Open Records Officer - Appointed

Full Job Description

Job Description

The Law Department seeks a professional to fill the Open Records Officer position.

The primary responsibility for this position will be to manage open records requests in the electronic open records system and ensure Gwinnett County departments who are subject to the Georgia Open Records Act (“Act”) remain in compliance with said Act.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, providing training on the Act and the County's open records processes and policies to employees; serving as the point of contact for the public on day-to-day and escalated open records request matters, and responding to requests for public records in accordance with the Georgia Open Records Act.

The position is also responsible for managing the electronic open records request system and training employees on how to utilize it.

The position will require assistance to outside counsel if legal action is related to an open records act request and will perform these duties and other duties as may be assigned under the general supervision of a Legal Manager.

Essential Duties

• Ensuring employees are trained and that they adhere to the Georgia Open Records Act and Gwinnett County policies and procedures pertaining to open records requests.
• Performing a variety of advanced administrative functions, which may include preparing correspondence; maintaining electronic filing systems; maintaining policy and procedure manuals; and/or, performing other related activities.
• Responding to requests for public records in accordance with the Georgia Open Records Act.
• Serving as a liaison with the general public, the Board of Commissioners, other governmental officials or agencies, County employees, the media, and/or other interested parties.
• Developing and conducting training for small to large groups.
• Assisting in preparing studies, reports, reviews, and/or other related documents.
• Assisting in conducting research on applicable open records laws, analyzing findings, writing analyses, and developing recommendations.
• Collecting data necessary to comply with the Georgia Open Records Act.
• Compiling and redacting documents

Public Speaking Duties

• Public speaking to large groups.

Salary/Grade
$69,183+, commensurate with years of experience

The grade for this position is 101.

Effective 4/11/2023, this position is eligible for the Employee Referral Program.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in public administration or related field
• A minimum of five years of experience as a records officer, paralegal, office manager, or a related position
• Equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job of Open Records Officer
• Knowledge of the Georgia Open Records Act and records retention
• Exposure to litigation through course work, internship, paralegal duties, or other litigation experience
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong attention to detail and proofreading skills
• Ability to interact professionally with County staff and the public
• Excellent writing skills

Knowledge of

• Applicable laws, rules, and regulations
• Court procedures
• Research methods
• Operating a computer, applicable software, including hardware to scan documents
• Applying laws, rules and regulations
• Analyzing complex information
• Ability to create electronic documents
• Communication: interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, the media, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction
• Ability to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information obtained or reviewed

Skills

• Operating a computer, applicable software, including hardware to scan documents
• Applying laws, rules and regulations
• Analyzing complex information
• Ability to create electronic documents
• Communication: interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, the media, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction
• Ability to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information obtained or reviewed

For information related to position-specific essential duties, knowledge and skills, and physical requirements, please click here.

Note: The class specifications listed on this website are not the official class specifications for Gwinnett County and are subject to change.
For more information about this department, please click here.

Qualifications

About Gwinnett County

Welcome to Gwinnett County Government

Gwinnett County Government is an award-winning employer that believes in investing in its employees by providing corporate level benefits, a wellness program, professional development opportunities, career advancement, and more

Careers with impact

Gwinnett County sets the standard as a dynamic, vibrant community where all people can enjoy economic opportunities, safe neighborhoods, plentiful greenspace, and recreational facilities.

We are committed to hiring those who share our dedication to making life better for our residents and business owners.

The culture of superior service that our employees have created reflects that standard and helps staff, residents, and stakeholders remain vibrantly connected.

Exceptional benefits

Working for Gwinnett County comes with exceptional benefits, including health coverage, a robust wellness program (Spouses can participate, too!), onsite employee wellness center, longevity pay, tuition reimbursement, and more.

The value of Gwinnett County benefits can be up to 49 percent of an individual’s total compensation.

World-class community

More than a million residents make up Gwinnett’s diverse community. The County is located just 45 minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and 30 minutes from downtown Atlanta. Georgia Highway 316 reduces travel time to the University of Georgia to 25 minutes.

Gwinnett County is an award-winning employer!

• Atlanta’s Healthiest Employer by Atlanta Business Chronicle
• Green Communities Platinum Certification for Gwinnett County from the Atlanta Regional Commission
• Top 100 Healthiest Workplaces in America by Springbuk and PR NewsWire and more!

VisionGwinnett is the preferred community where everyone thrives! MissionGwinnett proudly supports our vibrantly connected community by delivering superior services.

ValuesIntegrity: We believe in being honest, building trust, and having strong moral principles.Accountability: We believe in stewardship, transparency, and sustainability.Equity: We believe in fairness and respect for all.Inclusivity: We believe in engaging, embracing, and unifying our communities.Innovation: We believe in continual adaptation of technology, process, and experience.

Hiring ProcessGwinnett County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information regarding our hiring process, please click the links below:

• Hiring Process
• FAQs

Gwinnett County is committed to creating a diverse workforce.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we prohibit discrimination on the basis of genetic information (including sex), race, color, national origin (including ancestry), gender (identity and expression), sexual orientation, age, marital status, familial status (including pregnancy), disability, military or veteran status, religion, political affiliation, immigration status, homeless status, or any other category protected by law.