The U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) mission is to protect people and the environment by advancing the safe transportation of energy and other hazardous materials that are essential to our daily lives. To do this, the agency establishes national policy, sets and enforces standards, educates, and conducts research to prevent incidents.

For more details on elgibility, requirements, and evaluation. Please click “Apply Now”, which will take you to the US Gov job platform.

Job Grade: 14
Total Openings: 1

Duties:

The Supervisory Government Information Specialist: Oversees all aspects of FOIA requests being handled by other FOIA personnel from intake to final response.
Manages their own FOIA docket, including reviewing records, applying exemptions, conducting any necessary consultations, drafting correspondence and FOIA responses.
Makes assignments, establishes deadlines, provides supervision, and prepares performance appraisals for personnel working in the FOIA Office.
Provides guidance, mentoring, training, and career development opportunities for personnel within the FOIA Office.
Leads, guides and designs the PHMSA FOIA program, including developing, updating, and improving agency FOIA administration policies, processes and procedures.
Writes and promulgates a complete PHMSA FOIA reference guide including policy and procedures as a supplement to DOT’s guidance; updates and revises as required by changes in law or policy.
Oversees and advises on development and promulgation of PHMSA FOIA responses.
Functions as the PHMSA FOIA liaison with the Department’s FOIA Officer and with the other modal administrations within DOT.
Attends Department-wide meetings with FOIA managers on a variety of FOIA-related issues.
Coordinates with the Office of Government, International and Public Affairs on media issues, inquiries and document production that are not pursuant to a FOIA request.
Serves as the primary point of program management contact on FOIA matters for liaison with both internal stakeholders and outside entities, including Federal, State, and local agencies, international organizations, business, industry, educational institutions, the news media, and the general public. The ideal candidate for this position is a senior level professional with demonstrated experience and extensive knowledge of FOIA rules, regulations and procedures that supplies them with the skill to oversee an agency- wide FOIA program, and related records management and privacy issues. Experience handling Exemption 4 consultations and with FOIAXpress is highly desired. Experience or training in the legal field is also highly desired.

Qualifications:

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience requirements for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.To qualify for the Grade 14, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-13, it must include: Experience utilizing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in order to oversee, execute, and evaluate the FOIA program activities and functions for an agency while conducting legal research, and consult with attorneys in order to prepare and present executive level reports and briefs related to FOIA recommendations and resolutions.
Experience planning, organizing, and conducting research on complex records management, eFOIA, FOIA and policy issues that involve major areas of uncertainty in approach, methodology, or interpretation to identify appropriate solutions. To qualify for the Grade 15, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to the GS-14, it must include: Experience developing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) policies, procedures, and responses to situations that adhere to regulations and FOIA-precedential cases.
Experience leading and directing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) program to include setting priorities, planning work to be completed by subordinates, and assessing program performance.
Experience implementing and establishing goals and objectives, assessing measures that evaluate performance, and making recommendations for program improvement. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Attention to Detail:Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
Legal, Government, and Jurisprudence:Knowledge of FOIA and other laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, legal practices and documents, Government regulations, Executive orders, agency rules, Government organization and functions, and the democratic political process.
Reasoning:Identifies rules, principles, or relationships that explain facts, data, or other information; analyzes information and makes correct inferences or draws accurate conclusions.
Stakeholder Management:Knowledge of the concepts, practices, and techniques used to identify, engage, influence, and monitor relationships with individuals and groups connected to a work effort; including those actively involved, those who exert influence over the process and its results, and those who have a vested interest in the outcome (positive or negative).
Technical Competence:Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one’s job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on the applicability of FOIA to those technical issues. For all types of consideration, 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, 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.For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Job Requirements:

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
TELEWORK:Eligible employees, including supervisors and managers, who occupy positions determined to be eligible for routine telework may request schedules that involve teleworking for up to 4 days per week (8 days per pay period) depending on their work schedule.
PCS/RELOCATION/RECRUITMENT:Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Relocation, and Recruitment Incentive authorization varies by position/selection.
SUPERVISORY PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed).
TIME-IN-GRADE:Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower gradein the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
DEU REQUIREMENTS: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).