Government Information Specialist

Summary

This position is located at the National Cemetery Administration in Washington, District of Columbia.

Duties

The NCA FOIA Officer is responsible for the review and development of complex FOIA requests that cover all areas of the National Cemetery Administration (NCA). The NCA FOIA Officer serves as the primary resource on all aspects of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), including issues of promises of confidentiality, withholding of sensitive administrative or contractual information, and the collection, retention, dissemination, and disposal of agency records. The NCA FOIA Officer responds to inquiries on identifiable documents in the possession and control of NCA, performs background research, analyzes and interprets existing regulations, policies, and procedures related to FOIA requests, and negotiates formal and informal agreements to resolve conflicts between requesters and providers of the information. The NCA FOIA Officer determines the impact on NCA of new legislative regulations from the Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and other regulatory entities. The NCA FOIA Officer serves as the knowledgeable Program Manager and primary contact point for NCA leadership in response to members of Congress, the public, the media, other agencies, and employees and officials of NCA who are seeking information about interpretation, policy, process and procedure, and technical assistance concerning access laws administered by NCA. The NCA FOIA Officer coordinates directly with requestors and other VA entities to facilitate the processing of FOIA requests, determines material to be exempted from release based on the legal FOIA exemption codes, and writes final draft correspondence for signature on behalf of the Director, EIS. The NCA FOIA Officer develops responses to requestors describing the processing of their FOIA/Privacy requests and explains what is and is not releasable to them under the FOIA, as well as the specific exemptions used to withhold information from them. The NCA FOIA Officer identifies FOIA/Privacy training and development needs of employees, provides or makes provisions for training as required, and conducts training classes and orientation briefings for NCA employees on FOIA and Privacy-related topics. The NCA FOIA Officer provides assistance and travels to subordinate activities, upon request, to ensure the FOIA and associated Privacy and Records Management (RM) programs are properly managed and maintained and to resolve problems, as applicable. The NCA FOIA Officer prepares required reports, briefings, slides, and necessary information to meet the requirements of VA and NCA regulations and to keep NCA leadership fully apprised of NCA FOIA, Privacy, and RM activities. The NCA FOIA Program has a dual purpose: to respond to all incoming FOIA requests made to NCA and to provide policy, guidance, and assistance to the field in all matters related to FOIA and associated legislation and guidelines, which may also align with the Privacy Act. The NCA FOIA Officer provides assistance with planning and provides direction, management, and oversight of all NCA FOIA Program activities. The NCA FOIA Officer interacts closely with all VA/NCA operations to ensure the program is consistent with the overall VA/NCA mission. The NCA FOIA Officer utilizes and maintains a comprehensive knowledge of the FOIA, Privacy Act (PA), and Records Management programs and processes, VA confidentiality statutes, all VA, NCA, and Department of Justice (DOJ) privacy enforcement regulations, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance, and other areas of administrative information law. Performs public outreach as needed. Work schedule: Required to work Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. May include occasional weekends. Due to the mission of the National Cemetery, the cemetery cannot be closed for more than 2 consecutive days at any given time. Additionally, when a Federal holiday falls on a Monday or Friday, staff may be required to work on that holiday or a Saturday. All staff is required to work Memorial Day and Veteran's Day each year. Staff will be required to work overtime, weekends and holidays when necessary to meet the needs of the cemetery. Occasionally staff may be called back to the facility to perform emergency overtime work. Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available Telework: Not Available Remote/Virtual: This is not a virtual or remote position. Position Description Title/PD#: Government Information Specialist/PD1708222 The full performance level of this position is GS - 13. Relocation Expenses: Not Authorized Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required If interested in applying for this position you ay preview the online application: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13114140 Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all specialized experience and time in grade requirements within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement, 11/23/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If your most recent non-award SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional non-award SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year time-in-grade. Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Must possess and maintain a REAL ID compliant valid state driver's license. You may qualify based on your experience, as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Comprehensive knowledge of the FOIA (including legal interpretation and decisions pertaining thereto) and other pertinent laws, Executive Orders, and FOIA court decisions and precedents pertaining to information disclosures, security, privacy, and protection of information related to the FOIA Program. Advanced ability to interpret civil law and court decisions affecting the FOIA; In-depth working knowledge of records management and associated procedures of the numerous depositories and libraries, which maintain technical, professional and other specialized documentation of interest to the public. (Evidence of this specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of like duties performed in positions held on your resume. You will also need to provide work experience information such as hours per week, salary, and starting/ending dates of employment (month and year format) to establish you have one (1) full year of specialized experience at the required grade level). You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Problem Solving Writing Communication Critical Thinking Security Customer Service 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; religions; 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: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work is mostly sedentary, but may require some walking, bending and lifting of lightweight objects. The NCA FOIA Officer is expected to be on occasional travel status and to accommodate the associated discomforts. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level. PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. How You Will Be Evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. Other Information

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.