Records & FOIA Manager

City of Beaufort•City Hall - Beaufort, SC

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Records and FOIA Manager oversees the development, implementation, and maintenance of the municipal government's records management program. This includes the classification, storage, retention, retrieval, and destruction of official records in compliance with local, state, and federal laws and regulations. The Records Manager ensures transparency, legal compliance, and efficient access to public records and information. In addition, this position is responsible for the administration and management of the City’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) program.

Requirements

Associate or bachelor’s degree in public administration, Records/Information Management, or a related field.
Minimum 3-5 years of experience in records management, preferably in a government or public sector setting.
Ability to learn the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act requirements, South Carolina Code Title 30, Chapter 4.
Thorough understanding of records management principles and legal compliance (e.g., records retention laws, privacy regulations).
Familiarity with records management software and electronic document management systems (EDMS).
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
Ability to train and support other staff across multiple departments.

Nice To Haves

Certification such as CRM (Certified Records Manager) or municipal clerk certification (e.g., CMC/MMC) preferred.

Responsibilities

Respond to records and Freedom of Information Act requests from the public, staff, legal counsel, and other agencies.
Maintain the citywide records management program in compliance with South Carolina Department of Archives and History.
Classify and index records according to standardized systems (e.g., retention schedules).
Ensure compliance with state public records laws, open records requests (e.g., FOIA), and records retention policies.
Coordinate with city departments to enforce records retention and disposal schedules.
Train departmental staff on proper records management procedures, including both paper and electronic formats as needed.
Supervise the digitization of records and ensure proper storage and access to electronic records and archives.
Conduct regular audits of departmental records practices to ensure compliance and efficiency.
Periodically evaluates the City’s records management system and recommends improvements as needed.
Maintain a disaster recovery plan for critical records.
Manage contracts and relationships with records storage vendors, if applicable.
Will perform other related tasks assigned by the City Clerk.