FOIA Coordinator

Career Guide

A FOIA Coordinator manages public records requests under the Freedom of Information Act and similar state laws. The role ensures requests are logged, reviewed, routed to the right offices, answered on time, and released in a compliant and consistent way while balancing transparency with legal exemptions.

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Key Responsibilities

Receive and log incoming public records requests
Confirm request scope and clarify with requesters as needed
Assign searches to internal offices and track progress
Collect records and verify completeness of searches
Review records for sensitive content and applicable exemptions
Coordinate with legal counsel on complex or high risk requests
Apply redactions using approved standards and tools
Prepare response letters and release packages
Manage deadlines and escalation for overdue items
Maintain case files and audit ready documentation
Support appeals, complaints, and disputes related to disclosures
Report metrics such as volume, response time, and backlog
Improve request workflows and update internal guidance
Train staff on records handling and request procedures

Top Skills for Success

Records Management

Legal Research

Policy Interpretation

Writing

Stakeholder Communication

Conflict De escalation

Attention to Detail

Deadline Management

Case Management

Redaction

Privacy Compliance

Information Security Awareness

Process Improvement

Data Reporting

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Senior FOIA Coordinator

Public Records Supervisor

Records Manager Compliance Manager Privacy Officer

Open Government Program Manager

Legal Operations Specialist

Transition Opportunities

Paralegal Contracts Administrator Risk Analyst Policy Analyst Information Governance Analyst

Internal Audit Associate

Program Manager

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

FOIA and State Public Records Law KnowledgeExemption AnalysisRedaction StandardsRecords Retention ScheduleseDiscovery BasicsCase Management SystemsMetrics Reporting

Development SuggestionsBuild a simple end to end playbook for handling requests, practice redaction on sample documents, and partner with legal and records teams to learn exemptions and retention rules. Track your own weekly metrics to strengthen reporting and backlog management.

Market Intelligence Report

FOIA Coordinator is part of the Compliance category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

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Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUSD 45,000 to 60,000

Mid LevelUSD 60,000 to 85,000

Senior LevelUSD 85,000 to 115,000

Growth Trend

Stable demand. Hiring is driven by legal compliance needs, rising request volume, and backlogs in public agencies.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

Federal agenciesState agenciesCity governmentsCounty governmentsPublic universitiesPublic school districtsLaw enforcement agenciesPublic hospitals

Industry Sectors

GovernmentHigher EducationPublic SafetyHealthcareTransportationUtilities

Recommended Next Steps

Review FOIA fundamentals and your state public records law requirements

Create a repeatable intake checklist and deadline tracker

Learn redaction best practices and validate them with legal counsel

Improve search coordination with standard requests to each department

Set up basic reporting for volume, cycle time, and backlog

Build templates for acknowledgment letters and final responses

Document decisions and exemptions in a consistent case file format

Seek cross training with records management, privacy, and information security teams