Government Information Specialist

About the role

The Office of the Inspector General is one of the best places to work in the Department of Justice and is one of the premier inspector general offices in federal government. OGC provides legal advice on complex issues relevant to general OIG operations and specific OIG audits, investigations, inspections, and reviews.

What you will do

• Independently apply FOIA exemptions and make disclosure determinations; Research and review issues related to complex and/or high-level sensitive FOIA matters, clarify issues, and evaluate the need for additional information or collaboration; Utilize information technology tools to upload and analyze responsive records; and apply redactions to material within agency records which are exempt from disclosure; Establish and maintain a significant network of contacts internal and external to the agency.
• Conduct one-on-one or group discussions with contacts as necessary to finalize FOIA responses; Properly handle and process sensitive and classified information in accordance with agency policies and department-wide regulations; Assist the AUSAs and other government attorneys in the preparation of the agency's defense in FOIA litigation, including preparing declarations and Vaughn indices, and meeting required production schedules set forth by counsel.
• GS-13 Duties: If you are selected as an Government Information Specialist, your responsibilities would include the below duties, but would not be limited to: Coordinating and processing FOIA and Privacy Act requests, performing work at all levels of the FOIA fulfillment process; Independently applying FOIA exemptions and making disclosure determinations; Preparing proposed responses for final submission to FOIA requesters ensuring that outgoing FOIA responses are accurate and include releasable materials; Researching and reviewing issues related to complex and/or high-level sensitive FOIA matters, clarifying issues, and evaluating the need for additional information or collaboration; Coordinating or assisting with FOIA appeals and litigation matters, including preparing declarations as needed regarding the processing of particular information requests.

Education

There are no education requirements for this position.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated by a panel of subject matter experts through the following assessment process: USA Hire Assessment: Applicants will be required to complete a USAHire Assessment.

This assessment is online and measures the following competencies: Analytical Thinking Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Document Management Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Information Management Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Knowledge Management Learning Legal, Government and Jurisprudence Manages and Organizes Information Oral Communication Reading Comprehension Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Technical Competence Writing You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the USAHire assessment.

Resume Review: Your resume will be reviewed to determine your technical qualifications. Interview: Applicants who pass the resume review may be invited to an interview with an interview panel and/or selecting official. You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position and a review of your application by a panel of subject matter experts.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): GS:12 Analytical Thinking Document Management Information Management Knowledge Management Legal, Government and Jurisprudence Writing GS:13 Analytical Thinking Manages and Organizes Information Oral Communication Technical Competence Writing Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Subject Matter Expert (SME) Resume Review: In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. A subject matter expert, or SME, is a person with bona fide expert knowledge about what it takes to successfully perform in a particular job.

The SME(s) will measure potential applicants for the critical competencies. Your resume will be reviewed to determine your technical qualifications, as well as any required certification(s) applicable to the position.

Applicants found to meet the requirements will be eligible to move forward for additional hiring consideration To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link:*** If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for further employment consideration.

Documents you must provide

• Resume Your updated resume must not exceed two (2) pages.
• If your resume exceeds the two-page limit, you will be removed from consideration for this announcement.
• The resume and required supporting documentation should provide the minimum qualifications and relevant experience for the announced position.
• Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, and social).
• Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.
• You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
• SF-50 documentation (if applicable) Must show (most recent Promotion, Within Rate Increase, or Appointment/Conversion SF-50 or Notification of Personnel Action if you are applying as a current or former Federal Employee) you have acquired competitive status, and the highest grade or promotion potential you held.
• Award SF-50's are not acceptable alone as they do not show your grade and step.
• CTAP documentation (if applicable) The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.
• If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy.
• To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and (for scored examining) score 85 or better on established ranking criteria OR (for category rating criteria) rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified or better category using established category rating criteria.
• You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application.
• Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at: ***
• Schedule A documentation (if applicable) Schedule A: DOJ welcomes and encourages applications from persons with disabilities and is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department.
• DOJ also encourages eligible Schedule A applicants to submit their resumes.

What to expect next

We will notify you of your candidate status after each step of the recruitment process (receipt of application, determination of basic qualifications, notice of forward to selecting official, and final selection). We expect to make a tentative job offer within 80 days after the closing date of the announcement and will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.

We expect to make a final job offer once all reviews have been completed. Deliberate attempts to falsify information may be grounds for not selecting you or for dismissing you from the position/agency during the probationary period. To be considered for the position, you must meet all qualifications, including meeting or exceeding the cut score on the required assessments.

Additional information

The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor.

Additional information on DOJ's EEO policy can be found on our website.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 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, if you received the link after the close of the announcement.

To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: *** Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.

Additional information is found at: *** Schedule A: DOJ welcomes and encourages applications from persons with disabilities and is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department.

DOJ also encourages eligible Schedule A applicants to submit their resumes. The Career Transition Assistance Plan. The CTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.

If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy.

To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and (for scored examining) score 85 or better on established ranking criteria OR (for category rating criteria) rate equivalent to the Highly Qualified or better category using established category rating criteria.

You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority.

Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at: ***