Semester of Service Volunteer - Museum Collections & Public Engagement Volunteer

Summary

Make an impact while you learn. The Semester of Service Program offers students a volunteer project-based opportunity to support Federal missions, gaining hands-on experience & valuable career-ready skills. Students must be enrolled at least half-time in an accredited trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or other accredited educational institution & participation must be with the permission of the institution at which the student is enrolled.

Learn more about this agency

Summary

Make an impact while you learn. The Semester of Service Program offers students a volunteer project-based opportunity to support Federal missions, gaining hands-on experience & valuable career-ready skills. Students must be enrolled at least half-time in an accredited trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or other accredited educational institution & participation must be with the permission of the institution at which the student is enrolled.

Learn more about this agency

Overview

Help

Accepting applications

This job will close when we have received 25 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more

Location

2 vacancies in the following location:

Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job)

2 vacancies

No matching locations found.

Work site options

Telework eligible Not applicable, this is a remote position. Remote job Yes - This volunteership may require either remote and/or hybrid scheduling. Details to be determined by the Hiring Manager. Relocation expenses reimbursed No Salary $0 - $0 without compensation Pay scale & grade

NA NA

Promotion potential NA

Learn more about pay scale and grade

Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.

Work schedule Part-time - 8-20 hours per week Travel Required Not required

Appointment type Internships - Time-limited (90-120 days) volunteer experience aligned with an academic term

Occupations and job series

• 0099 General Student Trainee

Supervisory status No Federal service type This job is in the Competitive Service Represented by a union No

Drug test Yes Security clearance Confidential Financial disclosure required No

Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.

Announcement number M/A-SVP-2026-0001 Control number 885167200

This job is open to

Help

Students

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

Duties

Help

This vacancy announcement will be open from 9/21/2026 to 9/25/2026 or when 25 applications have been received. The vacancy will close on whichever day the first of these conditions are met. If the application limit is reached on the same day the announcement opened, the open and close date will be the same. Candidates are encouraged to read the entire announcement before submitting their application packages.

The National Museum of American Diplomacy (NMAD) is seeking two Semester of Service volunteers to participate in a project focused on improving access to museum collections and strengthening educational and visitor engagement. Working across NMAD's Curatorial, Programming, and Operations teams, volunteers will contribute to a defined set of project activities that support the preservation, organization, digitization, and public presentation of museum resources. Volunteers will photograph designated collection items and prepare materials for inclusion in the museum's collections database; organize and clean up designated digital collection files; assist with the preparation of educational materials; and develop ideas for social media and other public-engagement content based on NMAD exhibits and collections. Volunteers will also gain experience with the museum's Diplomacy Simulation Program and visitor-engagement practices while supporting the presentation of museum spaces. By the conclusion of the service period, volunteers will have produced tangible collection documentation, educational materials, and public-engagement content that can be used by NMAD to enhance access to its collections and connect visitors and broader audiences with the history and practice of American diplomacy. This project provides students with hands-on experience in museum collections, educational programming, communications, and public engagement while developing skills in research, organization, writing, and project execution.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

Conditions of employment

To participate in this Program, you must:

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 for the Spring 2027 semester.

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.

Must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 out of 4.0 scale.

Qualifications

Applicants will be considered based on their knowledge, skills or abilities related to project needs.

Specifically, applicants should:

Oral communication skills for interacting with visitors and team members

Organizational skills for file cleanup, metadata entry, and maintaining collection records

Ability to work collaboratively as part of a cross-functional team (Curatorial, Programming, Operations)

Ability to exercise creativity in generating public-engagement and social media concepts

Ability to adapt communication style for different audiences (visitors, educators, general public)

Ability to learn and apply new software/database tools quickly

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 for the Spring 2027 semester. 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.

Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 out of 4.0 scale.

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.

Benefits

Help

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.

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.

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 for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application will be evaluated by Department of State personnel to determine your eligibility for the position and your application will be forwarded to the project manager for review.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Benefits

Help

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.

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.

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.

Required documents

Required Documents

Help

• Include any supporting documents that don't fit within another category or are listed in the job announcement.
• Proof of enrollment shows that you are enrolled in a school or training.
• Your resume should include relevant work experience, applicable education and your contact information. For current or previous federal employees, include the pay plan, series and grade.
• See the job announcement for what you should include in the supplemental application.
• Transcripts may support your qualifications for a federal job and can include high school, college or other schools.

To apply for this position, you must submit 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.

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

Help

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) 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 application which you must complete to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.

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/how-to/application/status.

Agency contact information

Semester of Service

Phone 000-000-0000 Fax 000-000-0000 Email SemesterofService@state.gov Address U.S. Department of State

Not accepting applications by Mail

Washington DC, District of Columbia 20005

United States

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position.

After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.

Fair and transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Financial suitability New employee probationary period

Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy

Selective Service Signature and false statements

Social security number request

Required Documents

Help

• Include any supporting documents that don't fit within another category or are listed in the job announcement.
• Proof of enrollment shows that you are enrolled in a school or training.
• Your resume should include relevant work experience, applicable education and your contact information. For current or previous federal employees, include the pay plan, series and grade.
• See the job announcement for what you should include in the supplemental application.
• Transcripts may support your qualifications for a federal job and can include high school, college or other schools.

To apply for this position, you must submit 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.

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

Help

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) 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 application which you must complete to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.

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/how-to/application/status.

Expand Hide how to apply

Agency contact information

Semester of Service

Phone 000-000-0000 Fax 000-000-0000 Email SemesterofService@state.gov Address U.S. Department of State

Not accepting applications by Mail

Washington DC, District of Columbia 20005

United States

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position.

After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.

Expand Hide next steps

Fair and transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Financial suitability New employee probationary period

Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy

Selective Service Signature and false statements

Social security number request