• Job Location: Rockville, MD
• Remote Work: (Hybrid) 4-days remote; 1-day on-site
• Job Type: Full-Time
• Clearance: Active Secret clearance

Pathfinder Consultants is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) based in Washington, DC. Pathfinder is looking for a candidate to fill a FOIA Analyst position for a contract supporting the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) providing FOIA support services. This position requires the candidate to obtain a Secret clearance with NRC therefore candidate must be eligible to be granted clearance. This position will be remote 4 days a week and one week in the office in Rockville, MD.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Review FOIA/PA requests for completeness and adherence to the agency’s policies, procedures and regulations.
• Review the scope of records responsive to requests, disseminate requests to appropriate subject matter experts within NRC offices; and review the records produced by NRC offices to confirm that they are responsive to the request
• Provide FOIA/PA review for simple, complex and or expedited track FOIA/PA requests
• Provide FOIA/PA review of the appropriate fee category, review fee waiver and expedited processing requests that may be included in requests
• Work with and obtain the cooperation of the NRC subject matter experts (SMEs)in locating and reviewing requested records and responding to FOIA/PA requests in a timely manner.
• Respond to referral/consultation requests from outside federal agencies submitting requests to NRC for review of their records encompassing NRC equities for referral or consultation and response back to the requesting agency
• Prepare interim and final responses to all FOIA/PA requests assigned for review and ultimate determination.
• Send applicable records through the pre-disclosure notification procedures in accordance with 10 CFR 9.28; if submitter provides objections to release of their business information, assess their objections and provide a final determination to the submitter communicating NRC’s final records release decision
• Maintain complete and detailed case notes on all assigned cases
• Support necessary FOIA administrative functions, including but not limited to uploading files to the appropriate FOIA database(s); coordinating with the agency’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer billing and refund processing; and providing records to NRC staff to be replicated for public availability
• Participate in the preparation of materials for, and presentation of, FOIA training to NRC staff
• Communicate and initiate negotiations with requesters, NRC staff, industry and other stakeholders, as appropriate, to clarify the scope of responsive records, and to ascertain equities in the records.
• Provide updates on status of requests.
• Coordinate meetings between Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), General Counsel, and/or requesters, as needed.
• Provide guidance to NRC staff on the application of FOIA policy and regulations.
• Prepare reports and briefing documents.
• Maintain database/tracking system for FOIA/PA requests.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• 5 years of experience in providing cradle to grave FOIA support services to a federal agency.
• Bachelor's Degree
• Strong writing and grammar skills, can draft a professional and grammatically correct email
• Knowledge of management principles, practices and techniques needed to assure FOIA and PA processing activities are carried out timely and effectively.
• Ability to apply, interpret and articulate federal laws and regulations pertaining to FOIA/PA document review & final document disposition
• Ability to use (or be trained in) FOIAXpress application in order to apply redactions to non-releasable records
• Ability to communicate with senior level officials within the NRC
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing with employees, management, licensees, requesters, and other external stakeholders, and other Federal agency entities regarding FOIA/PA related concerns.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to read, write, speak and understand English
• Ability to use Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams, and Outlook proficiently.

DESIRED SKILLS:

• Experience using FOIAXpress is strongly preferred, as that is what NRC uses
• JD Degree is preferred, though not required