Summary This position is located with the Forest Service Office of Regulatory Management and is responsible for planning, developing, analyzing, evaluating, directing and administering both the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act (FOIA/PA) programs For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact La Renda King at larenda.king@usda.gov. Responsibilities Duties listed are at the full performance level GS-13. Serves as acting Branch manager with full authority to make decisions and commitments on all phases of the Branch’s areas of responsibility. Instructs the appropriate resource program staff employees to search for requested records and explains the proper application of FOIA and PA exemptions to records located. Applies a high degree of analytical skills and the ability to recognize and analyze problems, develop action plans to resolve them, and negotiate complex actions. Keeps current on all policies and procedures affecting records retrieval practices, including recent court decisions and agency policies. Provides expert analysis and evaluations to management that encompasses programmatic milestones and schedules required for effective management, operations, and decision making in support of the FOIA and PA. Evaluates incoming requests, including researching problem areas, identifying legal issues, and conducting analysis to determine whether there is any basis to assert an exemption to disclosure. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards. Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary. Specialized Experience Requirement: For the GS-12: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as two or more of the following: reviewing and analyzing FOIA and/or PA requests for information from the general public, attorneys and legal agencies, action groups, state and federal government agencies, agency employees, etc. to determine the validity and applicability of the request and to determines who has responsibility for providing documentation to respond to requests; and/or providing advice and guidance to supervisors and managers regarding FOIA/PA policies and procedures; and/or preparing and presenting FOIA/PA briefings and training for management officials and employees; and/or maintaining a FOIA control log and ensuring security of a FOIA automated database. For the GS-13: Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as three or more of the following: planning, developing, analyzing, evaluating, directing and administering both the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act (FOIA/PA) programs; reviewing and providing advice on complex FOIA and/or PA cases, in situations where definitions or data are incomplete, controversial, or uncertain, or where boundaries of the issues are difficult to determine; and/or developing guidance and procedural information regarding the agency's FOIA and PA regulations and policies; and/or providing analysis and evaluations to management that encompasses programmatic milestones and schedules required for effective management, operations, and decision making in support of the FOIA and PA; and/or developing reports for management officials and providing interpretation of data that point out trends, identify deviations from standards and/or plans. 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. TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Education Additional Information Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Reemployment Priority List (RPL): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary and term employees the opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years and the last temporary or term appointment must have been with the Forest Service. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Part-time and intermittent service will be credited only for time actually worked. Non-pay status such as leave without pay is credited for up to six months in a calendar year; anything beyond six months is not credited. Applicants are responsible for providing sufficient information/documentation to determine if the 24 month criteria is met. If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is not guaranteed. This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements. Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE.