Improving National Eagle Repository Communication with Tribal Applicants

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.

Major duties

Location: USFWS In-person is an option, but not required. In-person candidates should report to: National Eagle and Wildlife Property Repository, 6550 Gateway Road, Building 128, Commerce City, Colorado, 80022 Work Schedule and Flexibilities: Up to 20 hours per week, at least 10 preferred. Must be able to work within National Eagle Repository core hours, Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM MT. Start/end dates flexible. Remote (100% work off site) Number of Positions: 1 Term: Spring 2027 (90 day term between mid-January and mid-June) This vacancy will be open until Thursday, October 29th, 2026 at 11:59pm ET. Candidates are encouraged to read the entire announcement before submitting their application packages. The National Eagle Repository (NER) is a one-of-a-kind facility operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Office of Law Enforcement, serving to receive, evaluate, store and distribute the remains of deceased bald and golden eagles to enrolled members of federally recognized Native American Tribes. NER seeks a student trainee to assist in improving communication and customer service provided to Tribal applicants. The selected applicant will analyze the communication needs, barriers and deficiencies in NER's current communication with Tribal applicants and develop outreach materials and strategies NER may use to provide superior service to this key audience. NER receives a high volume of phone and email inquiries seeking information about the application process, updates on existing requests for eagle remains, specialized orders, and other applicant-specific inquiries. Clear, accessible instructional materials and other tools like videos or visual aids may help customers find necessary information more quickly and efficiently. The duties of this position include but are not limited to the following:

• Conducting an analysis of the most pressing communication needs for Tribal applicants to NER.
• Creating or proposing comprehensive, user-friendly instructional and outreach materials that provide the information most frequently sought by customers (e.g., fact sheets, visual aids, video tutorials or other tools) and that are suitable for print, web content, and other platforms.
• Developing a possible outreach strategy for broader distribution of instructional materials, promoting use of these materials by Tribal applicants and other audiences.
• Collaborating with NER staff to ensure accuracy of all instructions and process details, incorporating staff feedback into final products.

The government-wide "Semester of Service" Student Volunteer Program, as authorized under 5 U.S.C §31114 and 5 CFR Part 3085, enables Federal agencies to engage students in unpaid, project-based assignments of limited duration. These assignments are designed to align with each agency's strategic priorities, offering participants practical experience within Federal operations while supporting the advancement of targeted initiatives.

Qualifications

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

• Be an undergraduate or graduate student.
• Possess strong written and oral communication skills
• Have the ability to work both independently and in collaboration with others

Preferred qualifications:

• Prior experience developing or administering customer or visitor experience surveys, conducting qualitative and quantitative analysis, and basic statistics
• Coursework, prior experience, or interest in communications, sociology, education, or other fields related to project objectives
• Experience developing instructional, educational, or visual aid materials

Education

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

Requirements

Conditions of employment To participate in this Program:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S National studying in the U.S. or abroad
• Be enrolled not less than half-time in an accredited college, university, or other accredited educational institution (at least undergraduate or above) throughout the 90 day Semester of Service opportunity. Students graduating before May 1, 2027 are not eligible. Selectees will be responsible for contacting a school official to sign a Semester of Service approval form indicating you are currently enrolled at least half-time and in good academic standing. Qualifying educational institutions must be located within the United States.
• 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 Department of the Interior 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.
• Not be a current federal employee. Current federal employees can reach out to the contact below to inquire about job detail opportunities.