Federal

Student Cooperative for the Office of the Chief Information Officer Team

Office of the Inspector General, USPS ยท Other Agencies and Independent Organizations
๐Ÿ“ Arlington, Virginia GG-00 $22 - $27/hr
Posted: Feb 4, 2026 Deadline: Feb 19, 2026 (Closes in 4 days days left)

About This Position

Are you a college or graduate student interested in working for a fun, fast-paced team where you can make an impact? The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG) has an opportunity for you! The USPS OIG is seeking students enrolled in college/university programs to fill our Student Cooperative - (Paid) position in the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) located in Arlington, VA. Bring your skills and voice to our team!

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. (MUST SUBMIT TRANSCRIPT STATING CURRENT ENROLLMENT STATUS, GPA AND IN GOOD STANDING - an unofficial transcript from the university is acceptable. May be required to produce an official transcript prior to receipt of a formal offer.) AND Must be in academic good standing as defined by the accredited college or university, earning at least a 2.75 GPA on a 4.0 GPA scale. AND Must be currently pursuing a degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Business, or a related field. AND Must be able to report to work year-round in the USPS OIG office. (Minimum one-year commitment) DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS Proficiency in the Power Platform, specifically using Power Automate to trigger AI-driven actions or integrate AI agents into existing workflows. Experience with SharePoint development, including site customization, workflow automation, and integration. Strong understanding of SQL, DAX, and data modeling for Power BI reporting. Knowledge of Microsoft 365 services, including Teams, OneDrive, and Azure. Familiarity with IT governance, cybersecurity, and cloud computing is a plus. EVALUATION FACTORS Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Excellent communication and teamwork abilities. Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks. Ability to work effectively within a team and assist in developing actionable technical solutions. Demonstrated written and oral communications skills. Experience using Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Knowledge of modern low-code productivity platforms (e.g., Power Platform) and an aptitude for learning emerging Generative AI tools and prompting techniques. We're looking for a year-round, paid student cooperative. We want a team player who enjoys learning and able to work in our Arlington VA, headquarters office. We are looking for a high-energy student who is comfortable alternating between working independently and as part of a team 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.

Major Duties

An OCIO Student Co-op role is a fantastic opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in IT leadership, strategy, and operations. Working closely with IT teams to drive AI-enhanced productivity and digital transformation, the Co-op will leverage tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot and the Power Platform to evaluate new AI solutions, connect AI agents to internal data sources, and develop dashboards to assess technology investments. This role provides direct exposure to enterprise AI innovation, process automation, and stakeholder communications, tasking the student with translating business needs into technical requirements and creating the user guides and training materials necessary for agency-wide AI adoption. The successful candidate may work with multiple teams in OCIO. The successful Student Cooperative is eligible 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 02/19/2026 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 $16.73 - $20.15/hour. Locality Pay is authorized. Sophomore $22.41 per hour includes locality pay Junior/Senior $23.81 per hour includes locality pay Graduate or Law Student $26.99 per hour includes locality pay Student Cooperatives are not eligible for USPS OIG Employee Benefits. Please note that the duties and responsibilities associated with this position may vary based upon the area of assignment. The following description of major duties and responsibilities is only intended to give applicants a general overview of the expectations. The student cooperative performs specialized duties with continuing responsibility for projects, questions, or issues that arise in the area of assignment/curriculum. Each assignment typically consists of a series of related actions or decisions prior to final completion. Assist with the deployment and integration of Generative AI tools, including Microsoft 365 Copilot, to enhance agency-wide productivity. Assist in the systematic testing and evaluation of various AI solutions to ensure outputs meet agency standards. Design and implement Power Platform solutions to streamline business processes and support AI-driven initiatives. Assist in connecting AI agents to internal data sources and systems so they can access the information needed to perform tasks autonomously. Participate in meetings and briefings with technical teams and stakeholders to assist in translating business needs into technical requirements. Create comprehensive documentation, user guides, and training materials to simplify complex AI concepts for end-user groups. Develop dashboards that leverage AI tools to help leadership assess the effectiveness of technology investments. Design feedback loops (surveys, interviews) to collect end-user insights on AI tool performance, helping to identify areas for continuous improvement. Help optimize IT operations and improve efficiency. Help conduct research on emerging technologies and industry trends.

Education

Education must be accredited by an institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation here: https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/higher-education-laws-and-policy/college-accreditation. Special Instructions for Candidates with Foreign Education: Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to that gained in U.S. education programs. You must submit all necessary documents to a private U.S. credential evaluation service to interpret equivalency of your education against courses given in U.S. accredited colleges and universities. For further information visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications

How You Will Be Evaluated

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 Submit a resume that exceeds the two-page limit If your application materials indicate that you are not minimally-qualified for this position 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. Applicants for this position may be interviewed one or more times as part of the hiring process. During interviews, applicants may not use any AI tool or virtual assistant (such as ChatGPT) to help them answer questions, except for accessibility tools used as part of a reasonable accommodation. Applicants who fail to follow these rules will be disqualified from the hiring process.

Additional Information

Student Cooperatives are not eligible for USPS OIG Employee Benefits. This agency provides Reasonable Accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you require accommodations for any part of the application and/or hiring process, please send an email to [email protected]. The decision on granting an accommodation request will be made on a case by case basis.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. IMPORTANT UPDATE: Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages. You will no longer be considered for this announcement if your resume exceeds the two-page limit. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date, 02/19/2026, to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account. You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application. You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. You are strongly urged to read and print the entire vacancy announcement.

Required Documents

You must submit all required documents by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date of this announcement, Vacancy Announcement EX-26-18A-12877077-PC, by closing date 02/19/2026. 1. RESUME - IMPORTANT UPDATE: Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages. You will no longer be considered for this announcement if your resume exceeds the two-page limit. It is essential that your resume and supporting documentation provide sufficient information to substantiate your qualifications for the announced position (categorize as "Resume"). Additional guidance on writing a federal resume can be found at: USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job? Make sure your page margins are 0.5 inches. The recommended font styles are Sans-Serif, Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open Sans, Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noto Sans. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume. Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started. 2. TRANSCRIPTS from an accredited college or university. The information presented in the transcript must be verifiable and should contain the name of the institution, applicant's name, list of completed courses, semester hours, GPA, date and type of Bachelor's Degree issued. Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to that gained in conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. Attach document verifying that it has been deemed equivalent. For further information visit: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. (Required: Upload and save as "Transcript" document.) 3. UPLOAD SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS which may include: Certificates or Licenses, if applicable. Upload and save as "Certificates or Licenses" document. Veterans Preference Documentation. If you are claiming veterans' preference you must submit the Member 4 copy of your DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, and/or other proof of veterans' preference eligibility including your VA letter, form SF-15 (www.opm.gov/forms) and all required documents related to your SF-15 claim. Veterans can request the Member 4 copy of their DD-214 at http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records, and can download a copy of their VA letter from https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits-portal/ebenefits.portal. (If applicable to you, you are required to upload each veterans' preference document and categorize as "DD-214" or "SF-15" or "Other Veterans Document") Reasonable Accommodation Documentation. If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found at http://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire . SF-50 if you are or have been a Federal employee to demonstrate tenure and competitive/excepted service for eligibility purposes. (If applicable to you, you are Required to upload each applicable SF-50 and categorize as a "SF-50" document.)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Student Cooperative for the Office of the Chief Information Officer Team position at Office of the Inspector General, USPS?
The salary range for this position is $22 - $27/hr. This is a GG-00 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Student Cooperative for the Office of the Chief Information Officer Team job located?
This position is located in Arlington, Virginia. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
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. (MUST SUBMIT TRANSCRIPT STATING CURRENT ENROLLMENT STATUS, GPA AND IN GOOD STANDING - an unofficial transcript from the university is acceptable. May be required to produce an official ...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Feb 19, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
No security clearance is required for this position.
What does GG-00 mean?
GG-00 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.