Technical Lead - FOIA

Clearance

Public Trust

Overview

To assist with FOIA coordination and processing support to ensure the timely delivery of responsive documents, supporting NOAA Fisheries. 

Background

To provide interdisciplinary legal expertise related to program planning and oversight in a team environment, developing performance metrics, coordination within and across agency lines, and legal interpretation of pertinent policies and guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Experience utilizing eDiscovery systems (i.e., Clearwell, etc.) to create cases, ingest and export data, troubleshoot, create user accounts, etc.
• Experience performing legal editing duties.
• Experience with FOIA coordination and processing, including updating weekly, and monthly FOIA reports.
• Experience handling administrative duties related to appeals administration.
• Assisting the NMFS FOIA lead with the intake, scope perfection, assignment, tracking and closure of NMFS FOIAs.
• Recommending draft FOIA policies and procedures for Government review and approval.
• Developing procedures for ensuring NMFS-wide compliance with FOIA regulations and policies and correcting/guiding/training as needed.
• Reviewing FOIA requests for completeness and recommending the most appropriate lead office for each FOIA.
• Coordinating with higher level and other agency FOIA offices as necessary.
• Monitoring the timely processing of NMFS FOIAs and alerting government leads before a backlog situation arises.
• Developing monthly and annual status reports on NMFS FOIA requests.
• Attending and participating in monthly and quarterly NMFS FOIA conference calls, including preparing and disseminating agenda, meeting minutes, and action items.
• Attending and participating in biweekly meetings with NOAA Office of General Counsel concerning FOIA matters.
• Reviewing the NMFS FOIA program, policies, and procedures; identifying concerns and recommending improvements.
• Utilizing federal FOIA software and websites, including FOIA online.
• Developing FOIA acknowledgment letters, fee estimates, and interim and final response letters.
• Identifying potential Subject Matter Experts (SME) within NMFS components who would likely possess records responsive to FOIA requests.
• Searching for, reviewing and redacting records potentially responsive to a FOIA.
• Conducting FOIA scope clarifications with requestors.
• Scheduling appeals interviews, including witnesses, and proposing witness interviews to appeals officers.
• Draft appeals notices, orders and decisions Notes for observed administrative hearings, the judge’s answers to questions and legal issues discussed.
• Reviewing IG referrals and internal complaints and drafting case evaluations.
• Alerting the NAO Chief of potential conflicts in an inquiry between the complainant, subject, and/or witnesses, and NAO staff.
• Drafting inquiry interview questions, scheduling interviews, conducting interviews, and drafting interview summary statements.
• Draft referral responses, Report of Findings, and internal inquiry memoranda Identification of relevant NOAA OCIO UMS search results for FOIA and inquiries.
• Draft evaluations for IG referred and internal complaints, summarizing complaint; identifying relevant statutes, regulations, case law, and policy for inquiries; and identifying potential personnel to be interviewed
• Reviewing NOAA Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) Unified Messenger System (UMS) search results for FOIA and inquiries and identifying relevant information in results.
• Conduct FOIA training.
• Maintenance of the NMFS FOIA Website developed on the NOAA standard web location, Google Sites, using the NOAA standard Google web development software.
• Draft FOIA acknowledgment letters, fee estimates, and interim and final response letters.
• Draft NMFS FOIA Status Reports, and NMFS FOIA Annual Report.
• Draft redactions for records responsive to FOIA requests.
• Draft changes to NMFS FOIA policy and procedures FOIA scope clarifications Identification and appropriate redaction of potentially responsive records for FOIA requests.
• Draft and final FOIA Training materials
• Documenting statutory, regulatory, case law, and policy research for FOIA, appeals, and OIG referred and internal complaints.

Qualifications

8+ years’ experience providing interdisciplinary legal expertise related to program planning and oversight in a team environment, developing performance metrics, coordination within and across agency lines, and legal interpretation of pertinent policies and guidelines is required. 

A successful candidate will have excellent verbal and written communication skills and be adept at the federal FOIA website, FOIAonline, as well as Clearwell FOIA software.

Work Location:

• 1315 East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910. 
• Performed 100% remote five days per week, but candidates must be able to come in to the office if/when needed.

Hours of Operation: 

• Under this task order, the Contractor is responsible for conducting business, Monday through Friday during normal business hours except Federal holidays or when the Government facility is closed due to local or national emergencies, administrative closings, or similar Government-directed facility closings.

Education

Juris Doctorate 

Location and Work Hours

Work Location:

• 1315 East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910. 
• Performed 100% remote five days per week, but candidates must be able to come in to the office if/when needed.

Hours of Operation: 

• Under this task order, the Contractor is responsible for conducting business, Monday through Friday during normal business hours except Federal holidays or when the Government facility is closed due to local or national emergencies, administrative closings, or similar Government-directed facility closings.

Compensation

The compensation range for this position is $55.00 $64.00 per hour. Compensation will be discussed in greater detail with candidates who advance in the interview process, allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of qualifications and alignment with role requirements.

Compensation Disclaimer:The salary range provided for this position represents a general guideline. Final compensation will be determined at the Company’s discretion based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to relevant experience, skills, education, internal equity, geographic location, and contract requirements. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range.

Benefits and EEO

At Ardent Eagle Solutions, we offer a comprehensive benefits package to our employees and their families:

• Medical/Dental/Vision Coverage
• Matching 401(k) Plan
• Continuing Education Assistance
• Paid Time Off

This job description is intended to describe the general scope of work and level of work that is needed to perform while on task with Ardent Eagle Solutions. Other duties may be assigned. Selected candidates may undergo a government security investigation and must fulfill eligibility criteria for accessing classified information. US citizenship may be a prerequisite for certain roles. Ardent Eagle Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to disability or protected veteran status.