FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT OFFICER

BID/JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION OFFICER

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Number of Positions: 1

(Additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)

Starting Annual Salary: $68,616

This position is open to the public and all current City employees covered under the City's collective bargaining agreement with AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME) - BARGAINING UNIT 1, 3, 4 & 5. Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.

BID INSTRUCTIONS: Apply on the bid site: https://chicago.taleo.net/careersection/103/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en AND

1. Check the box on your profile titled "Currently employed by the City of Chicago"

2. Enter your employee ID (located on your pay stub labeled 'payee/employee number')

3. Select your correct bargaining unit

FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL RESULT IN A REJECTED BID APPLICATION

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on 09/14/2026

Under general supervision, receives and responds to requests for information of public record, and court subpoenas using multiple resources and streams of data to research and locate relevant information, and speaks and writes about findings, and performs related duties as required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

* Responds to requests for information filed by citizens, journalists, and outside entities pursuant to the State of Illinois Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA")

* Works with staff to identify and collect responsive records, photocopy, and scan documents, and send electronically or via USPS, as required

* Researches, examines, and analyzes documents to provide responsive documents in response to FOIA requests and makes appropriate redactions of exempt information

* Resolves information requests within the required timeframes and, where appropriate, requests extensions in writing

* Assesses whether the magnitude of information requested proves burdensome in adherence with the State of Illinois Freedom of Information guidelines

* Obtains necessary information from manual, computerized and archived files, and records

* Uses online system (GovQA) to maintain and update online log of all FOIA requests

* Provides verbal and written responses, via telephone, email, or online portal, to requests for information from the general public, businesses, community organizations, governmental agencies, and others regarding departmental programs, services or matters of public record, as required

* Works with the Department of Law to respond to subpoenas for documents

* May review information to be posted onto the intranet and internet websites for accuracy regarding departmental programs and services, as required

* May represent the department at public hearings and community meetings to explain and promote city services, programs, and upcoming events, as required

Additional duties may be required for this position.

Location: 2 N. LaSalle, Suite 1100

Days: Monday - Friday

Hours: 8:30AM - 4:30PM

THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE

* Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism, Communications, English or a directly related field, plus two years research and analysis work experience; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience

Licensure, Certification, or Other Qualifications

* Certification by the State of Illinois as a Freedom of Information Officer is required, within six (6) months of hire

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS:

This position requires applicants to complete an interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position, will be selected.

Preference will be given to candidates possessing the following:

* Previous work experience working with online platforms to process information and maintain records

* Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite

* Previous work experience at a government agency or municipality responding to FOIA requests

* Previous work experience in customer service or working with the general public

* Previous work experience with GovQA

For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html

For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at:

City of Chicago:: Classification and Pay Plan

APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resource staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. To learn more about our hiring practices click here.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.

City of Chicago

Brandon Johnson, Mayor