NEPA Policy Development/Analysis

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.

Duties

Term: Spring 2027 (90 day term between mid-January and mid-June) Work Schedule and Flexibilities: Student hours can be flexible based on their availability. This vacancy will be open until Thursday, October 29th, 2026 at 11:59pm ET or until 25 applications have been received. The vacancy will close on whichever day the first of these conditions are met. The student will help with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) policy development. This includes reviewing and assisting with the development of Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) National Policy Memoranda (NPMs) and reviewing Department-wide NEPA Secretarial Orders and policies. The student will also assist with developing BIA-wide NEPA training.

Qualifications and evaluation

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.

Education

To qualify, you must be enrolled not less than half-time in an accredited 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.

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. 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 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/13085634 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.

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 junior college, 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).