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
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Accepting applications
Posted today · Apply by 08/05/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on August 5, 2026
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 - 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
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status No Federal service type This job is in the Competitive Service Represented by a union No
Drug test Yes Security clearance Secret Financial disclosure required No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number R/ECA-SVP-2026-0005 Control number 878306900
This job is open to
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Students
Current students enrolled in an accredited high school, college or graduate institution.
Duties
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This vacancy announcement will be open from 07/30/2026 to 08/05/2026 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.
EducationUSA and American Spaces Strategic Communications & Data Modernization Project:
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) seeks a motivated volunteer to design and deliver a self-contained strategic communications and data visualization package supporting 1) EducationUSA, the U.S. Department of State's official source on U.S. higher education, which operates a network of over 400 advising centers in more than 170 countries worldwide promotes American educational excellence to foreign students and assists accredited U.S. institutions of higher education develop competitive marketing strategies that advance America's dominance in the educational services industry, and facilitates connections with international networks and partnerships to advance research, innovation, and cutting-edge technology critical to U.S. national security and prosperity. 2) American Spaces -- With nearly 600 locations in over 140 countries, American Spaces connect the United States and communities worldwide. Managed by U.S. embassies, often in partnership with local institutions, American Spaces advance U.S. foreign policy goals. They share America's entrepreneurial spirit with the world, advancing free speech and digital freedom. By convening people and institutions to promote U.S. higher education and develop professional skills, American Spaces advance America's interests and connect future leaders to the United States.
Over the course of the 90-120 day service period, the volunteer will build a complete "Communications and Data Toolkits" for the EducationUSA and American Spaces networks, culminating in a final deliverable package presented to program leadership. This project offers hands-on experience in international education and cultural diplomacy, strategic communications design, and data visualization skills directly transferable to careers in public diplomacy, international affairs, and communications.
Project Deliverables:
The volunteer will independently design, build, and present the following:
Communications Toolkit (Weeks 1-6): Create a set of original visual communication products including a program one-pager, a leadership briefing slide deck, and a set of social-media-ready graphics that translate the Office's work on digital freedom, STEM, AI, and emerging technologies into clear, compelling public-facing messaging.
Data Visualization Dashboard (Weeks 5-10): Design a data visualization dashboard or interactive spreadsheet model that consolidates EducationUSA advising center metrics (e.g., student engagement, regional reach, program impact) from multiple existing data sources into a single, modernized reporting tool that program staff can reuse going forward.
Final Briefing and Handover Package (Weeks 10-12): Deliver a final presentation to the Office Director and staff summarizing key findings from the data visualization work, along with a documented "toolkit" (templates, style guide, and dashboard instructions) that the office can use after the volunteer's term ends.
Learning Objectives:
This project allows the volunteer to build a professional portfolio of original design and data analysis work product while gaining direct exposure to how the Department communicates U.S. foreign policy priorities to international audiences.
Requirements
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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 have:
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
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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.
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 eligiblity for the position and your application will be forwarded to the project manager for review.
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Benefits
Help
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.
Required documents
Required Documents
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To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
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
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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 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, 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
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
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 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, 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
| Location | CA (Remote) |