Paralegal (FOIA)

Background

The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), through the Voice of America (VOA), produces broadcast and digital media to inform, engage, and connect global audiences with accurate, objective, and comprehensive news and information.

Major Duties and Assignments for this Position

FOIA and Procurement Support – 65%

The PSC shall provide primary administrative and paralegal support for the Agency’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) program and procurement-related legal activities.

Duties include:

• Assisting in the intake, logging, tracking, and processing of FOIA requests.
• Conducting document searches, organizing responsive materials, and preparing documents for review by Agency counsel.
• Identifying, redacting, and applying appropriate FOIA exemptions to responsive records, subject to attorney review and approval.
• Conducting legal research under the direction of Agency counsel to ensure compliance with FOIA exemptions and other statute mandates.
• Coordinating across Agency components to gather information and ensure timely FOIA responses.
• Drafting acknowledgment letters, interim responses, final responses, and appeal-related documentation.
• Supporting procurement matters by organizing contract files, gathering supporting materials, and assisting counsel with reviews related to acquisitions, contract disputes, and compliance.
• Preparing summaries, memos, and background materials as directed by Agency counsel.
• Maintaining accurate, up‑to‑date FOIA and procurement tracking logs and ensuring that all records are retained in accordance with Agency procedures.
• Communicating with requesters, vendors, or other stakeholders as directed by counsel.

Ethics Support – 25%

The PSC shall assist Agency ethics officials in supporting the Agency’s ethics compliance program, including:

• Assisting with intake, tracking, and processing of ethics inquiries.
• Supporting the review and processing of financial disclosure reports, including initial checks for completeness and flagging potential issues for attorney review.
• Maintaining secure and organized ethics files in both electronic and hard‑copy formats.
• Assisting with scheduling annual ethics training, tracking attendance, and maintaining documentation.
• Preparing draft correspondence, guidance materials, or summaries for Agency ethics counsel.
• Conducting basic research on ethics statutes, regulations, and prior Agency determinations, as assigned.
• Assisting with maintaining and updating internal ethics databases, logs, and reporting tools.

Administrative Duties – 10%

The PSC shall provide general administrative support to the Office of General Counsel (OGC), including:

• Attending OGC meetings as required to provide updates and receive direction.
• Assisting with maintaining shared office calendars, logs, and repository systems.
• Helping locate materials or perform non‑traditional research, which may include in‑person research at libraries or archives.
• Responding to office inquiries, answering telephones when necessary, and assisting office visitors in locating the appropriate Agency counsel.
• Performing other similar or related duties as assigned.

Collateral Duties

• The PSC performs all other similar/related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned.

The PSC shall have at least 2 years of relevant experience providing administrative and paralegal support in Federal legal environments.

The Personal Services Contractor (PSC) shall perform litigation paralegal services to assist all United States Agency for Global Media (hereinafter Agency) counsel in ongoing litigation before administrative tribunals such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, arbitrators, the Government Accountability Office, the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals as well as all Agency litigation in Federal courts.

The PSC shall have at least 6 years of experience in performing administrative support for all aspects of Federal litigation.