Semester of Service Volunteer- Business Operations Analyst

This vacancy announcement will be open from 07/30/2026 to 08/05/2026 or when 25 applications have been received. The vacancy will close on whichever day the first of these conditions are met. If the application limit is reached on the same day the announcement opened, the open and close date will be the same.

Candidates are encouraged to read the entire announcement before submitting their application packages. The Bureau of Human Resources proposes a structured, project-based student volunteer initiative within the Records and Information Management branch of the Office of Talent Services (HR/TS/RIM) at the U.S. Department of State.

This initiative directly supports the Presidential Management Agenda and Department priorities related to standardizing systems, eliminating data silos, and reducing wasteful processes.

Student volunteers will contribute to clearly defined, outcome-driven projects, including the documentation of standard procedures, conducting process mapping and proposing innovative modernizations, and updating SharePoint and ServiceNow systems with relevant information.

These efforts address a legitimate agency need to increase efficiencies as well as improve the usability, discoverability, and preservation of operational documents while supporting broader federal data and records management objectives.

The project is designed to align with student learning objectives by providing hands-on experience in process mapping and improvement, writing in Plain Language, lean management practices, and digital records management, while strengthening technical, analytical, and critical thinking skills.

Work will be scoped for completion within a single academic term and will include structured milestones such as onboarding and training, midpoint progress reviews, and final deliverables.

Deliverables may include process documentation, digitized Standard Operating Procedures cataloged in web-based systems, and research summaries that can be operationalized by HR/TS/RIM staff.

Goal: Improve the clarity, consistency, and efficiency of HR/TS/RIM's standard operating procedures (SOPs) by reviewing, revising, and standardizing up to 10 priority SOP documents using Lean management principles, Plain Language best practices, and staff input.

Objectives: 1) By the end of the Spring 2027 semester, review up to 10 existing SOPs; consult with relevant staff and partners to identify process inefficiencies, lessons learned, and opportunities for improvement; research and apply appropriate Lean management principles to develop revised SOP draft. 2) By the end of the Spring 2027 semester, create a culminating presentation to HR/TS/RIM staff and leadership about insights and lessons learned from SOP review, including any recommendations for additional improvements and practice adoptions for the office gleaned from interactions with staff and reviewing source materials.

Deliverables: By the conclusion of the internship, finalize and upload all approved SOPs to the designated digital platform using the organization's standard template, ensuring each document is written in Plain Language, reflects current practices, and is organized for ease of use and future maintenance.

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

Specifically, applicants should possess: - Strong attention to detail - Research capabilities - Interest in management, process development, and digital records management Preferred qualifications: - Students pursuing degrees in business, public administration, communications, or related fields - Familiarity with process documentation and management practices - Familiarity with Microsoft 365 tools (e.g., Excel, SharePoint)