DHS Student Hire Internship Program for Procurement Professionals (Spring/Summer 2021 Grads) - Virtual
ATTENTION: Only Spring/Summer 2021 Graduates who answer "yes" to these three questions:
- Are you a motivated university student graduating in Spring/Summer 2021 who is interested in a career with the Department of Homeland Security?
- Have you studied Business topics related to Purchasing, Procurement, Acquisition, Contract Management, or Supply Chain Management?
- Are you graduating with a GPA above 3.5 in the Spring/Summer of 2021 and available for a paid part-time virtual internship during this Winter/Spring that may lead to a full-time career on-site in Washington, DC upon graduation ?
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is seeking candidates to participate in the Student Hire Internship Program (SHIP) for Procurement Professionals. Internships are located in the DHS Office of the Chief Procurement Officer (OCPO) in Washington, DC. This office is responsible for providing procurement and acquisition management services throughout DHS. The program offers current students in relevant educational programs internships in DHS procurement offices during the period before graduation. Student interns must be available for one 20-week part-time (16 hours per week, 320 hours total) virtual internship period between December 20, 2020 – May 8, 2021. Interns must be enrolled as students until graduation in SpringSummer 2021. Interns who successfully complete at least 320 internship hours and meet other conditions including graduation, superior academic achievement (GPA > 3.5), and eligibility for a GS-1102-07 Contracting Series position* may be converted from part-time interns to full-time positions in the DHS Acquisition Professional Career Program (APCP) for recent graduates. Extensions or conversions are not implied or guaranteed at any time for any interns. Virtual interns are paid at the GS-04 level for the area in which you live. The Acquisition Professional Career Program (APCP) is a program that gives participants training and career development in the procurement career field for three years. Year one is paid at GS-7, Step 1, year two is paid at GS-9, Step 1, year three is paid at GS-11, Step 1, and upon graduation year four is paid at GS-12, Step 1. After that, one's career is self-managed. Because the full-time APCP positions are in the Washington, DC area, pay is commiserate with the the Washington, DC area General Schedule (GS) salary table.
- *Basic 1102 Contracting Series Requirement: Completion of a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree with a major in any field or least at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. GS-07 Education Requirement: 1 full academic year of graduate education or law school or superior academic achievement.
As a Student Trainee (Contracting), your typical work assignments may include the following under supervision:
- Serve on a team specializing in acquisition to negotiate, award, administer, and/or closeout actions.
- Assist in the development and review of statements of work.
- Prepare acquisition documents and obtain legal, financial, and staff review.
- Assist higher-graded staff with the day-to-day administration of acquisition activity.
- Participate in special activities as assigned.
- Ascertain that all items necessary for contract closeout are appropriately completed.
- Assure that data in information systems for assigned work is complete, current, and accurate.
To learn more about DHS acquisition careers visit: www.dhs.gov/acquisition-career-opportunities
Important FAQ:
What if I don't want to work in or near Washington, DC full-time, on-site after I graduate?
Do not submit anything to us unless you can commit to living in the Washington, DC area after university graduation in Spring/Summer 2021. The internship is virtual and can be completed from anywhere in the United States. If the internship becomes a permanent full-time position after you graduate in Spring/Summer 2021, the duty location will be in or near Washington, DC. We have another announcement on Handshake for an on-site version of this Winter/Spring internship. Respond to that if you can intern on-site in Washington, DC. Regardless of the internship being on-site or virtual, any permanent full-time job must be in the Washington, DC area. Do not respond unless you can commit to living in the Washington, DC area after university graduation in Spring/Summer 2021.
What if my GPA is lower than 3.5 or I plan to graduate with a GPA lower than 3.5?
Do not submit anything to us unless you are certain that you will graduate with a business-focused major or minor with a GPA above 3.5.
Is this an internship that may lead to a DHS career in another discipline, such as law enforcement, criminal justice, international affairs, politics, cybersecurity, information technology, etc.?
No, this is an internship designed for strong business focused major or minor students who want to support DHS by performing contracting/procurement work as described here. We cannot help you with other DHS career interests beyond directing you to learn more at:
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What if I graduate at a different time other than Spring/Summer 2021.
We have another announcement on Handshake for an on-site version of this Winter/Spring internship and another version for an on-site internship for Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 graduates. Submit your materials to those postings, not this one. If you graduate or have graduated before that, this program will not work for you. Consider other opportunities at:
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