Clarification from the agency

Open to U.S. Citizens who are students currently enrolled full or part-time in an accredited college or university program, classified or academically ranked by semester hours as a Sophomore, Junior, Senior or Graduate student.

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Are you an excellent editor and writer with strong attention to detail? Do you have experience creating web content to communicate research findings with a broad audience? Are you interested in government oversight, program evaluation, and public service? If so, then you may be the perfect candidate to apply for the student cooperative opening at the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General's Research and Insights Solution Center (RISC). In our Research division, we write white papers assessing economic, business, operational, and policy issues affecting the U.S. Postal Service, such as the role of the Postal Service in rural areas, innovative digital and retail offerings, and other critical issues affecting USPS operations. We are seeking a student who can help us produce high-quality reports and other content and communicate our work to Postal Service stakeholders and the public.

We are looking for a high-energy student who is intellectually curious and a critical thinker. A qualified candidate will possess stellar written communication skills and have experience editing and producing different kinds of written content. Experience developing dynamic content to communicate information - including through compelling webpages, visual or audio media, or infographics -- is a plus. As a co-op, you will be exposed to a variety of projects and tasks in the Research division. Although the duties and responsibilities associated with this position could vary based upon the agency's needs, you may be expected to perform the following tasks:

• Proofread draft white papers for grammatical correctness and clarity and suggest edits to improve quality, readability, and story-telling;
• Review materials for compliance with the agency's style guide;
• Help develop and produce other forms of content, potentially including web story maps, podcasts, and videos;
• Contribute to the research and writing of white papers;
• Assist, plan, and execute both internal and public events, such as workshops and roundtables;
• Communicate with peers and management, verbally and in writing, the status of projects, support requests, and other tasks, as assigned.

Through working at RISC, student co-ops can enhance their skills in writing, editing, quantitative and qualitative research, and data analysis while preparing for a career in public service. This opportunity is ideal for those looking to gain experience at the federal level.

Student co-ops enjoy a healthy work-school balance and continuous employment with the possibility of 20-30 weekly hours while in school and up to 40 weekly hours when school is not in session. Additionally, co-ops are assigned a mentor to guide them throughout their work with RISC.

The Student Cooperative Program is available for continuous employment throughout the year, while enrolled in school.

Candidates will be evaluated on the skills that they possess that are directly related to the duties of the position and the experience, education and training that indicate the applicant's ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position. Only those candidates who meet all qualification and eligibility requirements and who submit the required information by 11:59 PM EST on 05/31/2023 will be considered.

The USPS OIG uses a Pay Banding system, which is equivalent to the Federal GS scale. Grade and salary determinations will be made based upon a candidate's education and professional experience.

This position is being advertised at the Administrative Band level. The base salary range for this position is $15.56 - $18.74/hour. Locality Pay is authorized.

Sophomore $20.62 per hour includes locality pay.
Junior/Senior $21.90 per hour includes locality pay.
Graduate or Law Student $24.83 per hour includes locality pay.

Students who meet the requirements and qualifications below are encouraged to apply.

Student Cooperatives are not eligible for USPS OIG Employee Benefits.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Must be able to pass a drug screening and medical assessment questionnaire.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Moderate Background Investigation (MBI) clearance
• Must be able to work a minimum of 20 hours per week

Qualifications

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

You must meet ALL of the minimum requirements.

• Students must be currently enrolled full or half-time in an accredited college or university program, classified or academically ranked by semester hours as a Sophomore, Junior, Senior or Graduate student, not graduating prior to December 2023. (MUST SUBMIT TRANSCRIPT STATING CURRENT ENROLLMENT STATUS, GPA AND IN GOOD STANDING)

AND

• Must be in academic good standing as defined by the college or university, earning at least a 2.75 GPA on a 4.0 GPA scale.

AND

• Must be able to report to work in the USPS OIG Arlington, VA, office twice per two-week pay period and work a minimum of 20 hours per week (Monday-Friday) during core business hours.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Enrollment in a program seeking an advanced degree in, communications, English, journalism, marketing, business administration, or any other related discipline.
• Experience editing and proofreading, including ensuring adherence to a style guide.
• Strong writing skills and experience in drafting and editing a variety of written products, such as research papers, short reports, summaries, and blog posts.
• Demonstrated ability to present complicated information in a style highly readable by the general public.
• Proven ability to communicate research findings through visual, audio, and/or video web content.
• Experience creating and delivering presentations and/or planning public events.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to work both individually and collaboratively in a fast-paced, high-profile environment.

EVALUATION FACTORS

Failure to demonstrate that you meet all of the evaluation factor requirements as listed below will result in a score of zero (0); an ineligible status, and you will not be referred for further consideration. Include your major accomplishments relevant to the evaluation factors in your resume.

• Demonstrated editing and proofreading skills.
• Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills, especially the use of persuasive and concise writing.
• Basic knowledge of or demonstrated interest in public policy, business, or economic issues.
• Experience producing a variety of content to communicate findings, including written, visual, and/or audiovisual products.
• Ability to conduct research and analysis as well as communicate conclusions in high-quality analytical reports, research papers, and other written materials.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

The Human Resources Office will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications required for this position. You will no longer be considered for this position if you: receive a zero (0) rating on any evaluation factor; fail to attach all required documentation; if your application materials indicate that you are not minimally-qualified for this position; or if you fail to qualify on the interview. Only the top-rated candidates will be referred to a review official or the selecting official for further consideration. Top-rated applicants may be required to participate in an interview. Your rating may be further adjusted or rated as ineligible by the review official or the selecting official based on your interview performance. Once all applicant scores are finalized, the selecting official will make a final decision. NOTE: If you receive a zero (0) rating on any evaluation factor or on the interview, you will be considered NOT MINIMALLY QUALIFIED for the position and rated ineligible.