Office of the Secretary of the Interior
Make an impact while you learn. The Semester of Service Program offers students a volunteer project-based opportunity to support real Federal missions, gaining hands-on experience and valuable career-ready skills. The government-wide "Semester of Service" Student Volunteer Program enables Federal agencies to engage students in unpaid, project-based assignments of limited duration aligning with each agency's strategic priorities.
Major duties
Work Schedule and Flexibilities: Flexible with the expectation that there will be occasional meetings during business hours. Remote (100% work off site) Number of Positions: 1 Term: Spring 2027 (90 day term between mid-January and mid-June) This vacancy will be open until Thursday, October 29th, 2026 at 11:59pm ET. Candidates are encouraged to read the entire announcement before submitting their application packages. The Department of the Interior's workforce has responsibilities that may intersect with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), including cultural resource professionals, museum and collections staff, managers, project managers, archaeologists, and other employees involved in compliance, collections, consultation, or related activities. The DOI Cultural Resources Training Program is assessing opportunities to strengthen and coordinate NAGPRA-related learning across the Department. The student volunteer will conduct a structured assessment of existing NAGPRA training, DOI workforce audiences and training needs, available learning resources, and potential training partners. The project will help establish a clearer understanding of what NAGPRA training currently exists within DOI and externally, who needs different levels of training, where gaps or duplication may exist, and where OED and bureau partners could collaborate. The student will conduct research, organize information, assist with stakeholder outreach as appropriate, and develop a comprehensive set of findings and recommendations. The student will not make policy determinations or provide legal interpretations of NAGPRA. The project provides an opportunity to gain experience in federal workforce development, cultural resource management, training needs assessment, stakeholder engagement, research, program development, and organizational analysis. The government-wide "Semester of Service" Student Volunteer Program, as authorized under 5 U.S.C §31114 and 5 CFR Part 3085, enables Federal agencies to engage students in unpaid, project-based assignments of limited duration. These assignments are designed to align with each agency's strategic priorities, offering participants practical experience within Federal operations while supporting the advancement of targeted initiatives.
Qualifications
You will be considered based on their knowledge, skills or abilities related to project needs.
How to apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the 10/29/2026 of the announcement to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online assessment which you must complete to apply for the position. Complete the online assessment, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. You can view the assessment here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13086354 To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://www.usajobs.gov/), all your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://usajobshelp.opm.gov/hc/en-us/articles/52879898157843-How-to-see-your-application-and-job-status/. Paper applications and supplemental documents submitted in any other manner without prior approval from the vacancy contact will not be considered. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations should be sent to the vacancy contact listed below.
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