ADMIN & OFFICE SUPPORT STUDENT TRAINEE (ADMIN & ANALYSIS) Job

Vacancy No. DCSA-26-13044067-P Department Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency
Salary $42,117.00 to $75,059.00 Grade 5 to 7
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 9/1/2026 Close Date 9/30/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Fort Meade, MDBoyers, PAQuantico, VAStafford County, VA


ADMIN & OFFICE SUPPORT STUDENT TRAINEE (ADMIN & ANALYSIS)

Department of Defense
Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency
Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency

Summary

The DCSA Student Experience (DSE) '27 Cohort. Open to undergraduate and graduate students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0, who will remain full-time students through October 2028. Summer Cohort Start Date: 31 May 2027 (alternate: 14 June 2027); End Date: 20 August 2027. Students must attend for a minimum of 10 weeks (400 hours).

Selection Office(s): Equal Employment; Comm. & Congressional Affairs; Acquisition & Tech., Cyber; Policy, Government & Risk Mngmt; or Privacy, Civil Liberties, & FOIA

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Students

Current students enrolled in an accredited high school, college or graduate institution.

Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to: Students, as described in the "Qualifications" and "Education Requirement" section of this announcement.

Duties

This is a temporary position NTE 04 September 2027.

As a ADMIN & OFFICE SUPPORT STUDENT TRAINEE (ADMIN & ANALYSIS) you will be responsible for the following duties:

  • Assists in business process assessments, mapping, documentation and improvement.
  • Assist with development, maintenance and/or improvement of models, tools, applications and studies.
  • Assist in the acquisition and assembly of data.
  • Gather data as well as conduct research and analysis.
  • With oversight and guidance, assist in the creation and development of accurate and thorough briefings, presentations, placemats, dashboards, maps and other articles.
  • With oversight and guidance, conduct fact-finding analysis.
  • Conduct basic research and analysis as well as assist in identifying areas requiring improvements in efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Assist in the formulation of analytically based advice concerning proposed or enacted policy or procedural changes.
  • Assist and/or support project working groups and continuous process improvement reviews.
  • Assist in determining risks, benefits and concerns.
  • Support efforts to meet goals and timelines.
  • Apply basic statistical and data analytics while assisting in gap analysis and the interpretation of data.
  • Provide recommendations related to areas for improvement.
  • Identifies roadblocks and obstacles to implementation and effectively communicates those items needing higher review through proper channels.
  • Support Program Management activities requiring the development of plans, goals, objectives, for long- and short-range implementation.
  • Synthesize administrative processes to support and to define capabilities as well as enhance mission portfolios.
  • Assists in the review and analysis of administrative directives and policies issued by internal and external organizations, recommends the establishment of and prepares administrative policies and procedures for implementation.
  • Assist with mission planning, action/task completion and engagements.
  • Support the development of policies, procedures and technical aspects supporting efficient program operation.
  • Support the development of planning guidance, instructions, directives, programs and policies.
  • Assist in coordinating, controlling, providing, or obtaining a wide range of administrative functions.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

  • Must be a US citizen
  • Selective Service Requirement: Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. For more information http://www.sss.gov
  • Resume and supporting documents received by 11:59PM EST will be considered
  • This is a Drug Testing designated position
  • Position is a (DCIPS) position in the Excepted Service under U.S.C. 1601
  • Work Schedule: Full Time
  • Overtime: Occasionally
  • Tour of Duty: Flexible
  • PCS (Permanent Change of Station): Not Authorized (Relocation expenses or housing will NOT be provided by the agency)
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Non-Exempt
  • Financial Disclosure: Not Required
  • Telework Eligibility: This position is telework eligible but is not a full-time telework position. The incumbent will be required to report to the office on a routine basis.
  • Supervisors may approve situational telework on a case-by-case, temporary basis for limited situations.
  • If selected, the incumbent must obtain and maintain appropriate security clearance as indicated in job announcement.
  • Incumbent must be enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program with a full-time course load at the time of application, for the semester prior to the Summer Cohort, and following participation in the Summer Cohort.
  • Selected students must maintain full-time enrollment through October 2028. Students not intending to maintain full-time enrollment through October 2028 will be marked ineligible.
  • Incumbent must have and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale. Grade-point averages are rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9.
  • DSE Summer ’27 Cohort Start Date: 31 May 2027 (alternate – 14 June 2027); End Date: 20 August 2027. Students must attend for a minimum of 10 weeks (400 hours).
  • Students selected for the internship program must send an official transcript with Spring 2027 semester/quarter grades and proof of full-time student status to Student Programs prior to their start date.
  • This is not a developmental career ladder opportunity - this position will be filled at the GG-05 or GG-07 depending on applicant qualifications and organizational requirements.

Qualifications

To qualify at the GG-05 level, you must meet the criteria specified below:

  • Completion of 1 full academic year of post-high school study by June 2027 (spring quarter/semester);
  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher at time of application. A GPA of 3.0 must be maintained throughout the duration of the program; and
  • Maintain a full-time student status (as defined by your university or college) through October 2028
  • NOTE: Freshman receiving Pass (P)/Fail (F) grades their first semester must receive all P's to maintain eligibility

To qualify at the GG-07 level, you must meet the criteria specified below:
  • Completion of 4 academic years of post-high school education leading to a bachelor's or equivalent degree (expected graduation date of June 2027 or earlier); and
  • Enrolled as full-time student in a graduate program for Fall 2027; and
  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher at time of application. A GPA of 3.0 or higher must be maintained throughout the duration of the program; and
  • Maintain a full-time student status (as defined by your university or college) through October 2028.

Students who successfully complete the Summer 2027 Cohort may be considered for participation with the Summer 2028 Cohort, pending educational qualification status. Students graduating prior to October 2028 from their current college/university must intend to continue their education and be enrolled as full-time students through October 2028. Proof of this enrollment and full-time status will be required prior to returning for the Summer 2028 Cohort.

Dual Enrollment High School Student are not eligible.

All applicants must submit college or university unofficial transcripts as proof of enrollment in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program, current enrollment in a full-time course load and to confirm GPA requirements. See below for further instructions on transcripts.

**PLEASE NOTE** - This is not a developmental career ladder opportunity - this position will be filled at the GG-05 or GG-07 depending on applicant qualifications and organizational requirements.

Specifically you will be evaluated on the following competencies
:
  1. Communication: Written and oral communication techniques sufficient to develop and deliver briefings, project papers, status/staff reports and correspondence to managers to foster understanding and acceptance of findings and recommendations
  2. Interpersonal Skills: Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations
  3. Teamwork: Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals
  4. Problem Solving: Identifies and analyzes problems; uses sound reasoning to arrive at conclusions; finds alternative solutions to complex problems; distinguishes between relevant and irrelevant information to make logical judgments
  5. Attention to Detail: Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail
  6. Ability to research, analyze and present information

Education

All applicants must submit college or university unofficial transcripts as proof of enrollment in an accredited undergraduate or graduate program, current enrollment in a full-time course load, and to confirm GPA requirement. Official Transcripts and other required Official supporting documentation must be submitted by selected students prior to their start date.

College Freshmen must also submit their high school transcript to show they meet the GPA requirement.

1st year Graduate Students must submit their transcript from their previous undergraduate program to show they meet the GPA requirement.

Transfer Students must submit their transcript from their previous institution if their GPA is not included on the unofficial transcript from their current institution.

Dual Enrollment High School Students are not eligible, as students are required to have completed High School or GED prior to application.

Superior Academic Achievement does not apply to DCIPS positions.

Failure to provide transcripts and additional documentation to support your eligibility will result in you being rated ineligible for this position.

Foreign Education: For further information, click on the following link:
https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/

Additional information

VETERANS PREFERENCE/CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL
In accordance with DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, veterans preference is not required to be applied when considering candidates with prior Federal competitive or excepted service who have completed a probationary or trial period and have not been separated for cause. Therefore, veterans preference will not be applied to applicants with current federal service, or former federal civilian service meeting the above criteria.

Re-employed Annuitant: This position does not meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf

Applicants selected from this announcement may be required to serve a two-year trial period.

If selected, Federal employees currently serving in the competitive service must acknowledge that they will voluntarily leave the competitive service by accepting an offer of employment for a DCIPS excepted service positions.

If selected, non-DCIPS candidates must acknowledge in writing that the position they have been selected for is in the excepted service and covered by DCIPS.

All Defense Intelligence positions under the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) are in the excepted service by specific statue, 10 U.S.C. 1601. This position is in the excepted service and does not confer competitive status.

For more information on the DCIPS occupational structure click here.

For more information about career advancement in DCIPS click here.


This position is subject to an initial drug screening, and random testing thereafter. A negative drug test result must be received by HR within 30 calendar days after the EOD (i.e., start date). The selectee's inability successfully pass; or refusal to conduct the test may result in: 1) the tentative or FJO being withdrawn during the recruitment process; or 2) subsequently being removed from Federal service for failure to meet a condition of employment.
You may be required to sign a "Drug Test Statement of Understanding" if you are selected for this position.

Housing/Relocation
Relocation expenses or housing benefits are NOT offered for our student positions. This position does not offer remote work. If you are selected, you will have to report to the office throughout your internship and be living within commuting distance of the office during the summer program.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the SME Resume Panel review.

Application Questionnaire: Applicants must complete a screen out questionnaire as part of the application process. Applicants identified as meeting the basic education requirement and minimum qualifications for the position may move on to the SME Resume Panel review.

HR/SME PANEL REVIEW: An HR/SME Panel will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the competencies stated below. Only the first 2 pages of your resume will be reviewed. Applicants that are found qualified will move on to the next phase of the hiring process.

Competencies: Communication, Interpersonal Skills, Teamwork, Problem Solving, Attention to Detail, and ability to research, analyze and present information.

You should list any relevant performance appraisals and incentive awards in your resume as that information may be taken into consideration during the selection process. If selected, you may be required to provide supporting documentation.

Top ranked candidates will be referred to the selecting official for further review and consideration.

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified'.

Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

All eligibility and qualifications requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Required Documents

The documents you are required to submit vary based on the authority you are using to apply (i.e., applying as a veteran, applying as a current permanent Federal employee, applying as a reinstatement, etc.). Your complete application includes your COMPLETE resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.

The following documents are REQUIRED:


1. Your resume:

  • IMPORTANT UPDATE: Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages. If your resume exceeds the two-page limit, you will be removed from consideration for this announcement. The resume and required supporting documentation should provide the minimum qualifications and relevant experience for the announced position. Must include the work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment, and duties performed. If multiple resumes are submitted by an applicant, only the last resume submitted will be reviewed for qualifications and referred for selection consideration, if eligible. The resume must not be more than 5MB and should be saved and uploaded as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX). We do not accept PDF portfolio files. Page margins should be 0.5 inches, and font styles must be legible. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text. We recommend using a font like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans.
  • Additional guidance on writing a federal resume can be found at: USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job? The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started.
  • If you submit more than one copy of your resume, only the most recent version will be reviewed. The latest timestamp will be used to determine which version of your resume is "most recent."
  • If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations and you will not be considered for this vacancy.
  • Narrative responses in the assessment questionnaire do not replace content in your resume or vise a versa. Experience must be described in both places for qualification determinations.
  • Resumes should NOT include: Classified information/SSN/Photo of yourself/personal information (gender, religion, affiliation etc., Encrypted digitally signed docs). Resumes with this prohibited information will be automatically ineligible for consideration.
  • For qualifications determinations your resume must contain the dates of employment (i.e., Month/Year to present. Hours per Week).
  • If your resume does not clearly outline details for each position as noted, you may be deemed "not referred" for this position.
  • Additional guidance on writing a federal resume can be found at: USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job? The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started.
2. Transcripts:
  • This position has a degree or education requirement so you are required to submit a copy of your transcript. We accept unofficial transcripts, as long as they contain your name, the name of the school, the date and degree that was awarded, and the list of classes and credits earned. Unofficial transcripts may be obtained by your registrar's office and uploaded as a PDF document.
NOTE: Do not provide links, screenshots, or pictures of your transcript.
3. SF50
  • All current and former civilian Federal employees must submit a copy of your MOST RECENT SF50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing your tenure, grade and step, salary, and type of position occupied (i.e., Excepted or Competitive); or similar Notification of Personnel Action documentation, i.e., Transcript of Service, Form 1150, etc. Failure to provide latest SF50 may result in you being rated ineligible for this position.
4. Veteran's Documents:
  • If applying using veteran's preference or under a Veteran's hiring authority you must submit the following documents: DD214 showing character of service, SF-15 Form and VA letter showing final percentage, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty.
NOTE: Active duty military members are not eligible for appointment unless currently on terminal leave.
PLEASE REVIEW THE BELOW LINK FOR OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS needed for proof of eligibility:
https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DODCustomersRequiredSupportingDocumentation.pdf

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date to receive consideration.

  • To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account.
  • You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application. NOTE: Resumes up to a total of two pages will be accepted. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.
  • You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement.
  • To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, https://www.usajobs.gov, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To preview the questionnaire, please go to https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13044067.

Please review the General Application Information and Definitions at:
https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DoDGenAppInfo%2012-1-2020.pdf?ver=ECNbdsHtGilTd3OENN4A0Q%3d%3d

As required by 5 C.F.R. § 302.106., DLA will provide Section 508 conformant ICT to employees with disabilities. All ICT interfaces with the public related to vacancy announcements and career transition opportunities must conform to the applicable requirements in the current ICT Standards and Guidelines (36 C.F.R. § 1194).

Agency contact information

DCSA Servicing Team
Phone
614-693-4444
Email
DHRS-DDCSA@dla.mil
Address
Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency
27130 Telegraph Road
Quantico, VA 22134
US

Next steps

Once you successfully complete the application process, you will receive a notification of receipt. Your application package will be reviewed to ensure you meet the basic eligibility and qualifications requirements, and you will receive a notification. A review will be made of your online questionnaire and the documentation you submitted to support your responses. A list of qualified applicants will be created and sent to the selecting official. All applicants reviewed and/or referred will receive a notification letter.

The selecting official may choose to conduct interviews, and once the selection is made, you will receive a notification of the decision.

*NOTE: If you submit a resume but no questionnaire, you cannot be considered for the position. If you submit a questionnaire but no resume, you cannot be considered for the position. Your application will be appropriately documented and you will be removed from further competition against this announcement.

REGARDING INTERVIEWS: Interviews may be required for this position. Accommodations may be made to conduct telephonic interviews to preclude travel hardships for applicants. Note: Declining to be interviewed or failure to report for a scheduled interview will be considered as a declination for further consideration for employment against this vacancy.

The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the point of contact for this job announcement. Your requests for reasonable accommodation will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency

Our Mission
Through vetting, industry engagement, education, and counterintelligence and insider threat support, secure the trustworthiness of the United States Government's workforce, the integrity of its cleared contractor support, and the uncompromised nature of its technologies, services, and supply chains.

Our Vision
DCSA's elite security experts illuminate national security risks to empower faster, smarter decision-making that protects American innovation and resilience to enable mission success.

DCSA Strategic Execution Plan
The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency stands at the intersection of government-wide trusted workforce, national security, and industrial base protection. Guided by the Secretary of War's National Defense Strategy, Deputy Secretary's Warfighting Acquisition Transformation efforts, and Trusted Workforce 2.0, our mission is to deliver data-driven, threat-informed, and customer-trusted security services at scale.

The FY2026 - 2028 DCSA Strategic Execution Plan defines six strategic priorities for the agency:
  1. Deliver NBIS
  2. Deploy NI2 to Modernize Industrial Security
  3. Modernize and Sustain Trusted Workforce Determinations
  4. Rebuild the Workforce Compact
  5. Operate as a Customer-Centric Business
  6. Drive Audit-Ready Integration and Agency Efficiency with AI


Learn more about our student programs: https://www.dcsa.mil/About-Us/Careers/Student-Programs/

Agency contact information

DCSA Servicing Team
Phone
614-693-4444
Email
DHRS-DDCSA@dla.mil
Address
Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency
27130 Telegraph Road
Quantico, VA 22134
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

http://www.dcsa.mil