FOIA Consultant II

Responsibilities

• Review FOIA requests to determine appropriate actions and response times.
• Search, analyze, and process materials responsive to FOIA requests.
• Prepare FOIA request folders, track requests in agency systems, and draft response letters.
• Prepare an index of produced documents including document details, withheld portions, and exemption codes.
• Support cradle-to-grave processing of disclosure requests, including recommendations for redactions and release determinations.
• Review, evaluate, and analyze routine disclosure requests and recommend clearance of OC’s disclosure activities.
• Ensure disclosure analysis requests are accurate, satisfactory, timely, and contain only information considered disclosable under FOIA, the Privacy Act, and applicable regulations.
• Review documents for disclosure and recommend appropriate action.
• Keep abreast of all changes to the statues and regulations to ensure compliance.
• Maintain awareness of current developments to correctly review and analyze records for disclosure.
• Apply understanding of scientific principles, content, and context related to drug and biological products for consistent disclosure determinations (for records with scientific content).
• Review and ensure work products comply with job aids, policies, and procedures.
• Keep abreast of all changes to the statutes and regulations to ensure compliance.
• Redact records in accordance with FOIA, the OPEN Government Act, the E-Gov Act, and applicable job aids and guidance from OC staff.
• Apply exemptions appropriately to ensure information exempt under statutes is withheld.
• Utilize Adobe Acrobat Pro (or other approved software) to electronically redact and prepare records, including boxing exempt material, sanitization, and Bates numbering if applicable.
• Prepare documents and Vaughn indices for disclosure-based litigation, as required.
• Ensure released materials do not contain exempt information.
• Draft original correspondence for release on behalf of the agency.
• Communicate with requesters, regulated industry, sponsors, staff, contractors, and other stakeholders to clarify requests and provide updates.
• Serve as liaison with requesters and, on occasion, other agencies or appellants.
• Ensure disclosure analysis is accurate, timely, and compliant with FOIA, the Privacy Act, and applicable regulations.
• Stay up to date on statutory and regulatory changes to maintain compliance.
• Ensure released materials do not contain information exempt under applicable statutes.
• Meet agency performance standards, including review rates and timeliness metrics.
• Maintain accurate data entry in FOIA tracking databases.
• Monitor request backlogs and prioritize processing of sensitive or time-critical cases.
• Prepare indexes of produced documents, including withheld portions and exemption codes.
• Support reporting requirements for leadership and oversight staff.

  Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Health, Regulatory, Information Science, Legal Studies, or a related field (or equivalent work experience).
  • Required years of experience: 6.
  • Experience working with FOIA requests, information disclosure, records management, or compliance preferred.
  • Strong analytical skills to review, evaluate, and determine appropriate release/redaction actions.
  • Proficiency with Adobe Acrobat Pro and electronic redaction tools.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to work independently while managing multiple requests in a deadline-driven environment.

    Benefits

    • Regular - The company offers a comprehensive benefits program, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) and a range of other voluntary benefits.
    • Paid Time Off (PTO) is offered to regular full-time and part-time employees.