FOIA Team Lead

Overview

FWI is building a team to support Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) operations for the National Park Service (NPS) Information Resources Directorate. NPS manages over 420 park units across the United States and its territories, with FOIA obligations that have grown exponentially each year. The Team Lead will serve as the primary contractor point of contact for all technical direction and coordination, bridging intake management, records processing, search coordination, and administrative support to ensure NPS meets its statutory and regulatory obligations. This role is responsible for managing and coordinating contractor FOIA Analysts, ensuring compliance with DOI and NPS FOIA requirements, and delivering accurate, timely, and compliant FOIA support operations that protect the public’s right of access to government records across the NPS enterprise.

FWI is expanding rapidly and has been recognized as a 2024 and 2025 Top Workplace by the Washington Post, offering excellent growth opportunities in a collaborative environment.

Work Schedule and Location:

On-Site: This full-time on-site position will work Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm in Washington, DC at National Park Service facilities.

Responsibilities

• Manage and direct all FOIA Analyst FTEs, including task assignment, internal workload distribution, and staff performance
• Manage FOIA intake processes including monitoring FOIAXpress, mail, fax, and email accounts; analyze incoming requests for procedural deficiencies; draft acknowledgment letters with fee category assignments, expedited processing determinations, and fee waivers
• Direct and monitor records searches across NPS offices, park units, and personnel; ensure proper search documentation; provide guidance and hands-on training to records custodians
• Process FOIA records including applying exemptions, redacting protected information, annotating exemptions, and preparing agency responses discussing bases for release determinations
• Prepare and coordinate internal and external correspondence, final response packages, and Vaughn indices for NPS FOIA Officer approval
• Conduct legal research of applicable FOIA statutes and regulations; consult with Office of the Solicitor attorneys and other stakeholders as needed
• Identify and flag deliberative/pre-decisional information and potential White House equities for Federal staff review
• Maintain accurate electronic case files and FOIAXpress data; prepare weekly leadership reports, monthly data quality audit reports, and custom reports as needed
• Ensure Section 508 compliance on all documents and materials prepared for website posting; perform case file close-out and archiving

Qualifications

Required: 

• Associate’s degree or equivalent experience
• Minimum three (3) years of full-time experience performing FOIA support services or substantially similar FOIA-related functions
• Ability to support the processing, tracking, coordination, review, administration, and management of FOIA requests in a federal or comparable environment
• Expert-level proficiency in MS Word and Adobe (certificates of training at an expert skill level such as Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) or Adobe Certified Professional)
• Highly experienced with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel), Adobe Acrobat, and electronic FOIA processing and e-discovery tools
• Technical knowledge of the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552, sufficient to determine what information is or is not covered and to properly analyze documents and identify exempt information
• Knowledge of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, including the technical ability to ensure electronically fillable forms are 100% free of accessibility errors
• Experience leading, directing, or supervising a team of FOIA professionals, including assigning work, monitoring performance, and ensuring deadlines are met 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills to assist, interpret, track, and document casework

Why Join Our Team

At FWI, we place the highest importance on creating an exceptional employee experience. You'll have opportunities to achieve your career aspirations through internal promotions, professional development, and other recognition and rewards programs. Join our team and take advantage of the many benefits we offer, including:

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Long-term and Short-term Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance
• 401(k) Plan
• Holiday Pay
• Paid Time Off

FWI is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets. 

Pay Range

Negotiable