Summary
Make an impact while you learn. The Semester of Service Program offers students a volunteer opportunity to support real Federal missions, gaining hands-on experience and valuable career-ready skills. Students must be enrolled not less than half-time in an accredited trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or other accredited educational institution, and participation must be with the permission of the institution at which the student is enrolled.
This job is open to
Students
Current students enrolled in an accredited high school, college or graduate institution.
Duties
Researches federal-sector labor and employment law, public-sector labor policy, and HR/organizational governance, including collective bargaining, regulatory interpretation, and practical effects. Designs innovative research frameworks, and produces well-reasoned analytical memoranda, notices of proposed rulemakings, and other work product.
- Gather and synthesize data from internal and external sources to support evidence-based decision-making.
- Maintain documentation of research methodologies, policy drafts, and approval processes for transparency and accountability.
- Benchmark organizational policies against industry standards to ensure competitiveness and compliance.
- Support strategic planning initiatives through research on labor market trends and workforce demographics.\
- Analyzes federal-sector labor and employment law, public-sector labor policy, and HR/organizational governance, including collective bargaining, regulatory interpretation, and practical effects. Produces well-reasoned analytical memoranda, notices of proposed rulemakings, and other work product.
- Prepare reports and recommendations based on research findings to inform leadership and stakeholders.
- Monitor legislative and regulatory changes to assess potential impacts on organizational policies and procedures.
- Analyze workforce data to identify gaps and inform talent acquisition and retention strategies.
- Analyzes federal-sector labor and employment law, public-sector labor policy, and HR/organizational governance, including collective bargaining, regulatory interpretation, and practical effects. Produces well-reasoned analytical memoranda, notices of proposed rulemakings, and other work product.
- Prepare reports and recommendations based on research findings to inform leadership and stakeholders.
- Monitor legislative and regulatory changes to assess potential impacts on organizational policies and procedures.
- Analyze workforce data to identify gaps and inform talent acquisition and retention strategies.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S National studying in the U.S. or abroad. International students on valid visas may participate if they meet applicable immigration, visa, and agency authorities.
- Be enrolled not less than half-time in an accredited trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or other accredited educational institution.
- 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 Federal agency 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.
Qualifications
Applicants will be considered based on their knowledge, skills or abilities related to project needs. Specifically, applicants should:
- Strong research skills and the ability to evaluate and summarize credible technical and policy information.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts to nontechnical audiences.
- Ability to create reports, presentations, practical guidance, training materials, and process documentation.
- Careful attention to detail and the ability to handle sensitive information with discretion.
You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Education
To qualify, you must be enrolled not less than half-time in an accredited trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, 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.
All Education must be accredited by an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.) Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accredited institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants may verify accreditation at the following website: Accreditation. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by OPM accordingly
Additional information
This is an Open Continuous announcement. Applicants will be referred periodically throughout the announcement period, at any time a vacancy becomes available.
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.
Relocation expenses will not be paid.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across OPM.
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document that you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application: http://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_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.
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.
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.
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.
Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
In order to qualify for this position, your resume must provide sufficient experience and/or education, knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are being considered. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your resume (two or fewer pages) showing:
- Your work experience to include 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.
2. Proof of current enrollment not less than half-time in a trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or other accredited educational institution.
Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.
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 12/31/2026 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.
- 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://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, 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.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated. You will receive another notification about the status of your application.
We expect to make a job offer within 40 days after the closing date of the announcement. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.