Project Manager - FOIA & Legal Supports

Job Description

Job Title

Position Title: Project Manager for FOIA & Legal Supports

Location: Central Office - Office of the General Counsel

Salary Range: $64,373 to $99,468

Reports to: General Counsel

Bargaining Unit: Non-Union

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Telecommuting Eligibility: Hybrid. Eligible for up to 20% telecommuting (i.e., 1 day remote work) subject to successful completion of probationary period(s). Thereafter, continued telecommuting will be allowed subject to positive performance reviews and applicable policies and administrative guidelines.

Application Requirements

• Resume
• A single additional attachment that contains:
• Cover letter including:
• Acknowledgement of agreement to meet the commitments and conditions for this position
• A detailed description of how candidate meets each of the mandatory minimum qualifications, abilities, proficiencies and experiences.
• List of 2 to 3 references with contact information including name, business name (if applicable) mailing address, email address and phone number
  

Applications without requested documents attached will be considered incomplete.

Position Summary

A Project Manager for FOIA & Legal Supports (Project Manager) will serve as the FOIA Coordinator and be responsible for handling, processing and managing the information requests received by Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) pursuant to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). As it relates to FOIA, a Project Manager will: (i) timely receive, review, analyze and respond to FOIA requests/appeals; (ii) work directly with senior-level Cabinet members (or designees) to procure information; (iii) in consultation with the attorneys in the Office of General Counsel, review and redact responsive information and draft responses; and (iv) and interface with the public (i.e., individuals/group external to the school district). Also, a Project Manager will work closely with the OGC Office Manager on varied tasks and provide support as needed to the OGC attorneys. Ideal candidates will demonstrate the following:

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree required from an accredited college or university (Preferred).
• Masters or other advanced degree from accredited college or university (Preferred).
  
  

Experience

• Minimum of:
• 4 years of experience in project management or equivalent work;
• 1 to 2 years of experiences as a judicial law clerk;
• 1 to 2 years of experience as a paralegal in a law firm, corporate or governmental legal department with emphasis on statutory construction or policy work; or
• 1 or more years of experience with FOIA or statutory work.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including but not limited to Word and Excel (Required).
• Experience with Michigan's Freedom of Information Act and other statutory compliance (Strongly Preferred).
• Experience working in a court, urban public school district or large/complex organizational setting.
• Experience with editing, formatting and processing legal documents (Preferred).
  

Required Attributes for Success in Position

• Excellent analytical and critical thinking
• Demonstrated ability to structure and solve problems, synthesize analysis into key takeaways and recommendations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Professional presence necessary to effectively interact with individuals throughout the school district as well as members of the public (i.e., individuals/groups external to the district).
• Excellent organizational skills and high performance of job duties.
• Ability to review statute or policy, apply statute/policy to issue and craft a well written and reasoned response or recommendation.
• Demonstrated proactive approaches to problem-solving with strong decision-making capability.
• Ability to work in a cross-departmental fashion.
• Exhibit a professional, positive attitude.
• Ability to work independently and/or as part of a team.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize work to meet strict deadlines.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks/work streams.
• Ability to work well under pressure of unanticipated quick turnarounds or heavy workload.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve high performance goals and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Detail-oriented and self-motivated.
• Regular attendance is critical.
• Must have an exemplary attendance record.
• Proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
  
  

Essential Functions

• Receive FOIA requests, procure and review responsive documents and prepare/transmit FOIA responses and appeals.
• Maintain ongoing communications with departments and public regarding FOIA requests and responses.
• Gather and assemble information.
• Create FOIA reports and other legal reports as scheduled.
• Assist with drafting, editing and managing OGC administrative guidelines.
• Manage process of tracking OGC performance metrics.
• Create written products including but not limited to PowerPoint presentations, official memoranda, letters, etc.
• Use several software applications (e.g., databases, spreadsheets, desktop publishers, etc.) to complete assignments professionally.
• Interface with internal and external individuals.
• Provide support and work closely with the OGC Office Manager on varied tasks.
• Provide support to members of the Office of the General Counsel.
• Fulfill other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the General Counsel (or Designee).
  
  

Applicants must apply through the online application system. Only applications submitted through the online application system will be considered for any posted position and all applications require a resume to be considered.

Successful candidates are required to submit official transcript(s) at point of offer to hire. Teaching service outside of the Detroit Public Schools Community District must be verified by the applicant's prior employer(s) prior to hire. It is the applicant's responsibility to provide all documentation (including copies) as requested.

Applicants requesting assistance during the application process should contact the Office of Human Resources via email at [email protected] or phone at (313) 873-6897.

DPSCD does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability and/or religion. Contact the Civil Rights Coordinator for more information at (313) 240-4377 or detroitk12.org/compliance.