FOIA Specialist

US101 Guidehouse Inc.; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance

Parental Leave & Adoption Assistance

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Job summary

Guidehouse is seeking an FOIA Specialist to support DARPA, handling complex FOIA requests from the public and advising staff on compliance with federal laws. The role requires an active Top Secret clearance and experience with FOIA processes and FOIAXpress.

The candidate will log, search, redact, and prepare responses, coordinate with SMEs, and contribute to agency-wide FOIA policy development in a fast-paced R&D environment.

Qualifications

• Active Top Secret clearance required.
• Experience processing FOIA cases in a federal agency.
• Experience with FOIA exemptions and processing.
• Experience with FOIAXpress or similar FOIA tracking software.

Responsibilities

• Respond to complex FOIA cases, including litigation and appeals.
• Log in, process FOIA requests, complete searches, and coordinate with SMEs.
• Prepare detailed high-quality responses and maintain FOIA case files.
• Redact information and ensure releases comply with laws and agency policy.
• Communicate with public and private organizations regarding requests.
• Develop and implement agency-wide FOIA policies and oversight structures.

Skills

FOIA knowledge

Communication

Organization

Data analysis

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

FOIAXpress

Job description

Job Details

Job Family: Operational Effectiveness (ESA) Travel Required: Up to 10% Clearance Required: Active Top Secret (TS)

What You Will Do

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has been at the forefront of breakthrough technologies for national security for decades. From the internet and GPS to stealth technology and rapid vaccine development, DARPA drives pivotal, high-impact innovation. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Specialist will support DARPA by processing responses to FOIA requests from the public, as well as providing guidance and advice to DARPA staff to ensure compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and policies to senior management officials. The FOIA Specialist is responsible for developing and coordinating with appropriate DARPA staff as necessary to properly respond to FOIA requests.

• Respond to complex cases, including litigation and appeals, demonstrating expert knowledge of the FOIA, its exemptions, and the administration of the FOIA, ensuring that records are released according to laws, regulations, and agency policy.
• Receive, log-in, and process FOIA requests, including completing searches for responsive records, conducting submitter notices, coordinating with subject matter experts (SMEs), analyzing records, preparing detailed high-quality responses, and updating FOIA case management tracking systems to ensure that requests are handled in a timely manner, in accordance with DoD guidance.
• Communicate with all levels of public and private organizations to properly process FOIA requests.
• Create and maintain detailed FOIA case files, tracking the status of requests from intake to final response.
• Conduct line‑by‑line reviews and analysis of a variety of records in response to FOIA requests to determine which, if any, FOIA exemptions apply, and redact any withheld information before public release, ensuring that redactions are neat, clear, and accurately indicate exemptions.
• Communicate and collaborate regarding the status and processing of requests, including clarifying requests when necessary, and resolve issues regarding requests in a timely and service‑oriented manner.
• Interpret regulations and agency policy for DARPA personnel, as well as develop and recommend implementation of agency‑level FOIA compliance and program oversight structures in conjunction with the OSD/JS FOID, DARPA Public Affairs Office, and General Counsel as necessary.
• Recommend and implement agency‑wide FOIA policies and procedures, including internal procedures and guidelines, based on new or revised legislation, court decisions, or recommendations.
• Develop and recommend refinements to the agency's FOIA program.
• Develop and apply guidance associated with the Freedom of Information Act, restrictions on dissemination and withholding of records to the public, principles of classification as embodied in Executive Orders, DoD Directives and Instructions, and Security Classification Guides.
• Collect, organize, and analyze qualitative and quantitative data needed for annual reporting of FOIA activities.
• Other duties as assigned.

What You Will Need

• An ACTIVE and MAINTAINED "TOP SECRET" Federal or DoD security clearance.
• Bachelor's degree; FOUR (4) additional years of experience in processing FOIA cases in a federal agency.
• FIVE (5) or more years of specific experience in processing FOIA cases in a federal agency.
• Experience should include, but not limited to: Knowledge of the Freedom of Information Act, including administrative processing, exemptions, submitter notices, and other FOIA processes.
• Experience utilizing FOIAXpress database (or similar FOIA tracking software).
• Possess the energy, experience, and subject matter expertise to demonstrate sound judgment, foresight and problem‑solving skills in a fast‑paced Research & Development (R&D) environment.
• Possess excellent organizational and communication skills; demonstrating an ability to communicate, interact easily and effectively with a wide variety of individuals and echelons in both written and verbal forms.
• Possess excellent research and data‑gathering skills with an ability to interpret/analyze complex information within operational R&D environments.
• Ability to work independently, as well as in a team environment, within the bounds and guidelines of the organization.

What Would Be Nice To Have

• An ACTIVE and MAINTAINED "TOP SECRET/SCI (TS/SCI)" Federal or DoD security clearance.
• Experience working within the Department of War (DoW).

What We Offer

• Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
• Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus
• Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Basic Life & Supplemental Life
• Health Savings Account, Dental/Vision & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Student Loan PayDown Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development & Learning Opportunities
• Skills Development & Certifications
• Employee Referral Program
• Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
• Emergency Back-Up Childcare Program
• Mobility Stipend

About Guidehouse

Guidehouse is an Equal Opportunity Employer–Protected Veterans, Individuals with Disabilities or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.

Guidehouse will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law or ordinance including the Fair Chance Ordinance of Los Angeles and San Francisco.

If you have visited our website for information about employment opportunities, or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Guidehouse Recruiting at 1-571-633-1711 or via email at [e-mail].

All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodation.

All communication regarding recruitment for a Guidehouse position will be sent from Guidehouse email domains including @guidehouse.com or [e-mail].

Correspondence received by an applicant from any other domain should be considered unauthorized and will not be honored by Guidehouse.

Guidehouse is a global AI-led professional services firm delivering advisory, technology, and managed services to the commercial and government sectors. With an integrated business technology approach, Guidehouse drives efficiency and resilience in the healthcare, financial services, energy, infrastructure, and national security markets. Built to help clients across industries outwit complexity, the firm brings together approximately 18,000 professionals to achieve lasting impact and shape a meaningful future.

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