Benefits:

• 100% Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage for Employees
• Paid Time Off (Including Holidays)
• Employee Referral Bonus
• 401K Match
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities
• Flexible Spending Accounts:
  • Healthcare (FSA)
  • Parking Reimbursement Account (PRK)
  • Dependent Care Assistant Program (DCAP)
  • Transportation Reimbursement Account (TRN)

Overview

Axle is looking to add a driven, flexible, organized, and meticulous Scientific Program Manager to our dynamic team. The Contractor(s) shall provide services in support of the overall functions of the Office of Science Management and Operations (OSMO), Office of the Director (OD).

Technical Requirements:

• Research, analyze and evaluate data for information request responses, write final response letters with no redactions or with routine applicable exemption.

• Apply knowledge of the FOIA, the Privacy Act, DHHS FOIA Regulations, NIH policy and court decisions to review requests for information, determine the appropriateness of the release and review and make recommendations regarding appeals.

• Independently process FOIA requests, including correspondence, memoranda, and redacting documents.

• Refer FOIA and PA requests to the appropriate NIAID or IC Service Center client divisions and offices for response documents.

• Consult with members of the public, attorneys, congressional staffers, NIAID management and NIH intramural or extramural staff to resolve requests for sensitive documents which may involve proprietary commercial and financial information, invasions of personal privacy, on-going investigations, or pre-decision and deliberative material.

• Draft memoranda for NIH OD FOIA Office proposing a final determination on requests denied in part or full.

• Conduct research on relevant disclosure laws, regulations, policies, and precedents in order to reach conclusions regarding the release of requested information, and document results.

• Review documents and responses to ensure compliance with the Acts and the regulations and policies issued pursuant to them.

• Consult with the DHHS FOI Office and the Office of General Counsel in reviewing and arriving at recommendations regarding requests involving administrative appeals.

• Review appeals for non-release of information or fees charged under the FOIA.

• Evaluate appeals considering applicable laws, regulations, and or additional justifications provided by the requester.

• Recommend approval or disapproval of the appeal and write responses to the HHS FOIA Officer who decides administrative appeals.

• Coordinate information requests with other offices; maintain a record of information in case file as appropriate.

• Analyze regulations, case decisions, policies and procedures to determine whether private or confidential information can be released; draft memoranda based on findings.

• Participate in meetings and discussions with attorneys on how best to respond to lawsuits over information requests via phone and electronic correspondence.

• Analyze and provide written analyses of new regulations to determine their impact on existing policies and procedures.

• Use automated tracking systems to monitor requests for confidential information to ensure their timely resolution, extract information from multiple sources for use in writing reports.

• Respond to inquiries for the formal release of documents,

• Negotiate informal agreements and support formal agreements to resolve conflicts between the requesters and providers of information; determine what is needed by a requester and assist the requester in formulating a request that will satisfy the requesters information needs.

• Communicate with consumers, the public or special interest groups on behalf of NIAID.

Specific Qualifications:

• This position requires, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree in governmental affairs, public policy, or a related field.

• Minimum of ten (10) years of related experience is required.

• The candidate should have extensive knowledge of the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act.

• The candidate should possess strong oral and written communication skills and should have extensive experience with policy briefs and writing.

The diversity of Axle’s employees is a tremendous asset. We are firmly committed to providing equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and will not tolerate any illegal discrimination or harassment-based age, race, gender, religion, national origin, disability, marital status, covered veteran status, sexual orientation, status with respect to public assistance, and other characteristics protected under state, federal, or local law and to deter those who aid, abet, or induce discrimination or coerce others to discriminate.

Accessibility: If you need an accommodation as part of the employment process please contact: [email protected]

Disclaimer:The above description is meant to illustrate the general nature of work and level of effort being performed by individual’s assigned to this position or job description. This is not restricted as a complete list of all skills, responsibilities, duties, and/or assignments required. Individuals may be required to perform duties outside of their position, job description or responsibilities as needed.

This role has a market-competitive salary with an anticipated base compensation range listed below. Actual salaries will vary depending on a candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills, and location.