Clarification from the agency

Open to U.S. Citizens who are students currently enrolled full or part-time in an accredited college or university program, classified or academically ranked by semester hours as a Sophomore, Junior, Senior or Graduate student.

This is not a summer job. The position is potentially ongoing, evaluated quarterly, until graduation from an academic institution.

Are you interested in government oversight, public policy, and public service? Do you enjoy using data to tell compelling stories? If, so, you may be the perfect candidate for this position with the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General's Research and Insights Solution Center (RISC). As a student co-op, you'll be part of a high-performing research team producing white papers, data dashboards, and innovative digital content on critical issues affecting the U.S. Postal Service. Our recent work addresses topics including access to government services through the postal network, international approaches to adjusting the postal universal service obligation, and experiences in delivery fleet acquisition and deployment. We are seeking a student who can support this work by helping us create data dashboards, analyze data, and tell stories with data.

You'll make valuable contributions from day one by continuously learning, engaging in diverse sets of experiences, and building relationships across the organization. RISC offers the opportunity for development in many areas including research, analytics, engineering, business intelligence, customer experience, communication, and critical thinking to support investigators, auditors, and operational groups.

The Student Cooperative Program is available for continuous employment throughout the year, while enrolled in school.

We are looking for a high-energy student who is intellectually curious and a critical thinker. A qualified candidate will have strong experience using and interpreting quantitative data, possess great written communication skills, and have experience editing and producing different kinds of data-based content. As a co-op, you will be exposed to a variety of projects and tasks in the Research division. Although the duties and responsibilities associated with this position could vary based upon the agency's needs, you may be expected to perform the following tasks:

• Create data dashboards using tools such as PowerBI and other platforms;
• Collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data, applying tools and techniques to identify and predict trends and produce insights;
• Communicate with peers and management, verbally and in writing, the status of projects, support requests, and other tasks, as assigned;
• Contribute to the research and writing of white papers and workpapers;
• Assist in the planning and day-of execution for both internal and public events, such as workshops and roundtables.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Must be able to pass a drug screening
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Moderate Background Investigation (MBI) clearance
• Must be able to work a minimum of 10 hours per week

Qualifications

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

You must meet ALL of the minimum requirements.

• Students must be currently enrolled full or half-time in an accredited college or university program, classified or academically ranked by semester hours as a Sophomore, Junior, Senior or Graduate student graduating no sooner than May 2027. (MUST SUBMIT TRANSCRIPT STATING CURRENT ENROLLMENT STATUS, GPA AND IN GOOD STANDING)

• Must be in academic good standing as defined by the college or university, earning at least a 2.75 GPA on a 4.0 GPA scale

• Must be able to report to work year-round in the USPS OIG Arlington, VA, office a minimum of 10 hours per week (Monday-Friday) during core business hours.

• Knowledge of creating visualizations or analytical models using Power BI, ArcGIS, other business intelligence software, whether in work, school, or another environment.
• Experience using Microsoft Office programs including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Well-developed data analysis skills and knowledge of quantitative research methods.
• Proven ability to communicate research findings through visual, audio, and/or video web content.
• Experience creating and delivering presentations.
• Strong writing skills and experience in drafting and editing a variety of written products, such as research papers, short reports, workpapers, and summaries.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to work both individually and collaboratively in a fast-paced, high-profile environment.
• Experience editing and proofreading, including ensuring adherence to a style guide.
• Experience using Microsoft Office programs including Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

• Possess skills or training in the creation of data dashboards.
• Experience producing a variety of content to communicate findings, including written and visual products.
• Demonstrated ability to collect and analyze data, including trends and projections, and use qualitative/quantitative research tools to generate insights.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills for presenting findings and collaborating with teams.

How you will be evaluated

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

The Human Resources Office will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications required for this position.

You will no longer be considered for this position if you:

• Receive a zero (0) rating on any evaluation factor
• Fail to attach all required documentation
• Submit a resume that exceeds the two-page limit
• If your application materials indicate that you are not minimally-qualified for this position
• If you fail to qualify on the interview

You must submit all required documents by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date of this announcement, Vacancy Announcement EX-26-106B-12973379-PC, by closing date 06/15/2026.

Next steps