The NOAA IT Fellowship Program seeks to recruit college level students and recent graduates studying IT and cybersecurity disciplines to help us carry out NOAA’s mission safely and securely. Students currently enrolled in school or recent graduates with a related degree may apply for a paid fellowship within NOAA, including full federal benefits and the option of non-competitive conversion to a permanent or term position once the degree and/or program requirements have been met. 

The IT Fellowship Program has five primary objectives:

  • Establish an IT talent pipeline with the requisite technical skills and competencies to sustain and advance the NOAA mission.  
  • Assure IT workforce succession via increased hiring of IT professionals at entry grade levels.
  • Develop, train, and retain the next generation of diverse IT professionals with the competencies necessary to accomplish the NOAA mission over the long term.
  • Establish new and leverage current partnerships with Minority Serving educational institutions to increase diversity when filling IT entry-level positions.
  • Cultivate a diverse and inclusive workforce possessing a greater variety of skills and knowledge. 

Background: 
The federal government is facing a shortage of IT and cybersecurity professionals. A growing percentage of the federal IT workforce is reaching retirement eligibility, which could cause an increasing gap between IT and cybersecurity needs and federal IT workforce capability. This skills gap is not a matter of inconvenience, it poses a threat to national security in the face of increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks. 

To help bridge the gap between the current IT Workforce and the next generation of IT professionals, the NOAA Chief Information Officer (CIO) Council endorsed the creation of the NOAA IT Fellowship Program. The goal of the IT Fellowship Program is to bridge the gap within the current IT workforce at NOAA while focusing on diversity and inclusion. A diverse workforce of individuals with different backgrounds and perspectives will foster innovative solutions to IT and cybersecurity challenges. 

Participating Programs:

The IT Fellowship Program leverages two hiring authorities, Schedule D and Schedule A(r), for students and recent graduates to fill positions using the following three programs:

 

Pathways Internship:

  • Current students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree or certificate in a relevant degree program are eligible
  • Participants may work either part- or full- time paid internships at NOAA while in school
  • Upon completion of degree or certificate, may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to full time federal employment

Learn more about the Pathways Internship.

Pathways Recent Graduates Program:

  • One-year developmental position to promote federal career development through training and mentorship
  • Must be within 2 years of having completed a qualifying degree or certificate (or 6 years for veterans if active duty prevented them from applying in the two year window)
  • Upon completion of the program, may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to full time federal employment

Learn more about the Pathways Recent Graduates Program.

Cybersecurity Talent Initiative: 

  • Ideal candidates are current students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in cybersecurity
  • Completion of a cybersecurity-related degree prior to start date is required
  • Participants receive a two-year federal appointment offer with mentoring and leadership development opportunities from Partnership for Public Service

Learn more about the Cybersecurity Talent Initiative.