FOIA Specialist Arlington County's Police Department (ACPD) is seeking a highly organized and time-conscious FOIA Specialist to assist with managing requests submitted under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This position engages directly with members of the community to facilitate public records requests by identifying, gathering, and reviewing responsive documents and digital evidence. The role is responsible for ensuring all records are properly prepared and redacted in full compliance with Virginia FOIA and applicable legal standards. The selected candidate will communicate professionally, both verbally and in writing, while representing the Department in interactions with the public, internal staff, and external partners. This position sits within the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), whose mission is to support the Police Department's overall mission by developing and implementing sound regulations and policies and by ensuring that the Department's actions uphold the highest standards of integrity, comply with governing laws and policies, and align with established professional standards.
Responsibilities
Major Job Duties:
Assisting with the intake of and response to FOIA requests; Analyzing incoming requests to determine compliance with Virginia FOIA standards and departmental procedures, including identifying applicable exemptions; Collecting and examining responsive documents and digital evidence to determine releasability and ensuring all redactions comply with Virginia FOIA, applicable statutes, and departmental policies; Supporting the management of the Department's records repository in GovQA and collaborating with the Office of the County Attorney on the redaction of body-worn and in-car camera video; Maintaining accurate logs and documentation of requests, monitoring deadlines, and providing regular updates to the FOIA Officer or supervising staff; Maintaining knowledge of and contributing to the development of departmental policies, procedures, and other written directives; Attending applicable training provided by the Virginia FOIA Council and the Office of the County Attorney to stay current on FOIA guidelines; and Performing other related duties as assigned to support the Department's operational needs. The ideal candidate will have the following: Knowledge of Virginia FOIA as it applies to law enforcement records; Strong written and verbal communication skills, including conveying complex and confidential information clearly and concisely; Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Axon, GovQA, and the Department's Law Enforcement Records Management System (LERMS); Ability to gather, organize, evaluate, and analyze data and to manage timelines effectively; and Ability to solve loosely defined problems and work independently with minimal supervision.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Public Policy, or a related field; and Some experience in public administration and general research in public policy, along with Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams, etc.).Substitution: Additional qualifying experience can be substituted for the educational requirement. A Master's degree or higher may be substituted for some of the experience requirement.
Desirable Qualifications:- Preference may be given to candidates with one or more of the following:
- Some experience working as a Paralegal; Experience applying Virginia FOIA requirements to law enforcement records; Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams, etc.); and
- Experience using the GovQA platform.
Required Skills:- Business Acumen
- Interpersonal Skills
- MathematicsOrganizational Knowledge
- Problem Solving
- Reading and Writing
