Federal
Government Information Specialist
Executive Office for Immigration Review Β· Department of Justice
About This Position
This position is located in the Office of the General Counsel, Executive Office for Immigration Review, U. S. Department of Justice. Incumbent serves as a Government Information Specialist responsible for analyzing and evaluating requests for information under FOIA and PA. This is a Competitive Service position; additional positions may be filled from this announcement within 90 days of certificate issuance.
Qualifications
In order to qualify for the Government Information Specialist position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-9 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-11 level. One year at the GS-11 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 level. (Please submit your SF-50 that shows Time-in-Grade eligibility and reflects your title, series, and grade. If your eligibility for both merit promotion and/or time-in-grade cannot be determined, your application will be rated ineligible. Please see Required Documents for additional information). Time-in-grade requirements also apply to VEOA applicants having held a GS position in the past year. AND FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: Assisting with reviewing request under the FOIA/ (PA) ; Analyzing data for response to FOIA requests and discovery and other requests related to litigation and or emanating from audits and investigations; Conducting extensive and complex record searches; and Executing and developing final appeal package for review. (Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience) -OR- Education: Applicants must have Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in law, business or government. You must submit a copy of your traNOTE:nscripts and identify qualifying coursework for verification. NOTE: Applicants must submit a copy of their transcripts for verification. -OR- Combination: Applicants must have the appropriate combination of successfully completed graduate level education and experience. To determine combination, first compute experience as a percentage of the experience listed in A above; then determine education as a percentage of the education listed in B above; then add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate education in excess two full years (36 hours) may be used to qualify. NOTE: Applicants must submit a copy of their transcripts for verification. -OR- FOR THE GS-12 LEVEL: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one or more full-time years (12-months) of specialized work experience, equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service, performing the following duties: Reviewing and analyzing appeals requested under FOIA/PA; Analyzing and researching precedents and regulations regarding requests not clearly coved by FOIA/PA to determine the proper course of action; Serving as a liaison to external customer and receipts to clarify and resolve issues; and Providing work product consistent with established organizational programs, polices, and/or operations. (Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience) Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Your resume must support your responses to the application questionnaire and the qualification requirements. Failure to do so may result in an ineligible rating. See the Required Documents section for important notes about what must be included in your resume.
Major Duties
Duties include but are not limited to the following: Coordinates the processing and release of information responsive to request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA). Analyzes data for response to FOIA requests and discovery and information related to requests in litigation and/or emanating from audits and investigations. Analyzes and researches precedents and regulations regarding requests not clearly covered by the FOIA/PA to determine the proper course of action. Coordinates assessments of highly complex FOIA actions. Presents recommendations for the resolution of the dispute to supervisor or directly to the parties involved on matters involving unsatisfied responses to FOIA requests. As the Federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.
Education
ARE YOU USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: Education must be accredited by an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Applicants can verify accreditation by clicking here. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. (Note: If you are selected for this position based on education, an official transcript will be required, prior to your first day.) You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that 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, click here. Translated transcripts are required. If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements, please see the statements below. Education must be reviewed and certified by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, in order for it to be creditable towards your qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from accredited institution. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website. If you are qualifying on foreign education, you MUST submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Transcripts must be uploaded with your application to verify education. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.
How You Will Be Evaluated
Once the announcement has closed, your reΜsumeΜ and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your reΜsumeΜ and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application package, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this position. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
Additional Information
Status candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements (52 weeks at the next lower grade level). Salaries listed above are an approximation and are subject to duty station locality Conditions of Employment: Only U.S. Citizens or Nationals are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review. Dual citizens of the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ applicants, both U.S. citizens and non-citizens, whose job location is with the U.S., must meet the residency requirement. For a total of three (not necessarily consecutive years) of the five years immediately prior to applying for a position, the applicant must have: 1) resided in the U.S., 2) worked for the U.S. overseas in a Federal or military capacity; or 3) been a dependent of a Federal or military employee serving oversees. Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, you must be a preference eligible or a Veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx). 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. (see: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp.) Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements: - Persons with Disabilities-Schedule A - Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans - Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses - Other Special Appointment Authorities Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.
How to Apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application and submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: 1. To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button. 2. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Occupational questionnaire can be previewed here:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12853572 3. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. 4. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. 5. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. 6. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. 7. Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. 8. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. For more general information, system requirements, reasonable accommodation information, and to request assistance regarding the USA Hire Assessments, review the following resources: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=USA_Hire_Assessments. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Click on this: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.
Required Documents
Your complete Application Package (containing the above required documents) must be received no later than 11:59 pm Eastern on the03/04/2026.To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:1. Your reΜsumeΜ (a two page or less resume is required) containing the following pieces of information for each job entry listed in your employment history: Official position title, Employer name and contact information, Start and end dates (including month and year), Indicate full-time or number of hours worked per week if part-time, and A list of duties performed and accomplishments. 2. Other supporting documents: Cover Letter, optional College transcript(s), if qualifying based on education Most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" or equivalent agency form. Do not submit an award SF-50, these do not contain sufficient information about your appointment. Your SF-50 should list the full position title, series, grade and step, organization, duty location, service computation date, effective date, and your service type and tenure status. Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable DD-214, SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty from Veterans for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities Noncompetitive appointment authority documentation, if applicable Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program Documentation, if applicable (e.g. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for the Government Information Specialist position at Executive Office for Immigration Review?
The salary range for this position is $85,447 - $133,142/yr. This is a GS-11/12 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Government Information Specialist job located?
This position is located in Falls Church, Virginia. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
In order to qualify for the Government Information Specialist position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-9 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-11 l...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Mar 4, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
No security clearance is required for this position.
What does GS-11/12 mean?
GS-11/12 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.