Job Description

Axle is seeking a Policy Analyst Freedom of Information Act to join our vibrant team at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) supporting the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) located in Bethesda, MD.

Overall Position Summary and Objectives

The purpose of this position is to produce work products and documents associated with FOIA case processing, including correspondence, research, analysis, and evaluation of data for information request responses.

Deliverables:

• Work products and documents associated with FOIA case processing, including correspondence, memoranda, and redacting documents; research, analyze, and evaluate data for information request responses. - Ad-Hoc
• Work products and documents related to computer-generated work, including materials; prepare and format documents; draft memoranda proposing a final determination on requests denied in part or full. - Ad-Hoc
• Work products and documents related to the conduct of research relevant disclosure laws, regulations, policies, and precedents to reach conclusions regarding the release of the requested information and document results; Apply knowledge of the FOIA, the Privacy Act, DHHS FOIA Regulations, NIH policy, and court decisions. - Ad-Hoc
• Work products and documents related to writing analyses and findings on regulations, case decisions, policies, and procedures; coordinate with attorneys on how best to respond to lawsuits over information requests; consult with the DHHS FOI Office and the Office of General Counsel. - Ad-Hoc
• Work on products and documents related to evaluating appeals and making recommendations on appeals; analyze new regulations to determine their impact on existing policies; draft weekly progress reports. - Ad-Hoc
• Work products and documents related to negotiating informal agreements and supporting formal agreements to resolve conflicts between the requesters and providers of information. - Ad-Hoc

Work Details:

• Independently process FOIA requests, including correspondence, memoranda, and redacting documents. 1
• Research, analyze, and evaluate data for information request responses; and write final response letters with no redactions or with routine applicable exemptions. 2
• Draft memoranda for the NIH OD FOIA Office proposing a final determination on requests denied in part or full. 3
• Provides the technical experience needed to analyze, develop, and implement organizational policies and practices.
• Write email information request responses as received from other organizations and the public.
• Conduct research on relevant disclosure laws, regulations, policies, and precedents to reach conclusions regarding the release of requested information and document results.
• 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.
• Review documents and responses to ensure compliance with the Acts and the regulations and policies issued pursuant to them.
• Refer FOIA and PA requests to the appropriate NHLBI or Institute Center IC Service Center client divisions and offices for response documents.
• Consult with members of the public, attorneys, congressional staffers, IC management and NIH intramural or extramural staff to resolve requests for sensitive documents that may involve proprietary commercial and financial information, invasions of personal privacy, on-going investigations, or pre-decision and deliberative material description.
• 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 the 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 and descriptions.
• 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.
• Draft a weekly progress report regarding the status of assigned FOIA cases and other activities to be submitted to the Branch Chief.
• Respond to inquiries for the formal release of documents.
• Communicate with consumers, the public, or special interest groups on behalf of an organization.
• 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 requester's information needs
• Provide technical advice to program staff regarding new policies and procedures.
• Interpret requirements, analyze gathered information, verify facts, draw conclusions, and prepare work products
• Performs research on issues pertaining to current policies, regulations, and procedures and prepares issuances to program staff on changes.
• Work with staff on reporting requirements, including collecting information, collaborating with other offices, and preparing written reports.
• Assists with data collection.
• Compile and analyze policy and related information.
• Collects and analyzes data.
• Collect, organize, and analyze data from various sources.
• Analyzes and provides information on current policy issues.
• Prepare background information, options, and recommendations that are used to brief upper management.
• Attends meetings to review and implement discussion items.
• Attend meetings, workshops, and seminars on relevant topics; provide a summary of relevant proceedings.
• Prepares reports, graphs, etc., for use by upper management.
• Interpret, analyze, and condense material from a variety of sources for presentation.
• Provides the technical expertise needed to independently analyze, develop, and implement organizational policies and practices.
• Provide expert advice on the administrative and management implications of policy and program proposals.
• Analyzes and consults with upper management regarding current policy issues.
• Prepare background information, options, and recommendations that are used to brief upper management.
• Summarizes data and prepares and reviews reports, graphs, etc., for use by upper management.
• Interpret, analyze, and condense material from a variety of sources for presentation.
• Develop new policies that support organizational goals.
• Prepare recommendations and alternative options based on knowledge and analysis of policy practices and procedures.
• Plan, lead, and attend meetings to review and implement discussion items.
• Attend meetings, workshops, and seminars on relevant topics; provide a summary of relevant proceedings
• Prepares briefing materials and professional packages for upper management and provides recommendations for improvement.
• Prepare a variety of status reports, management summaries, and briefing papers that identify problems, assess the overall condition of work completed or in progress, and outline issues, solutions, and recommendations.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 represents priority rankings, where 1 is highest priority and 5 is lowest priority of those ranked

Minimum Education

Bachelor

Additional Qualifications:

Certifications & Licenses:

• Bachelor's Degree in Governmental Affairs, Public Policy, or a Related Field

Field of Study:

• Public Policy

Software:

• Word

Skills:

• Strong Communication Skills (Oral & Written)
• Policy Briefs
• Writing

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