Interdisciplinary Resource Protection and Law (IRPL) Training Content

Summary 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. The Department of the Interior protects and manages the Nation's natural resources and cultural heritage; provides scientific and other information about those resources; and honors its trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and affiliated Island Communities. Click here to learn more about the Department of the Interior and its bureaus.Major Duties: 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.