Information Data Specialist

Scope of Work

This person shall be responsible for the City’s compliance with the Texas Public Information Act "TPIA" (Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code).

• Receive all requests submitted to the City of Midland subject to the TPIA.
• Forward requests to appropriate City departments and follow up with departments until responsive documents are received.
• Adhere to strict time deadlines set out under the TPIA.
• Perform research using the Texas Attorney General's website and the TPIA handbook.
• Maintain database of all requests received under the TPIA.
• Review all materials responsive to requests made under the TPIA to ascertain how each request should be handled.
• Use Adobe Acrobat to review and redact documents as needed.
• Prepare and send written responses to individuals who have requested information.
• Respond to questions from individuals requesting information via telephone and email.
• Prioritize and organize own work to meet required deadlines.
• Perform tasks timely in a fast‑paced environment.
• Handle highly confidential information discretely.
• Maintain complete confidentiality of records.
• Possess ability to work non‑traditional hours when necessary.
• Enforce legal requirements for dissemination of records.
• Perform related duties as required.
• Keep in constant communication with Police Department regarding new requests being processed.
• Gather information on behalf of MPD (body cams, in‑car, fatality packets, photos, policies, etc.)
  • This includes contacting officers or appropriate departments for any records needed for the request.
  • This includes downloading, uploading, and transferring that responsive data to the shared legal drive.
• Process certain records requests (Lexis Nexis, Metro Reporting, 108PD Releases)
  • Providing the file note
  • Redacting information, printing and updating letters
  • Choosing arguments to ship to the AG
  • Sending messages to requestors through the GovQA portal
  • Mailing requests to the AG and/or requestor
  • Closing out requests when they are complete
• Gather any information for subpoenas on an as‑needed basis for the Custodian of Records.
• Redact any confidential information from footage per AG rulings.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Ability to sit, stand, climb stairs/steps, stoop, reach, push, pull, walk for long distances and move about a building and be able to lift up to but not limited to 20 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee must be able to attend meetings in the evening and at other locations.

Must have the ability to effectively communicate with the general public and employees. Must possess both good telephone and public relations skills.

Skill in the use of personal computer, printers, fax machine and other various office machines is required. Must be able to read, analyze, and interpret professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. The selected individual must be able to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

This is not an entry level position. At least three years of experience in submitting requests to the Texas Attorney General under the Texas Public Information Act is preferred. The ability to prioritize and organize well, work quickly and accurately, and be consistently detail‑oriented is essential. The successful applicant must possess strong proficiency in MS Office products, including Word, PowerPoint and Excel.

Also, proficiency in Word Perfect, Adobe Acrobat, Corel Paint Shop, and audio and video editing software is required. A minimum of a High School Diploma and Associate's Degree is preferred. Texas Paralegal Certification or Associate's Degree as a Paralegal is a plus. A valid Texas Driver's License is required.

DOE
Monday through Friday; 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Must be able to work some evenings and weekends.

• 2:1 Retirement Plan with TMRS
• Educational Tuition Assistance Program
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Employer
• Midland Municipal Employee Credit Union
• Competitive pay
• Medical/Dental/Vision Plan
• PTO accrual
• Paid holidays