JOURNEYMAN FOIA SPECIALIST

Company: CLJ Consulting And Contracting LLC
Location: Washington
Posted on: February 18, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Job Title: Journeyman Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Specialist Location: Onsite – VA Central Office, 811 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC Pay Range: $35 – $38 per hour Employment Type: Full-Time, Contract (Contingent upon contract award) Position Summary CLJ Consulting and Contracting LLC is seeking a Journeyman FOIA Specialist to support the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) FOIA Services program. The Journeyman Specialist performs mid-level FOIA processing with minimal supervision and is responsible for reviewing and interpreting FOIA requests, validating records searches, applying statutory exemptions, preparing releasable records, and ensuring responses meet FOIA legal and VA regulatory requirements. This role serves as a primary production processor within the FOIA workflow and supports quality, accuracy, and timeliness of case processing. The Journeyman Specialist also provides technical guidance to junior staff and contributes to maintaining consistent and defensible FOIA determinations. Key Responsibilities Review and interpret incoming FOIA requests to determine scope, complexity, and required actions. Conduct and/or validate adequate searches for responsive records across electronic and physical repositories. Coordinate taskings with program offices and subject matter experts to obtain responsive documents. Analyze records for responsiveness and releasability under FOIA and Privacy Act requirements. Apply FOIA exemptions and redactions using approved redaction software tools. Document exemption determinations and withholding rationales to maintain a defensible administrative record. Prepare releasable document packages and draft response correspondence to requesters. Ensure responses comply with statutory timelines, request categories, and fee classifications. Track case progress within FOIA case management systems and maintain accurate processing documentation. Support appeals processing and assist with litigation support documentation when required. Provide technical assistance and guidance to Junior FOIA staff on search adequacy, redactions, and response preparation. Participate in quality control reviews and workflow coordination to maintain consistent FOIA production. Required Qualifications Associate degree or higher. Minimum two (2) years of FOIA request processing experience within the last 36 months in a federal or comparable environment. Demonstrated knowledge of FOIA exemptions, request types, processing timelines, and fee categories. Experience evaluating records for responsiveness and releasability. Experience drafting FOIA response letters and summaries. Ability to conduct or validate records searches and coordinate with program offices. Proficiency using redaction software (e.g., Adobe Pro or similar tools) and FOIA case management systems. Strong written communication and documentation skills. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications. Preferred Qualifications Prior experience supporting a federal FOIA program (VA experience highly desirable). Familiarity with FOIA tracking systems (e.g., FOIAXpress, eFOIA, or similar platforms). Experience handling complex or high-visibility requests and appeals. Experience supporting FOIA backlog reduction initiatives. FOIA training or certification. Clearance Requirement Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance .

Keywords: CLJ Consulting And Contracting LLC, Olney , JOURNEYMAN FOIA SPECIALIST, Legal , Washington, Maryland