Government Information Specialist - SV-0306-F/G - Transportation Security Administration - Arlington, Virginia - EXPIRED

This Government Information Specialist position is located in the Freedom of Information Act Branch (FOIA), Traveler Engagement Division, within the Office of Civil Rights and Liberties, Ombudsman and Traveler Engagement (CRL/OTE), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Duties include:

• Processing FOIA and Privacy Act (PA) requests; Preparing, finalizing, and sending responses to FOIA and PA requests.
• Gathering data and preparing presentations, briefings, and reports.
• Coordinating with legal and other experts and offices throughout TSA to fulfill FOIA or PA requests.
• Assisting with tracking and monitoring deadlines to ensure timely responses to requests.
• Providing FOIA guidance and advice to management and staff regarding the disclosure of agency records under the FOIA.
• Researching problems and reviewing issues related to FOIA and PA requests, clarifying issues, and evaluating the need for additional information.
• Reviewing outgoing FOIA responses to ensure proper coordination with appropriate TSA offices, complying with FOIA regulations and policies, and ensuring full responsiveness to the requests.

To qualify for the SV-F Pay Band (equivalent to GS-5/7/9), you must meet one of the qualification requirements (A, B, OR C) outlined below.

A. Experience: For those qualifying using experience, your application must clearly outline three (3) years of progressively responsible general experience, one year of which was equivalent to at least the SV-E Pay Band or GS-4 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Such experience will demonstrate the ability to analyze problems, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions; plan and organize work; and communicate effectively orally and in writing.

OR B. Education: A Bachelor\'s or higher-level degree in any field from an accredited college or university.

OR C. Combining of Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements, and may be computed by first determining the total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the position; then determining the education as a percentage of the education required for the position; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for the position.

To qualify for the SV-G Pay Band (equivalent to GS-11), you must meet one of the following:

D. Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience at the SV-F Pay Band or GS-9 in the Federal Service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Such experience includes reviewing written requests for information and applying FOIA/PA policies, procedures, and directives; and experience conducting research, retrieving, and compiling information and statistics from various databases.

OR E. Education: Completion of a Ph.D. in a related field or equivalent doctoral degree; OR three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR LL.M., if related.

OR F. A Combination of Experience and Education: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the second year) and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for this position, and may be computed by first determining your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the band level; then determining your education as a percentage of the education required for the band level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: Education at the graduate level in an accredited college or university in the amounts indicated above meets the requirements for this position. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. One (1) year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the one (1) year of full-time study requirement.

Applicants who meet the qualifications listed above based on education or a combination of education and experience MUST provide proof of education such as a list of completed college courses or the date and school of degree including the number of semester or quarter hours or a transcript from an accredited college or university. The information must be provided as an attachment to the application by the closing date of the announcement. If selected, the candidate must supply a transcript or certification of degree.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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.

NOTE: Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio, i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime.

You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

You will be evaluated based on a comparison of the position requirements against the quality and extent of the experience and/or related education as reflected in your resume and supporting documentation. You are encouraged to ensure work experiences clearly show possession of the competencies required for this position. We will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the assessment questionnaire. If, after reviewing your resume and any supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your category placement may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.

When completing the assessment questionnaire for this position, you will be prompted to elect if you wish for your application to be considered as External (where Veterans’ Preference applies), as Status (current or former Federal Employees), and/or Internal to TSA as a current permanent or competitive temporary employee. At that time, please select the answer(s) that apply to you and your application to this position.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Grouping procedures. Under Category Grouping, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:

Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;

Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceed the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job; and

Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
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