Government Information Specialist

Summary

This position is located in the Offi ce of Domestic Operations, Visa Services Directorate, Bureau ofConsular Affairs, U.S. Department of State (CA/VO/DO). The Offi ce of Domestic Operations providesguidance to and support for domestic consular processing. The incumbent serves as a GovernmentInformation Specialist, performing a range of policy, legal, and technical functions related to themanagement of visa information.

Duties

• Reviews and analyzes FOIA requests for the release of information received from a variety of sources and conducts reviews of visa policy , appeals, litigations, precedents.
• Analyzes requested documents or portions thereof and, in cases where exemptions to FOIA are justifiable, redacts those portions of the document or documents that are exempt from release.
• Conducts reevaluations of denial decisions that have been appealed by requestors and drafts written responses communicating reevaluation decisions.
• Reviews, analyzes, and makes release or denial determinations of sensitive records requested under applicable acts, laws, or executive orders.
• Researches case law to identify judicial interpretations applicable to specific FOIA requests.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F. GS-12 Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service that provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience overseeing the work of and/or supervising staff. Experience reviewing records pursuant to laws and regulations. Examples of this could include but is not limited to timely redacting and annotating records, preparing timely responses, and ensuring confidentiality. Experience supporting general office operations. Examples of this could include but is not limited to managing a database, compiling reports, drafting correspondence, directly communications, and serving as a public liaison. Experience working with U.S. immigration programs; experience with U.S. visas highly desired. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-12 position. GS-13 Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service that provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience overseeing the work of and/or supervising staff. Experience reviewing records pursuant to FOIA and implementing instructions. Examples of this could include but are not limited to interpreting and applying laws, regulations, legal decisions, policies, procedures and directives pertaining to the protection and release of FOIA Information. Experience coordinating and tracking FOIA requests to ensure that the responses are accurate, legally sufficient and timely. Experience explaining the redaction of sensitive issues. Examples of this could include but is not limited to evaluating records to determine the application of FOIA, communicating orally and in writing with employees, leadership, other organizations and/or the public regarding FOIA issues. Experience working with U.S. immigration programs; experience with U.S. visas highly desired. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-13 position.

How You Will Be Evaluated

The evaluation process consists of the ApplyGov Competency Based Assessments and a crediting plan for which applicants will be assigned a score between 70 and 100. A resume review by subject matter experts will be conducted for the top qualified candidates based on the combined total score. Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further. Responses to questions that are not fully supported by your resume may result in a rating adjustment. You will be assessed on the following job-related competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Non-Supervisory: Oral Communication, Writing, Interpersonal Skills, Problem Solving, Teamwork, Technology Orientation, Customer Service, Attention to Detail and Self-Management. Set aside at least 2 hours to take the external assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. There are timed sections that must be completed within the allotted timeframe. Your score from the external assessment (Non- Supervisory) will remain on file for 180 days, allowing you to apply for multiple DOS-announced positions without needing to retake the assessments. Top applicants may be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration. The assessment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies and KSAs required for this position. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies: Ability to analyze and evaluate information derived from a variety of sources. Ability to provide advice, guidance, and consultation based on results of analyses. Ability to work on multiple, concurrent projects Ability to perform as a liaison with other departments or agencies. Resume review: Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. Your resume should demonstrate how you meet all aspects of the specialized experience statement. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., links embedded in your resume will not be opened.). If meeting basic qualifications through education only or a combination of education and experience, applicants will not be referred to the SME panel but will be reviewed by the HR Specialist for referral. Applicants found to be among the top qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview. Qualified non-competitive candidates must be deemed best qualified based on the applicant assessment in order to be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We do not make assumptions regarding your experience. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application may result in your removal from consideration. You may preview questions for this vacancy. Other Information

To request a reasonable accommodation for additional time on the timed sections of the assessment, please submit your request using the “Request a Reasonable Accommodation” button within the Assessment Application. For all other reasonable accommodations at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations (OAA) at [email protected]. OAA is responsible for reviewing and adjudicating reasonable accommodation (RA) requests for the Assessment Battery being used for this announcement. The following applies to all RA requests: RA requests cover additional time on timed sections only. Applicants submitting a RA request MUST attach supporting medical documentation signed by a licensed, treating medical provider. The documentation should describe the nature, severity, and expected duration of the condition, identify the relevant medical condition or diagnosis, and explain the basis for the requested extension. RA requests that do not contain supporting medical documentation attachments at the time of initial request may be subject to further review. Note: the following documents do not, on their own, qualify for automatic approval of the RA request: Schedule A letters, VA benefits letters, or SSA letters. Applicants MUST submit their application before the vacancy closes, even if pending an accommodation decision. Applicants are encouraged to carefully follow instructions related to medical documentation provided in the vacancy announcement prior to beginning the RA process. Applicants will have 48 hours after their RA request is adjudicated to complete the assessment battery. Scores generated after the allotted timeframe will not be admissible and the applicant will not be considered further for the vacancy. If a different type of RA is needed, please contact OAA directly at [email protected]. If eligible, situational telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval. [REMOVE content, as appropriate, for the position]. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department for up to 240 days and may require a higher or lower security clearance. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions. Agency & Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP & ICTAP): View OPM's CTAP & ICTAP eligibility website for more information. You must be rated in the Well-Qualified category and submit supporting documents under the required documents section of this announcement to receive selection priority consideration. To be considered Well-Qualified applicants must: score an 85 or above, meet Minimum Qualifications, and demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all major aspects of the position.