Documentation Specialist

Director of Navy Staff, FOIA/PA (DNS-H)

Cowan & Associates, Inc. (Cowan) is a subsidiary of Tribal Tech, a Native American, woman-owned 8(m) certified small business headquartered in Alexandria, VA. We provide a diverse range of management and technical consulting services, including all areas of Program Management, Financial Management, Administration/Readiness Support, Data Analysis, Logistics Support, Administrative Support, Continuous Performance Improvement (CPI), LLS, Information Technology (IT) Support, and Technical Assistance. Our staff operates with the highest standards and principles that support legal and ethical business practices. Our guiding principles of “People, Performance and Partnership” embody an environment where employees are empowered and can flourish, and clients may fully benefit from our specialized capabilities.

Cowan is looking for a Documentation Specialist to assist the Director of Navy Staff, Navy Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) & Privacy Act (PA) Programs to significantly reduce or eliminate any SECNAV and OPNAV FOIA/PA request backlog; develop/maintain viable tracking systems; compile statistics for required reports; and review content and URL connectivity on the DoN FOIA online web portal and corresponding FOIA/PA related web sites and/or data repositories.

Please forward your resume to Careers@tribaltechllc.com

Location

Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Act as direct support to the Branch Head for all FOIA/PA Program requirements for SECNAV, CNO, and OPNAV equities

  • Collect, review, analyze, and recommend courses of action for document requests under the FOIA and/or Privacy Act to include congressional responses.

  • Log and track all FOIA requests, consults, referrals, and congressional inquiries; process and track all Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) FOIA/PA requests or other field requests. Review and analyze requests, and provide timely recommendations to support the extension process. Communicate and clarify edits, changes, and scope of FOIA requests as needed with requestors via email and/or phone calls. Regularly update and draft correspondence to the requester for direct response as needed.

  • Draft and/or review legal analyses and provide recommendations and justifications for each case file.

  • Recommend courses of action to meet complex legal issues and tight deadlines.

  • Conduct data calls, analyze data, mark trends, and consolidate DoN FOIA reports, as required.

  • Identify frequently requested documents for upload into the command’s public FOIA reading room.

  • Monitor, review, and update DoN FOIA website. Delegate and communicate FOIA request cognizance to the appropriate Navy entity at the Echelon I, II, and IIL levels as needed. Recommend new or modified FOIA/PA website or SharePoint content and review other command websites for compliance and provide finding and recommendation reports.

  • Develop community outreach products to educate and increase awareness of FOIA responsibilities; develop and facilitate FOIA/PA training initiatives.

  • Redact key documents for release to requesters according to FOIA/PA guidelines.

  • Answer and provide appropriate references to requests for information and client queries on a day-to-day basis.

Skills and Abilities

  • Knowledge of Microsoft Office programs, including Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, ADOBE Pro, and PowerPoint.

  • Familiar with the organization, function, and operation of the Department of the Navy.

  • Some familiarity with management information system/office automation applications, principles, and practices with FOIA tracking (e.g., SharePoint, HQWeb, FOIA Online) or the ability to become familiar within 90 days of employment.

Education and Experience

  • Associate degree in a related field or 1 year of relevant experience in related field, legal or legislative knowledge, or area can be substituted for a degree.

  • Knowledge of the organization, function, and operation of the Department of the Navy highly preferred

Security Clearance

SECRET

Disclaimer

The above position description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. 

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled