Interdisciplinary Resource Protection and Law (IRPL) Training Content Update

Applicants will be considered based on their knowledge, skills or abilities related to project needs. Specifically, applicants should be junior college or college students. Ideal applicants would have an interest in developing adult training in federal resource management and/or have an interest in cultural resources, natural resources, environmental policy, public lands, law or a related field.

Location: Department of Interior Office of Employee Development (Remote) Work Schedule and Flexibilities: Flexible to student's school schedule with an expectation that they will be available during business hours for occasional meetings. 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 DOI Office of Employee Development provides training and professional development for employees responsible for cultural and natural resource management across the Department of the Interior.

The National Park Service (NPS) Interdisciplinary Resource Protection and Law (IRPL) course is an established professional development course that provides interdisciplinary training on the legal and policy framework governing resource protection and management. The student volunteer will support a structured review of IRPL course content to help ensure that training materials remain current, accurate, and relevant.

The project will involve reviewing existing course materials and authoritative legal and policy sources, identifying content that may require revision, documenting recommended updates, and developing a sustainable system for tracking course content and future changes. The student will work with Cultural Resources Training Program staff, course instructors, and subject-matter experts to understand how changes in laws, regulations, policies, guidance, and professional practice affect training content.

The student will not provide legal advice or independently determine the substantive accuracy of legal information; rather, the student will conduct research and organize information for review by qualified DOI subject-matter experts. The project provides an opportunity for a student to gain practical experience in federal resource management, environmental and cultural resource law and policy, adult learning, curriculum development, information management, and project management.

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.