OFFICE SPECIALIST-UMP - FOIA PROGRAM SPECIALIST

Position Overview

As an Office Specialist- FOIA Program Specialist for the Division of Justic Services; receives responses to FOIA requests from ISP employees as requested by the FOIA Officer; reviews the documents for compliance with FOIA looking for exempt provisions and recommending redactions to documents as necessary; serves as a FOIA liaison with the Illinois State Police Legal Office FOIA Unit;  Inquiries myriad data sources and creates responses to requests; reviews the documents for accuracy prior to release. Coordinates the release of information where necessary ensuring compliance with state law as well as applicable privacy rights; Provides guidance and training to other Records Unit staff as needed; advises immediate supervisor regarding additional training needs; coordinates with the ISP Legal Office FOIA Unit to obtain additional training regarding proper ISP FOIA procedures, processes, rules and regulations when necessary; Duties include updating databases, opening and distributing mail, answering phones, keyboarding, filing, photocopying and editing correspondence and reports.; reviews correspondence for neatness, accuracy and proper grammar, proofreads, edits or finalizes materials prepared by other staff. 

About the Agency

​​The Illinois State Police strives for excellence seeking to be one of the premiere policing agencies in the country. Our core values are Integrity, Service, and Pride. We are seeking individuals with similar values to join us on our mission to promote public safety.

Essential Functions

• Serves as a FOIA Program Specialist regarding FOIA issues performing complex and specialized technical and paraprofessional functions for the Program Administration Bureau, Patrol and Investigative Records Section, FOIA / Subpoena / External Request / Expungement Unit. 
• Processes Subpoenas, External Requests, and Expungements.
• Serves as a subject matter expert within the PAB Records Management Section regarding FOIA.
• Provides general office management and support services to the PAB Records Management Section.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of two (2) years of secretarial/business college and one (1) year of office experience, or completion of high school and three (3) years of office experience or three (3) years of independent business experience.
• Qualifying state employees, in the employee Upward Mobility Program, may complete combinations of specific proficiency tests and training programs leading to a certificate of proficiency in lieu of the stated requirements for this classification. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers one (1) year of experience applying the principals of FOIA in a law enforcement environment.
• Prefers two (2) years of experience applying the principals of FOIA.
• Prefers two (2) years of experience providing administrative and/or clerical support in a law enforcement environment.
• Prefers three (3) years of experience writing in a business or professional environment.
• Prefers three (3) years of experience utilizing Microsoft Office products, including but not limited to Access.
• Prefers extensive knowledge of composition, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Prefers the ability to follow oral or written instructions.
• Prefers experience with answering phones and/or email in a business or professional environment. 

Conditions of Employment

• Successfully pass background investigation.
• Successfully pass drug screen.
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job descriptions. 

Benefits Package

The Illinois State Police offers a robust benefit package including:

• Health, life, vision, and dental insurance.
• 12 weeks paid maternity/paternity leave.
• Pension Plan
• Deferred Compensation, and other pre-tax benefit programs.
• Employees earn twelve (12) paid sick days annually.
• Ten to twenty-five (10-25) paid vacation days based on years of service.
• Employees earn three (3) paid personal days pro-rated based on start date.
• Thirteen-Fourteen (13-14) paid state holidays annually.