Programs

Presidential Management Fellows Program

If you have an interest in, and commitment to, the analysis and management of public policies and programs, consider exploring the possibilities of becoming a Presidential Management Fellow (PMF) at the U.S. Department of State.

Established by Executive Order in 1977, this program is designed to attract outstanding graduate students from a wide variety of academic disciplines to public service. This is a highly competitive internship for which you must be nominated by a dean, director, or chairperson of your graduate academic program. Beginning in September, nominations are reviewed and presented to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) which administers finalist selections to the PMF program. Beginning in January, final selections from among the nominees are made based on a review of applications, individual and/or group interviews, and evaluation of writing samples.

If selected for employment by the U.S. Department of State, your appointment will begin after completion of your graduate school program and the successful completion of a security clearance background investigation. You will be appointed to a paid, two-year probationary internship, which will include rotation opportunities. Rotations are short-term development assignments that offer PMFs management experience and the opportunity to work in varying divisions, offices, agencies and branches of government. Once your two-year internship has been successfully completed, you become eligible for conversion to career or career-conditional status. More detailed information and nomination guidelines, forms and deadlines can be found at www.pmi.opm.gov.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for the PMF Program, you must be a graduate student completing your master's or doctoral degree from an accredited college or university. You must receive nomination by the dean, director or chairperson of your academic program in the beginning of your last year of graduate studies. To be nominated, you must demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, a capacity for leadership, growth potential and a commitment to a career in the analysis and management of public policies and programs.

How to apply

RETURN TO TOP

Equal Opportunity Employer. Privacy Statement