Interdisciplinary Resource Protection and Law (IRPL) Training Content Update

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
Location: Department of Interior Office of Employee Development (Remote) Work Schedule and Flexibilities: Flexible to student's school schedule with an expectation that they will be available during business hours for occasional meetings. 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 DOI Office of Employee Development provides training and professional development for employees responsible for cultural and natural resource management across the Department of the Interior. The National Park Service (NPS) Interdisciplinary Resource Protection and Law (IRPL) course is an established professional development course that provides interdisciplinary training on the legal and policy framework governing resource protection and management. The student volunteer will support a structured review of IRPL course content to help ensure that training materials remain current, accurate, and relevant. The project will involve reviewing existing course materials and authoritative legal and policy sources, identifying content that may require revision, documenting recommended updates, and developing a sustainable system for tracking course content and future changes. The student will work with Cultural Resources Training Program staff, course instructors, and subject-matter experts to understand how changes in laws, regulations, policies, guidance, and professional practice affect training content. The student will not provide legal advice or independently determine the substantive accuracy of legal information; rather, the student will conduct research and organize information for review by qualified DOI subject-matter experts. The project provides an opportunity for a student to gain practical experience in federal resource management, environmental and cultural resource law and policy, adult learning, curriculum development, information management, and project management. 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
Applicants will be considered based on their knowledge, skills or abilities related to project needs. Specifically, applicants should be junior college or college students. Ideal applicants would have an interest in developing adult training in federal resource management and/or have an interest in cultural resources, natural resources, environmental policy, public lands, law or a related field.

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/13086344 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.