FOIA Support Specialist

Think Tank•Silver Spring, MD

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The FOIA Support Specialist provides administrative, analytical, and records-processing support for NMFS OAA Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) activities. Work is performed using Government-approved procedures, templates, and systems. The Specialist does not make final FOIA release determinations or invoke exemptions as a final agency action - all determinations remain with the Government.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience supporting FOIA processes including intake, records collection, organization, tagging, de-duplication, first-pass responsiveness review, and redaction support
Experience with FOIA Online or comparable FOIA case management systems
Proficiency with Adobe Acrobat and Clearwell/eDiscovery tools or comparable platforms
Ability to prepare draft redaction recommendations, release packages, and clear written/verbal instructions for record reviewers
Experience preparing FOIA status reports and identifying workflow improvement opportunities
Strong written and oral communication skills
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Google Workspace (Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet), Adobe Acrobat, and SmartSheet
Ability to learn NOAA/DOC systems and procedures quickly
Must be capable of obtaining and maintaining a suitability/public trust determination (Tier 1 or successor) and all required system access approvals
Must identify as a contractor in all written, electronic, and verbal communications per contract requirements

Responsibilities

Review incoming FOIA requests for completeness; identify missing information, scope issues, deadlines, tolling events, and routing considerations for Government review
Create and update FOIA case records in Government-approved systems (e.g., FOIA Online, Clearwell, or successor eDiscovery platforms)
Maintain a FOIA tracking dashboard with case number, requestor, date received, due date, owner, status, risks, next actions, and target completion dates
Monitor case progress and alert the COR before cases approach statutory or internal due dates, backlog risk, or resource bottlenecks
Collect responsive records from SMEs and coordinators and place them in the approved staging area or system of record
Import, export, sort, organize, format, de-duplicate, and tag records using Government-approved categories and instructions
Perform first-pass review of records for responsiveness, duplicate status, consultation needs, sensitivity indicators, and potential redaction areas for Government review
Prepare draft redaction recommendations and draft release packages for Government and OGC review
Perform quality control checks on records packages (file format, pagination, search completeness, tagging consistency, redaction integrity, packaging completeness)
Prepare weekly taskers for SMEs including records requested, due dates, instructions, reminders, and status summaries
Prepare draft correspondence, status updates, reports, briefings, and response materials for Government review and approval
Coordinate administrative package routing with OGC and track OGC comments
Prepare monthly and annual FOIA status reports including caseload, aging, backlog risks, completed actions, and process improvement recommendations
Identify recurring bottlenecks and workflow improvement opportunities; propose practical corrective actions for Government consideration
Develop or update desk guides, checklists, templates, and written instructions for FOIA record review processes