Government Information Specialist

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services • Woodlawn, MD

23d

About The Position

This position is located in the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs (OSORA), Freedom of Information Group (FIG). The Government Information Specialist, GS-0306-9/11, assists and supports higher-graded specialists and senior staff with Privacy Act (PA), Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, and Personally Identifiable Information (PII) issues.

The announcement is open continuously until 12/31/2026. The initial cutoff for referral of eligible applications is 10/29/2026; eligible applications received afterward will be referred at three-week intervals. Applicants are evaluated based on their initial application, and all qualification requirements must be met within 30 days of the announcement’s closing date. Resumes are limited to two pages and must provide detailed, relevant experience.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or nationals and are subject to a background and suitability investigation. Time-in-grade restrictions apply. This is a bargaining-unit position represented by the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 1923. The tour of duty is flexible. The position has a regular and recurring reporting requirement to the CMS office listed in the announcement; flexible working arrangements and alternative work schedules may be available at the manager’s discretion. Recruitment and relocation incentives are not authorized, and financial disclosure is not required.

Requirements

• Be a U.S. citizen or national.
• Undergo a background and suitability investigation.
• Meet applicable time-in-grade restrictions.
• Submit a resume of no more than two pages that documents relevant responsibilities and specialized experience; copying vacancy text without documenting supporting experience may result in an ineligible rating.
• For GS-09, have at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07, including processing and reviewing incoming FOIA requests under supervision; identifying sensitive records and responding to requests with established disclosure policy; screening materials with senior staff for compliance with FOIA, Privacy Act, and PII exemptions and completing no-records certifications; and assisting higher-level specialists with FOIA research and reporting data. Related education may substitute: a master's or equivalent graduate degree, two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a related LL.B. or J.D. Combination of experience and education may be used with qualifying graduate education beyond the amount required at GS-07.
• For GS-11, have at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09, including researching and reviewing requests involving sensitive or proprietary records and recommending disclosure determinations under FOIA, Privacy Act, and PII requirements; monitoring and evaluating FOIA program status and execution, advising directorates on policies and procedures, and preparing management briefings; and serving as a FOIA liaison on routine and emerging issues, escalating controversial or precedent-setting matters, and guiding FOIA coordinators on consistent processing standards. Related education may substitute: a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a related LL.M. Combination of experience and education may be used with qualifying graduate education beyond the amount required at GS-09.
• Meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the announcement closing date. Transcripts are required when using education to substitute for experience or in a combination of education and experience.
• Current or former federal employees subject to time-in-grade rules must have served at least 52 weeks at the next lower grade, as applicable.
• Qualifying experience may include paid or unpaid work, including volunteer work.

Responsibilities

• Answer routine questions relating to the Privacy Act, FOIA requests, and PII issues.
• Work with senior staff and management on initial case planning and objectives, and conduct fact-finding research.
• Review sensitive materials and provide input on actions involving those documents.
• Identify and raise to senior staff or management incoming requests that are controversial or precedent-setting, or where action offices disagree on processing.
• Screen materials before release to ensure documents are releasable and do not conflict with FOIA, Privacy Act, or PII exemptions.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific eligibility depends on position type, and applicants should contact the hiring agency for details.
• Flexible working arrangements and alternative work schedules may be available at the manager’s discretion.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level