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Join Us

Apply to PIF

Thanks for your interest in becoming a Presidential Innovation Fellow (PIF)! We know the federal hiring process can be very different than other sectors. To help, we’re providing everything you need before and during the PIF application process. You can also learn more in our application announcement blog post.

Apply here

PIF Application Overview

  • Who may apply: All United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) are eligible to apply.

  • Applications due: Friday, May 14, 2021, 11:59 PM Pacific Time

  • How to apply: Read through PIF track descriptions (also called "job postings") below, select your track, and complete our application form, following all instructions.

  • Salary: This role’s annual salary is $144,128. This is a GS-15 Step 1 role (the GS system defines many federal salaries - learn more about what this means here).

  • Benefits: All PIFs receive federal employee benefits. This includes medical, vision, and dental insurance, FSA accounts, life insurance, paid leave, and the Thrift Savings Plan (the government version of a 401K) with up to five percent matching.

  • Location: Our program is Washington, D.C.-based, and we’re prioritizing the safety and health of all staff. The majority of our staff will be working remotely until it is safe to return to in-person work. We are hopeful that we will be able to begin our next cohort in-person in Washington, D.C.

  • Start date: PIF's next cohort will have a winter start date. We will be announcing the exact date as we get farther along in the process.

  • Education requirements: No, PIF does not have education requirements.

Preparing to apply

Here is everything you’ll need to submit your PIF application.

  • Select your track: In our application, we ask every candidate to select one of five tracks (data and AI; product; design and experience; digital strategy; or software and infrastructure). The track you select should best align with your area of expertise. It’s okay if you have expertise in more than one area! We ask that you select whichever most closely matches your skill set. Doing so will help our team thoughtfully pair candidates with projects. Track descriptions are below.

    Additionally, the track you chose will not limit the agency partner projects that you may be matched to. The PIF team will match all potential candidates to the appropriate projects as many projects require multi-disciplinary backgrounds.

  • Before you apply: Read through the minimum qualifications of the job posting for your track of choice, which are linked in “Selecting a PIF track” below. Only applicants whose resumes reflect at least one year’s experience of the minimum qualifications listed in the job posting will be considered.

  • Resume: Federal hiring requires that your resume must explicitly reflect the minimum qualifications cited in the job posting. More information regarding resume best practices can be found here. Detail is encouraged!

  • Statement sharing why you want to join PIF (no more than 900 characters)

  • Optional: Links to professional portfolios or profiles (i.e. your LinkedIn, GitHub, etc.)

Selecting a PIF track

All candidates select a track based on their expertise. Find summaries and links to track descriptions below (these descriptions are also called job postings). Only applicants whose resumes reflect at least one year’s experience of the minimum qualifications listed in the job posting will be considered.

This track includes expertise in the areas of artificial intelligence and data science. This includes machine learning; data strategy, management and analytics; and/or modern statistical and computational methods. Read the detailed PIF AI, Data and Analytics position description here.

This track includes expertise in product development, product management, and/or agile software methodologies. Read the detailed PIF Product position description here.

This track includes expertise in user experience (UX), human-centered design, service design, implementation design and/or customer experience (CX). Read the detailed PIF Design and Experience position description here.

This track includes expertise in the areas of strategy and digital transformation. This includes entrepreneurship/intrapreneurship; digital marketing or advertising; venture capital, accelerators, or incubators; and/or corporate innovation. Read the detailed PIF Digital Strategy position description here.

This track includes expertise in DevOps, cloud computing, cloud infrastructure, front-end engineering, back-end engineering, and/or enterprise-level technology leadership. Read the detailed PIF Software and Infrastructure position description here.

Our timeline

We can’t wait to get to know you and your experience! Here is a tentative timeline so you can know what to expect, and when. Once you apply, you will receive confirmation that your application has been received. Due to the high volume of applications, we are not able to provide updates on the status of your application until all fellows have been selected.

  • Now - May 14, 2021: Submit your application! We accept applications through 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time, May 14, 2021.

  • May - June 2021: Our Talent Team, HR team, and subject matter experts review and qualify all applications and resumes.

  • June - August 2021: Interviews occur throughout June, July, and August 2021.

  • September 2021: Final selections and tentative offers* will be made early September 2021.

  • Autumn and Winter: After accepting the tentative offer, our pre-employment process begins. This includes security clearance (fingerprints, background check, etc.). Pre-employment typically takes a few months. You can learn more about our pre-employment process here.

  • Winter: We welcome an amazing PIF cohort! We will be announcing the exact date as we get farther along in the process.

* “Tentative offer” means the offer is contingent on a background check.

Our interview process: What to expect!

For candidates selected to interview, here’s our process.

  • Accessibility: If you are selected to interview, a member of our Talent Team will be in touch to ensure we’ll have any accessibility considerations covered. We typically conduct interviews as video calls, however, we realize that this option may not accommodate everyone’s needs. Throughout the hiring process, please don’t hesitate to let us know if you have a preferred method of communication and we will work with you to create a positive experience. If you require accommodations, please contact us directly at jointts@gsa.gov or 773-970-7945.

  • PIF interviews begin with skills (your area of expertise), and candidates may progress to core competencies (behavioral questions, leadership, and/or navigating ambiguity) and core values (including diversity, equity, and inclusion).

  • Agency interviews are with PIF’s federal agency partner(s). This is a conversation with the agency’s PIF project champion. The PIF team will share finalist resumes with agencies who then identify candidates that they would like to interview.

  • Format: All interviews occur virtually and are typically scheduled for an hour in length. We offer live captioning or other accessibility assistance to all candidates.

  • Offer process: Once the agency interviews are complete, the PIF team will meet with each agency to discuss their selections. This gives us our list of finalists to whom we make offers! We operate within the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), and the GSA HR team will then make tentative offers to selected candidates. Once the candidate accepts the tentative offer, our pre-employment process begins. The PIF team will also set up calls with each incoming PIF to welcome them into our program and community, and answer any questions!

Learn more

There are many opportunities to learn more about our program and our hiring process! All are open to the public.

  • Attend PIF’s weekly virtual coffees, featuring current fellows and alumni, on Fridays at 3:00pm ET. Attend the TTS Talent office hours to learn more about the hiring process, on Fridays at 4:15pm ET. You can learn more and RSVP to these PIF events here.
  • Visit our PIF FAQ

Thank you for reading!

We look forward to receiving and reviewing your applications.

Apply to PIF here

If you have problems completing your online application, please contact pif-application@gsa.gov.

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“

My life changed when I became a PIF. I became a part of the world's best organization for change, and it's been my most treasured experience.

Our nation’s challenges are our biggest opportunities.

Our solutions need leaders like you.

Join us