energy, experience, and subject matter expertise to demonstrate sound judgment, foresight and problem-solving skills in a fast-pace S&T RDT&E environment
• Possess excellent organizational and communication skills; demonstrating an ability to communicate, interact easily and effectively with a wide variety of individuals and echelons in both written and verbal forms
• Manage and maintain detailed information and documentation
• Possess excellent research and data-gathering skills with an ability to interpret/analyze complex information within operational Research & Development (R&D) / S&T environments
• Work independently, as well as in a team environment, within the bounds and guidelines of the organization

Clearance

• Minimum of active Top Secret (TS)
• TS/SCI strongly desired
• Subject to a random counter-intelligence scope polygraphs as a condition of access…