The FOIA Disclosure Specialist is responsible for supporting the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) program through the review, analysis, redaction, and release of responsive records. This role works closely with staff, contractors, requesters, and stakeholders to ensure that FOIA requests are processed accurately, efficiently, and in compliance with all applicable statutes, regulations, and agency policies. This position also involves specialized review of scientific and technical records where applicable.
Key Responsibilities
Disclosure Review
- Review FOIA requests to determine appropriate actions and response times
- Search, analyze, and process materials responsive to FOIA requests
- Prepare FOIA request folders, track requests in agency systems, and draft response letters
- Prepare an index of produced documents including document details, withheld portions, and exemption codes
- Support cradle-to-grave processing of disclosure requests, including recommendations for redactions and release determinations
- Review, evaluate, and analyze routine disclosure requests and recommend clearance of OC’s disclosure activities
- Ensure disclosure analysis requests are accurate, satisfactory, timely, and contain only information considered disclosable under FOIA, the Privacy Act, and applicable regulations
- Review documents for disclosure and recommend appropriate action
- Keep abreast of all changes to the statues and regulations to ensure compliance
- Maintain awareness of current developments to correctly review and analyze records for disclosure
- Apply understanding of scientific principles, content, and context related to drug and biological products for consistent disclosure determinations (for records with scientific content)
- Review and ensure work products comply with job aids, policies, and procedures
- Keep abreast of all changes to the statutes and regulations to ensure compliance
Redaction & Disclosure
- Redact records in accordance with FOIA, the OPEN Government Act, the E-Gov Act, and applicable job aids and guidance from OC staff
- Apply exemptions appropriately to ensure information exempt under statutes is withheld
- Utilize Adobe Acrobat Pro (or other approved software) to electronically redact and prepare records, including boxing exempt material, sanitization, and Bates numbering if applicable
- Prepare documents and Vaughn indices for disclosure-based litigation, as required
- Ensure released materials do not contain exempt information
Correspondence & Communication
- Draft original correspondence for release on behalf of the agency
- Communicate with requesters, regulated industry, sponsors, staff, contractors, and other stakeholders to clarify requests and provide updates
- Serve as liaison with requesters and, on occasion, other agencies or appellants
Compliance & Quality
- Ensure disclosure analysis is accurate, timely, and compliant with FOIA, the Privacy Act, and applicable regulations
- Stay up to date on statutory and regulatory changes to maintain compliance
- Ensure released materials do not contain information exempt under applicable statutes
- Meet agency performance standards, including review rates and timeliness metrics
Reporting & Tracking
- Maintain accurate data entry in FOIA tracking databases
- Monitor request backlogs and prioritize processing of sensitive or time-critical cases
- Prepare indexes of produced documents, including withheld portions and exemption codes
- Support reporting requirements for leadership and oversight staff
Brillient is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any status protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
QualificationsEducation Requirement
- Bachelors Degree
Experience Requirement
- Minimum ten (10) years of specialized experience.
Other Requirement(s):
- U.S. citizenship required; must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance in accordance with contract requirements.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree
- Minimum ten (10) years of specialized experience
- U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance
- Experience with FOIA, the Privacy Act, and applicable statutes/regulations
- Experience performing redactions and document preparation (Adobe Acrobat Pro or similar)
- Ability to review and analyze scientific and technical records
What We Do
Brillient is an award-winning Full Spectrum Digital Transformation company enabling clients to transform through the continuum of analog, to digital, to analytics leading to insight-driven decision making and mission execution. We help clients achieve better efficiencies and lower costs in their digital government and IT modernization initiatives enabling friction-free interaction with citizens and business. We’ve worked with more than 22 federal agency clients over the past decade to increase efficiencies, combat waste, reduce costs, and improve citizen/customer satisfaction. In 2017 and 2019, Brillient was awarded Small Business of the Year by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Brillient has experienced stupendous growth making the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private businesses in America, six times. Brillient's commitment to exemplary quality is evidenced by our CMMI Level 3, ISO 9001/20000/27001 certifications.
