Freedom of Info Act Officer

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 320,000 students in 500+ schools and employing over 44,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life.  In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity.  Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

The Freedom of Information Unit within the Law Department responds to requests for information made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by reviewing requests, gathering existing documents, reviewing documents to protect student and employee privacy protected by the act and other exempted information, and transmitting documents to requestors.    

Job Summary:

The FOIA Officer reports to the Lead and Managing FOIA Officers and may perform duties for the General Counsel, Managing Deputy General Counsels, and others in the Law Department as needed.This is a full time, exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.

The FOIA Officer will be held accountable for the following responsibilities: 

• Receive, evaluate, and respond to Freedom of Information Act requests on behalf of CPS.
• Work with CPS leaders to gather and analyze public records and prepare them for release in a legally compliant manner.
• Assist and advise on various CPS efforts dealing with transparency.
• Minor administrative work in support of the unit.
• Other duties as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the FOIA Officer must possess the following qualifications: 

Education Required: 

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university

Experience Required:

• Minimum of one (1) year experience  in a professional environment such as a government office, school district, law firm, media outlet, or another large and complex organization.
• Prior experience as a FOIA officer or within Chicago Public Schools is a plus but is not required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Ability to solve problems and work independently as part of a team with some supervision.
• Strong attention to detail, especially as it relates to reviewing large quantities of records and preparing professional communications.
• Interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to build trust and work collaboratively with subject matter experts in ambiguous situations.
• Good organizational skills and ability to manage many matters simultaneously.
• Must be able to safeguard confidential information in accordance with state and federal laws with appropriate guidance.
• A desire to learn about education management, government administration and public affairs in Chicago and the State of Illinois is very helpful.

Conditions of Employment: As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.