Summary
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.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
Open to students currently accepted for enrollment, seeking a degree in college, university, or other accredited educational institution on a full or half-time basis as defined by the educational institution.
Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (title 25, USC Section 472). Verification form BIA -4432 must be submitted with the application if claiming Indian Preference. No other documents will be accepted.
Duties
- Location: Remote (100% work off site)
Work Schedule and Flexibilities: The project may be paced according to student’s schedule and available hours. At minimum 8 hours per week is preferred.
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. Candidates are encouraged to read the entire announcement before submitting their application packages.
- The student will work with the BIA Central Office’s (national support) Branch of Environmental Services on data collection (environmental compliance audits), data analysis and research (audit findings), and policy development (EMS) support to update
- Part 59 of the Indian Affairs Manual, Chapter 2 in collaboration with BIE and other relevant offices and programs. This project will address data gaps through occasional (optional/as available) onsite travel to BIA facilities for the audits, as well
- as opportunities to engage with local Tribal government professionals during audits where a Tribal program is operating out of a BIA facility via a P.L. 93-638 agreement. Environmental compliance audits are a form of evaluation for the BIA to ensure
- that implementation of our EMS policy is effective. This is an opportunity for students with environmental, sustainability, chemical/engineering interests to learn more about developing an organizational Environmental Management System program
- evaluation through practicing onsite audits (with supervision).
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S National studying in the U.S. or abroad
- Be enrolled not less than half-time in an accredited college, university, or other accredited educational institution (at least undergraduate or above) throughout the 90 day Semester of Service opportunity.
- Students graduating before May 1, 2027 are not eligible. Selectees will be responsible for contacting a school official to sign an approval form indicating you are currently enrolled at least half-time and in good academic standing.
- Qualifying educational institutions must be located within the United States.
- Be in good academic standing as defined by your institution.
- Commit to volunteering 8 – 20 hours per week for a minimum of 90 days.
- Complete all required onboarding documentation assigned by the Department of the Interior and your academic institution.
- Agree to volunteer. This position is unpaid. No compensation, stipends, or hiring preference will be granted from this work. You may use this volunteer experience to qualify for future jobs you choose to apply for.
- Agree to understanding volunteers are not Federal employees.
- Not be a current federal employee. Current federal employees can reach out to the contact below to inquire about job detail opportunities.
Qualifications
Applicants will be considered based on their knowledge, skills or abilities related to project needs.
Environmentally-focused graduate students are preferred, however undergraduate students including underclassmen are welcome to apply.
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.
Education
To qualify, you must be enrolled not less than half-time in an accredited college, university, or other accredited educational institution. You also must be in good academic standing as defined by your institution. Attach a copy of your transcripts to your application package for verification.
Additional information
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.
This is an unpaid volunteer experience. Student volunteers are not considered Federal employees for any purpose other than injury compensation and laws related to the Federal Tort Claims Act, and service is not creditable for leave accrual or other employee benefits.
- Professional experience: Meaningful project work with clear deliverables, regular supervision and federal mentorship.
- Skill Development: Hands-on application of academic knowledge in real-world Federal operations.
- Career Exploration: Exposure to Federal missions, workplace culture, and potential career pathways.
- Protection and support.
- Coverage under Federal Tort Claims Act
- Workers' compensation for service-related injuries
- Structured onboarding and ongoing supervision
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your application will be evaluated by Department of Interior personnel to determine your eligibility for the position and your application will be forwarded to the project manager for review.
Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (Title 25, USC, Section 472). Verification Form BIA-4432 must be submitted with the application if claiming Indian Preference. Indian Preference eligibles not currently employed in Federal service may be appointed under the Excepted Service Appointment Authority Schedule A, 213.3112(a)(7). Consideration will be given to Non-Indian applicants in the absence of qualified Indian Preference eligibles.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
- Your resume (two or fewer pages) showing:
- Your experience including start and end dates.
- Education information, such as the name of your school and dates of attendance.
- Any knowledge, skills or abilities you've gained through education that relate to the project.
Note: Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications
- Proof of current enrollment not less than half-time in a college, university, or other accredited educational institution. Transcripts or a certificate of enrollment are preferred.
- BIA Form 4432 The Form BIA-4432 must be completed as stated in the Instructions on the Form and this form with must be submitted with your application (if claiming Indian preference).
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 above. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date 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/13083308
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://help.usajobs.gov/howto/application/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.
Next steps
Once your online application is received you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by DOI personnel to determine your eligibility for the position and your application will be forwarded to the opportunity manager for review.