Freedom Of Information Act Officer

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT OFFICER

Job Number: 416572

Agency: Office of Public Safety Administration - Office of the General Counsel

Position Type: Career Service

Pay Grade: $68,616.00 per year

Shift: Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Location: 3510 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL

Open to: City employees in bargaining units 1,3,4 & 5; otherwise open to public.

Under general supervision, receives and responds to requests for public record information, including FOIA requests and court subpoenas, using multiple data resources to research, locate, redact, and provide relevant information. Other duties include:

• Respond to FOIA requests filed by citizens, journalists, and outside entities.
• Respond verbally and in writing to inquiries from the public, businesses, community organizations, media, and government regarding city programs and services.
• Research, examine, and analyze documents to produce responsive responses and make appropriate red actions of exempt information.
• Resolve information requests within required time frames and provide extensions in writing when appropriate.
• Assess whether the magnitude of information requested is burdensome in adherence to Illinois FOIA guidelines.
• Obtain necessary information from manual, computerized, and archived files and records.
• Respond via the internet in writing to electronic requests for information.
• Oversee and participate in mailing responses to written requests.
• Train and orientate clerical and administrative staff in tracking information, redacting exempt details, photocopying, and scanning documents.
• Prepare and maintain statistical and narrative work‑activity reports.
• Maintain and update a log of all FOIA requests.
• Collaborate with the Department of Law to respond to subpoenas for documents.
• Review information for accuracy before posting on intranet and internet websites.
• Represent the department at public hearings and community meetings.
• Perform additional duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism, Communications, English, or a directly related field, plus two years of research and analysis work experience; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

• Certification by the State of Illinois as a Freedom of Information Officer is required within six (6) months of hire.

Transcripts or diploma must be submitted at time of processing, if applicable.

Applicants must successfully complete an interview. The candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities will be selected. Selected bidders will be hired in seniority order according to the collective bargaining agreement. Non‑bidders best suited for the position will also be considered.

• Previous experience responding to FOIA requests.
• Previous experience with GovQA or related online databases.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.

The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Military Friendly Employer.

Applications will be accepted from July 13, 2026, until 11:59 pm CST on July 27, 2026. All applications must be submitted by the closing date.