Government Information Specialist

Major Duties and Responsibilities: Technical Analysis and Review: Serves as the national Flight Standards lead for FOIA and PA. Reviews work of lower graded team members for accuracy and compliance with FOIA/PA regulations and policies. Identifies gaps in resources; communicates concerns and presents recommendations for resolution to managers.

Freedom of Information Program: Works closely with FOIA program office in AFN on up to date guidance, concerns with Flight Standards FOIA responses and appeals to FOIA responses. Determines training needs at the Service level. May liaison with AFN personnel to conduct training seminars and general guidance meetings from an agency perspective.

Analysis and reporting: Analyzes data regarding Flight Standards FOIA responses and develops reports for branch and senior level management regarding trends, concerns and potential issues. Utilizes data to develop strategies for program area improvement recommendations to branch manager and senior leadership. Applies knowledge of FAA policies, Department of Justice guidelines and other relevant policies to ensure recommendations are in line with agency guidelines.

The incumbent is the recognized expert and adviser in the implementation and administration of policies, systems, and management tools needed to manage and control the national AFS Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) program and access to/dissemination of Privacy Act (PA) data. Incumbent is a recognized subject matter expert on FOIA program and provides guidance and leadership to lower graded employees. Works closely with team members to review existing procedures and policies.

As team lead, exercises broad discretion in working with other team members to develop changes to existing Flight Standards policies regarding the Flight Standards FOIA program. Reviews incoming national FOIA requests to determine assignments to FOIA coordinators for responses. Guidelines consist of national directives, handbooks, administrative and office procedures, past practices, direct verbal instruction from management or higher-level officials.

Has broad discretion to resolve issues without the assistance of a manager or more experienced professional. Assists in the development and recommendation of solutions. Develops original complex responses to all requests utilizing research, contacts and records obtained from a variety of resources.

Incumbent is responsible for making the final determination on release of records. Calculates appropriate projected response date to requests. Work assignments are vital to the effective and efficient administration of FOIA responses and PA information for Flight Standards.

Determination of records to be released is vital to Flight Standards and the Federal Aviation Administration as it ensures records are released to public where possible in the spirit of FOIA/PA regulations and protects records that can't be released under U.S. Department of Justice statues and legal interpretations. Contacts are with public officials, media, citizens, and attorneys outside of the FAA.

Inside of the FAA contacts are the Office of Public Affairs, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, National FOIA office and Flight Standards offices. Incumbent works closely with National FOIA office regarding appeals and pending litigation issues regarding Flight Standards FOIA responses. Also consults with National FOIA office and General Counsel's office when questions regarding new legal interpretations or overall guidance on redactions arise and handling of PA.

May consult with Public Affairs office on controversial release of documents. Contacts members of the general public, as required, regarding FOIA requests. Contacts with Flight Standards offices to search for records associated with requests and to obtain technical responses and explanations from Subject Matter Experts in preparation for responses.

We are not accepting applications from noncitizens.

IMPORTANT: Applicants may be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position(s). All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated. Ensure that your application package/resume supports your responses.

We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions. Position may be subject to a background investigation. A one-year probationary period may be required. The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty.

FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies. www.faa.gov/jobs/workinghere/financial-disclosure-requirements All or none of the candidates may be interviewed. As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA.

In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA in your work history, please include WORK HISTORY THAT DESCRIBES HOW YOU MEET THE ANSWER YOU CHOSE FOR EACH KSA.

Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability.

Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate.

Your answers may be adjusted by a Human Resource Specialist as appropriate. Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective factor(s), if applicable, may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA); listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or alphabetical and referred to the selecting official for consideration. Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA

Applicants may be required to complete one or multiple assessments as part of the evaluation process. This assessment aims to evaluate the competencies and qualifications essential for the position.

You must apply online to receive consideration.

Your application must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the Close Date for it to be accepted. If you are applying for positions associated with FAA registers, your application must be submitted at the time a referral list is created in order to receive consideration for positions associated with a register. RESUMES ARE LIMITED TO TWO PAGES.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE AND/OR EDUCATION, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC AND INCLUDE INFORMATION AS IT RELATES TO THE QUALIFICATIONS AND SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS POSITION. Please ensure EACH work history includes ALL of the following information: Job Title (include series and grade if Federal Job) Relevant work experience: should align to the Job Announcement and address all required qualifications and include job title, employer name, start/end dates, number of hours worked per week. Education, certification or licensure: If required, education should include school/institution name, completion date, degree type and GPA.

Determining length of General or Specialized Experience is dependent on the above information and failure to provide ALL of this information may result in a finding of ineligible.

You may upload completed documents to your USAJOBS Account. This will provide you the opportunity to utilize the uploaded information again when applying for future vacancies.

If you need to submit additional documents to supplement your online application, e.g. transcripts, SF-50, you may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS. Supplemental documentation can also be faxed to (781)238-7283 on or before the closing date of this announcement. Please include your name and the vacancy announcement number on each of your faxed pages and redact all Personally Identifiable Information (PII), such as social security number and date of birth.

If you are an FAA employee, you MUST provide a copy of your SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) containing information in Blocks 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, and 24 so it can be used to verify your position title, series, grade, tenure, and organization of record by the closing date of the announcement.

You may fax your SF-50 or upload it into the on-line application. If faxing the SF-50, please ensure you include the vacancy announcement number on the faxed copy. If you are an FAA employee, you can access and print your SF-50 from the eOPF system https://eopf.opm.gov/dot/.