Summary

The Traveler Engagement Division (TED) provides information to the traveling public on TSA programs and activities and responds to their inquiries, requests, compliments, or complaints. TED supports the Agency's work to improve the U.S. Government's engagements with the public and supports the TSA workforce by managing public expectations. TED is comprised of the Redress Branch; Traveler Civil Rights and Engagement Branch; Customer Experience Branch; and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Branch.

Duties

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The incumbent serves as a Supervisory Government Information Specialist (FOIA Branch Manager) for the Traveler Engagement Division, Civil Rights & Liberties, Ombudsman and Traveler Engagement (CRL/OTE), Office of the Administrator. In this role, the incumbent:

• Provides overall leadership and supervision for the FOIA Branch, including assigning and monitoring caseloads, shifting resources to meet demand, ensuring staff training and development, conducting quality compliance reviews, and reviewing staff decisions for legal and regulatory compliance.
• Formulates agency-wide policies, directives, and guidelines ensuring compliance with statutory mandates and executive orders. Develops agency positions and issues final determinations on FOIA and Privacy Act matters.
• Makes decisions regarding the release or redaction of sensitive, controversial, and complex records with significant legal, political, or operational implications. Manages conflicting interests (public transparency vs. national security/privacy) and oversees concurrent agency-wide projects. Coordinates stakeholder inputs, facilitates consensus, develops agency positions, and issues final determinations. Consults with information owners and collaborates with offices, such as Chief Counsel, Privacy Officer, and Sensitive Security Information office. Serves as primary liaison to DHS Chief FOIA Officer, TSA Chief Counsel, and TSA senior leaders on FOIA matters.
• Develops and delivers training for TSA personnel at headquarters and in the field. Ensures timely and accurate production of documents and compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements. Directs preparation and publication of documents to the TSA FOIA Reading Room.
• Develops and submits annual FOIA reports for inclusion in DHS's report to Congress and the public. Provides regular internal reports to inform CRL/OTE, TSA, and DHS leadership of case statistics and major issues.
• Establishes and maintains contact with Chief Counsel, Sensitive Security Information office, executive leadership, planning, budgeting, and accountability staff. Serves as agency liaison with other federal agencies, audit and budgeting agencies, and TSA Legislative Affairs.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

1. You must possess U.S. citizenship or be a U.S. National.
2. You must have reached the minimum age (18) at the time of application.
3. Selective Service registration is required.
4. You must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret Clearance.
5. You must complete a favorable Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI).
6. Supervisory/Managerial Probationary Period Requirements: Unless previously completed, you must satisfactorily complete a one-year supervisory probationary period to continue in this supervisory/managerial position.

If you fail to meet the conditions of employment or any other pre-employment requirements, such as missing any of the scheduled appointments, the hiring agency may rescind their tentative offer of employment.

Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for TSA to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

Qualifications

To qualify for the SV-K Pay Band (equivalent to GS-15), you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the SV-J Pay Band or GS-14 in the Federal service or equivalent experience in state or local government or the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Applied expert knowledge of FOIA, Privacy Act, and federal regulations to resolve complex information access and disclosure issues for TSA and DHS, ensuring compliance with Sensitive Security Information (SSI) and agency priorities. AND
• Led agency-wide FOIA and Privacy Act policy development and process improvements, provided authoritative guidance and training, and made critical decisions on sensitive matters while managing resources and engaging stakeholders.

Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio (i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience). No additional credit is given for overtime.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Education

This position does not have a positive education requirement.

Additional information

Eligibility to apply for other Federal positions: TSA is an Excepted Service agency exempt from most of Title 5 United States Code; therefore, employment with TSA does not confer the "Competitive Status" that generally results from selection and service in Competitive Service agencies. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has established an Interchange Agreement, which allows most permanent TSA employees to apply and be considered for vacancies in Competitive Service agencies. Information from OPM on this or other Interchange Agreements is available at: http://www.opm.gov.

To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation as a condition of placement into this position.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select "Benefits." Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.

Employees who transfer to TSA from an agency that allows employees to maintain an annual leave balance higher than the maximum accumulation for the appointed position will have their leave ceiling set to the maximum accumulation for the appointed position (e.g., United States duty location - 240 hours, foreign duty location - 360 hours, or TSES position - 720 hours). TSA will not make a monetary payment for any leave forfeited under these circumstances.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.