Ardelle Associates is seeking a FOIA Analyst to support the Merit System Protection Board (MSPB) in Washington, DC.
This position is remote.
Responsibilities:
Process the full range of simple, complex, and time-sensitive FOIA requests in accordance with the FOIA statute, Department of Justice guidance, MSPB regulations, and OCB guidelines independently or under limited direction from OCB staff.
Review, analyze, and make recommendations for responding to a wide array of incoming/pending FOIA requests. Determine completeness of uploaded responsive records, and coordinate with MSPB staff regarding any missing records. Determine the scope of the underlying requests and identify the legal issues implicated by the requests, including the applicability of the FOIA exemptions.
Redact responsive documents in accordance with law, regulation, and agency policy, including annotating redactions for appropriate FOIA exemptions on records for release.
Prepare documentation for and draft response letters to FOIA requestors detailing the FOIA review and release determination. Determine whether records require referral to or consultation with an outside agency, and appropriately process those records in accordance with the MSPB referral and consultation processes.
Maintain complete and detailed written case notes on all assigned cases, including by making appropriate entries into FOIAXpress.
Communicate findings/recommendations on FOIA legal and policy issues orally and/or in writing
Docket and assign FOIA requests in the agency’s FOIA Database (FOIAXpress), draft acknowledgement letters, communicate with requesters to narrow or clarify requests, and/or draft search memos.
Support agency appeal or litigation efforts, as needed, in accordance with the MSPB appeal and litigation processes, by crafting Vaughn indexes, declarations, affidavits, answers to complaints, supplemental releases, etc.
Support agency compliance efforts by drafting quarterly FOIA logs, as needed.
Monitor the MSPB FOIA Service Center (i.e., phone line, email box, and FOIAXpress) and provides preliminary customer service or triage, as needed.
Deliverables Schedule: The FOIA Analyst must meet the following requirements.
- Process assigned simple track requests within 20 business days, as required under the FOIA.
- Process and review assigned complex track requests with demonstrable results available upon request, but at least weekly.
Qualifications:
Requires either (1) a Bachelor’s degree and at least 3 years of experience as a FOIA Analyst or (2) a Juris Doctor degree and at least 1 year of experience as a FOIA Analyst.
- Must have working knowledge of commonly used legal standards, practices, and procedures related to carrying out the work of a federal agency FOIA program. Prior experience working in an adjudicatory or quasi-judicial environment (within or outside of a FOIA role) is desirable.
- Must possess computer skills sufficient to easily draft/prepare documents, track work, and transmit/communicate information using the Microsoft Office suite (e.g., Outlook, Word,Excel, Teams).
- Must have excellent oral and written communication skills to communicate professionally with MSPB staff, other Government staff, and FOIA requesters to accomplish assigned tasks.
Pass a Background Investigation for a SBU security clearance
Job Types: Full-time, Contract
Pay: $34.22 - $38.63 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
Education:
Experience:
- FOIA Analyst: 3 years (Preferred)
Security clearance:
Ability to Relocate:
- Washington, DC 20036: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Washington, DC 20036