The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Officer & Project Manager is a position within the Executive Office that is responsible for developing, coordinating, and maintaining communication among external stakeholders on behalf of the Chicago Housing Authority and ensuring compliance with the Illinois FOIA. The FOIA Officer responds to information requests received by the agency, both via FOIA and non-FOIA mediums. The position manages relationships with external partners, is responsible for responding to public inquiries and comments, and creating reporting documents for internal and external reporting purposes. The FOIA Officer & Project Manager works closely and cooperatively with the General Counsel’s office, Communications, Government and External Affairs and the Executive Office.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Respond to all Freedom of Information Act requests received by CHA which includes the following:
- Coordinate with internal departments to process requests and collect responsive documents.
- Collaborate with outside agencies as necessary.
- Draft all FOIA correspondence and responses.
- Researches, examines, and analyzes documents in response to FOIA requests and makes appropriate redactions of exempt information, consistent with the Illinois FOIA.
- Recognize priorities and independently organize workflow to meet deadlines.
- Coordinate responses to non-FOIA Information requests, including inquiries from external government agencies/offices and academia.
- Plan and develop responses to public comments made at Board of Commissioner meetings.
- Assist Government and External Affairs with coordinating and preparing briefing materials, reports, and other research outputs for internal and external use.
- Performs administrative and organizational work, including records management and data tracking
- Manage special projects and strategic initiatives, including executive correspondence.
- Other duties as assigned by supervisor.
Qualifications
This position requires a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree. A minimum of 1 - 2 years of experience working directly with the Freedom of Information Act. Strong knowledge in data analysis, research, and project management is required. The incumbent must be self-directed, motivated, team-oriented, and work independently on complex and crucial projects. This position requires effective and strong communication skills, both verbal and written, and interpersonal skills to work with a diverse staff of managerial and professional staff to coordinate the completion of assignments and effectively communicate project deliverables and processes. The incumbent must exercise objective judgment, maintain confidentiality, and work on multiple projects simultaneously.
Salary Range: $70,000 - $80,000
Grade: S7
FLSA: Exempt
Union: None