FOIA Program Manager

Full Job Description

This position manages the region's FOIA and Privacy Act program, overseeing the full lifecycle of information requests, coordinating records searches and reviews, ensuring legally compliant responses, and providing guidance, training, and support to parks, offices, and leadership on disclosure requirements.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT and REQUIREMENTS CONTINUED: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.

This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service.

In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will 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.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized.

In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.

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.

Physical Demands: The work is mostly sedentary. The incumbent will be required to sit for extended periods and operate multiple electronic devices. Occasional work is performed in file storage areas.

Occasional lifting of records (up to 20 pounds). Working Conditions: The incumbent works in a typical office environment that is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.

The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions. Most of the work is performed in an office setting.

QUALIFICATIONS All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-04/23/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience.

For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted.

An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience.

For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience.

For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

To qualify for this position at the GS-12 grade level, you must possess the minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors).

You must include hours per week worked.

This experience includes activities such as: Running a FOIA program portfolio, Performing advanced FOIA analyses, Leading complex records searches, Preparing high-stakes correspondence and briefings, Partnering with attorneys on litigation, Delivering FOIA/PA training and guidance.

Volunteer Experience: 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; religious; 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. Major Duties:

Manage the region's FOIA/Privacy Act program end-to-end, overseeing intake, tracking, scheduling, and lifecycle records management, and developing procedures that ensure timely, legally sound responses.

Interpret and process FOIA/PA requests, coordinate searches, analyze responsive records, apply exemptions and fee determinations, and assemble release packages with quality control and legal review when needed.

Lead records disclosure reviews, using electronic discovery/document review tools to screen, redact, and prepare materials consistent with DOI/NPS policy, the FOIA, Privacy Act, and court/DOJ guidance.

Provide training, technical guidance, and communications, preparing correspondence to requesters, briefing leadership on sensitive or controversial cases, and assisting with web posting and Section 508 compliance.

Coordinate across parks, regional offices, and legal counsel, including the Office of the Solicitor and DSC, on complex or litigated requests, appeals, fee waivers, and production schedules.