FOIA Specialist

Position Overview DARPA Security and Intelligence Directorate (SID) is responsible for administering the Agency’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) program in accordance with Public Law, Executive Orders, and the implementing guidance contained in DoD Directives and Instructions. The FOIA Specialist will process responses to FOIA requests from the public, as well as provide 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. Duties shall include, but are not limited to, the following: 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 to for DARPA personnel, as well as develop and recommend implementation of agency-level FOIA compliance and program oversight structures in conjunction with the OSD 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.