Washington, DC, USA | Full Time

Legal FOIA Analyst

EM Key Solutions Company is hiring full-time Legal FOIA Analysts to support our government customer in the Washington, DC, metro area.

The FOIA Analyst will be a part of a team that provides FOIA and Privacy Act (PA) processing and internal/external consulting services in support of the IPS offices' administration of the FOIA and PA. The candidate will assist the IPS program offices in reviewing incoming FOIA requests, orchestrate the processing of highly complex FOIA requests, and assist the FOIA Officer in preparing the IPS' quarterly, annual, and executive-level FOIA/PA reports. The candidate will assist with the development and periodic updates of the FOIA program office's strategic plans and recommend actions that may be necessary to comply with evolving disclosure laws and procedures; keeping the FOIA Officer apprised of the status of each FOIA/PA request, and researching FOIA issues as needed.

Duties:

• Implement statutory and policy directives in favor of disclosure while protecting information, the release of which could cause foreseeable harm to national security or other interests or violate statutory requirements.

• Effectively communicate with Department personnel, external points of contact, and the public at large regarding clarification of requests that will facilitate the production and processing of responsive material.

• Generate correspondence directed to requesters, internal points of contact, other federal government agencies, and foreign governments.

• Apply expertise in foreign policy and national security issues, as well as knowledge of the functioning and organization of the Department of State and its overseas posts and missions in the application of the FOIA, Privacy Act, current Executive Orders, and other information programs.

• Diligently and accurately review and process cases in a timely manner, recognizing the significant volume of complex and sensitive records subject to review, on average, reviewing approximately 1,000 pages per month.

• Respond to high-priority, time-sensitive requests from other government agencies.

• Collaborate with other staff members, including division chiefs, branch chiefs, team leaders, analysts, and Department contacts, to help ensure that the overall effort promotes the best interests of IPS and the Department.

• Develop and maintain proficiency in the use of guidance and reference material, both substantive and procedural.

• As part of a team effort, ensure that all paperwork and entries into the case tracking system are accurate, complete, and conform to the Department's standards of quality.

• Attend regularly scheduled meetings to resolve operational problems and to establish/modify reviewer procedures.

• Possess practical knowledge of Microsoft Office and maintain computer literacy and proficiency in the case management and redaction software system utilized by the Department.

  Education:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in the areas of Political Science, Foreign Affairs, International Affairs/Relations, History, Law, or related fields of study, and/or a Juris Doctor degree (with experience working in and/or demonstrated expertise in foreign affairs or national security highly preferred).

  Experience:

• Demonstrated experience in foreign policy, diplomacy, foreign aid, or national security is highly preferred.

• Demonstrated knowledge of EO 13526, the FOIA, the Privacy Act, and other information access programs.

• Experience working on FOIA appeals and/or FOIA litigation cases is highly desirable, including work on declarations, Vaughn indices, and preparing documents for FOIA litigation filings.

• Key qualities for this position include strong analytical skills; knowledge of all 9 FOIA exemptions, with prior withholding experience under Exemptions 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7; and outstanding attention to detail. Previous experience assisting with Department FOIA reporting and other metrics is a plus.

• Must have a minimum Interim Secret clearance to start; clearance will be upgraded to Top Secret

  Relationships are key to EM Key Solutions! We adopt a customer-centric approach and proven management processes for every project we undertake. EMKS focuses on offering our clients the solutions they need to succeed throughout the project management lifecycle at the most competitive rates through sound leadership and management principles.

  EM Key Solutions Company is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to hiring and retaining qualified and talented individuals, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Our strategy and philosophy are to inspire, energize, and empower employees. We use E-Verify to validate employees' ability to work legally in the United States.