FDA Careers – Scientific Redactor

Job Responsibilities:

• Analyzes information needs, determines an information plan, and, by careful evaluation, ensures that information is within the guidelines provided for under the Freedom of Information Act, Trade Secrets Act, Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and related statutes and regulations implemented by FDA.
• Applies knowledge to appropriately identify issues, problems, or opportunities, and determines if action is needed. Applies investigative techniques to acquire new data. Applies useful, accurate and comprehensive models and methods.
• Plan and organize requests for information and manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Sets clear priorities, goals and expectations, tracks progress against goals, ensures feedback and addresses problems and issues promptly by maintaining a good working relationship with supervisor and team leader.
• Ensures that all responses are accurate and contain only information which is disclosable as provided under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and FDA policy. FOIA requests and other disclosure projects are assessed, evaluated and completed in a timely manner. Reviews and organizes materials, documents, and records for disclosure to ensure that they are accurate, clear, and concise.
• Evaluates information to ensure that it is complete and accurate and follows up to make sure that agreements and commitments are fulfilled in a timely manner.
• Applies redaction skills and good judgment in appropriately redacting scientifically rich information and documents by identifying and removing confidential information before public disclosure.
• Provides support to agency representatives from the Office of Chief Counsel in the collection and/or preparation of background information and testimony of FDA officials in court cases on defending FDA’s position on the disclosure of requested information. Prepares recommendation for document request denials for information exempt from disclosure.
• Works cooperatively with others to share information and to build and maintain mutually beneficial partnerships to accomplish objectives and achieve results.
• Maintains an awareness of current developments in CDER and uses this knowledge in the process of assembling appropriate information for disclosure. Seeks information to understand problems, needs and expectations and methodically and systematically establishes reliable data to support disclosure decisions.
• Utilizes processes and methods of collecting and synthesizing information from various sources in an objective, unbiased manner; understands, interprets, and makes sound decisions relative to information disclosure.
• Informed or awareness of scientific terminology and concepts and may be required to consult with FDA’s program areas on important and sensitive issues and inform the supervisor of sensitive and/or challenging requests.

Job Requirements:

• Scientific knowledge through higher education and/or work experience to understand, interpret, and make sound decisions relative to disclosure of scientific information that may be considered confidential under the Freedom of Information Act, Trade Secrets Act, and the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and related statutes and regulations implemented by FDA.