FOIA Specialist at Guidehouse in Arlington, VA

Job description

Job Family : Operational Effectiveness (ESA) Travel Required : Up to 10% Clearance Required : Active Top Secret (TS) What You Will Do : The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has been at the forefront of breakthrough technologies for national security for decades. From the internet and GPS to stealth technology and rapid vaccine development, DARPA drives pivotal, high-impact innovation. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Specialist will support DARPA by processing responses to FOIA requests from the public, as well as providing 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. Responsibilities include, but not limited to: 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 redactions 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 for DARPA personnel, as well as develop and recommend implementation of agency‑level FOIA compliance and program oversight structures in conjunction with the OSD/JS 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 What You Will Need : An ACTIVE and MAINTAINED "TOP SECRET" Federal or DoD security clearance Bachelor's degree; FOUR (4) additional years of experience in processing FOIA cases in a federal agency FIVE (5) or more years of specific experience in processing FOIA cases in a federal agency. Experience should include, but not limited to: 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) Possess the energy, experience, and subject matter expertise to demonstrate sound judgment, foresight and problem‑solving skills in a fast‑paced Research & Development (R&D) environment Possess excellent organizational and communication skills; demonstrating an ability to communicate, interact easily and effectively with a wid