Summary
Join the Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of Inspector General (OIG), where our team promotes accountability, integrity, and effectiveness through audits, investigations, and oversight.
The OIG Pathways Internship Program offers students enrolled in qualifying educational institutions paid opportunities to gain valuable experience, develop professional skills, and explore Federal careers while completing their education.
As a Student Trainee (Congressional and Public Affairs) with the SBA Office of Inspector General (OIG), you will receive hands-on training and experience supporting congressional affairs, legislative research, public communications, and administrative operations. Duties include:
- Congressional Affairs Support: Assist in monitoring, tracking, and researching congressional legislation, amendments, hearings, and policy developments affecting SBA OIG programs. Maintain congressional contact lists, legislative tracking records, and stakeholder databases.
- Congressional Correspondence and Briefings: Assist in drafting congressional correspondence, briefing materials, reports, and testimony. Attend and summarize congressional hearings, briefings, and meetings, and support the coordination of congressional inquiries and related activities.
- Research and Policy Analysis: Conduct research on legislative developments, federal policies, and oversight issues affecting SBA OIG operations. Assist in preparing research summaries, memoranda, reports, and data presentations to support leadership decision-making.
- Public Affairs and Media Relations: Assist in drafting press releases, talking points, public statements, and other communication materials. Monitor news coverage and social media, maintain media contact records, and support responses to media inquiries.
- Strategic Communications: Support the development of communication strategies, public information campaigns, and social media content to promote awareness of SBA OIG activities, initiatives, and oversight responsibilities.
- Administrative and Executive Support: Perform administrative duties, including maintaining records, entering data, scheduling meetings, and coordinating events. Assists the Executive Officer with administrative and operational task in support of the Inspector General and the overall mission of the Office of the Inspector General.
Conditions of employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen
- You must successfully complete a pre-employment check.
- You must be enrolled in an accredited education institution.
- Transcripts must be submitted at time of application submission.
- You must sign a Pathways Intern Participant Agreement.
Qualifications
GS-0399-04: Completion of 2 academic years of post-high school study OR successful completion of the requirements for an Associate's degree (please verify by attaching a copy of your college transcripts).
Academic year of undergraduate education (post-high school study):
A minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours at an accredited college or university; or
A minimum of 36 weeks at an accredited business, technical, vocational, or qualifying educational institution for at least 20 classroom hours per week.
Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on OPM's Qualifications website.
All qualification requirements must be met by 11:59 pm (Eastern Time) on 11/03/2026.
Education
You MUST submit transcripts (official or unofficial), student schedule or enrollment letter with this application if you wish to be considered for this vacancy.
APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.) Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Verify School accreditation. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.
If you are selected for this position, you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty.
*** If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. *** For further information, click on: Foreign Education.Additional information
Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.