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

PIF is a 12-month program, during which a Fellow will work on innovation projects across federal agencies. Fellows and agency partners can mutually agree to extend the fellowship for up to a total of two years.

We typically accept applications once per year. Please check our Apply page for the current application deadline and information. If you are interested in the PIF program or other opportunities with Technology Transformation Services, join our mailing list.

We recruit annually. Please visit apply.pif.gov for detailed information on the selection timeline.

PIF seeks diverse cohorts of mid-to-senior-level experts in data strategy and AI, software and cloud infrastructure, product, design and experience, and digital transformation and strategy. We also seek innovators who bring different lived experiences and perspectives to problems, so that we’re addressing them in equitable ways. We strongly encourage you to review our detailed position descriptions at apply.pif.gov. Candidates are evaluated on a combination of subject-matter expertise; proven ability to thrive in ambiguity; and core values, including dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

No. PIF does not require a certain level of education in order to be eligible to apply to or work at PIF.

All applications will be reviewed against the specialized experience created for this role. In order to properly be able to evaluate your previous experience, we recommend being as detailed as possible in your resume. We also recommend reviewing and following our general resume guidance, which provides helpful examples of the level of detail that is expected. Qualification will also entail participation in written assessment and an interview. Interviews will be conducted by members of the PIF team and will cover skills (your area of expertise), core competencies (behavioral questions, leadership, and navigating ambiguity), and core values (including diversity, equity, and inclusion).

All interviews for Presidential Innovation Fellows occur virtually (this is always the case).

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 1-2 hours in length. We offer live captioning or other accessibility assistance to all candidates. 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.

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. The PIF team will also set up calls with each incoming PIF to welcome them into our program and community, and answer any questions!

The Presidential Innovation Fellows program is a competitive process that attracts thousands of interesting and capable candidates each year. Most of our fellowship positions require ability to work in a modern technical, design and product environment. Many have significant experience and track records of delivering at a very high level, are proven leaders, and innovative thinkers. We look at domain expertise, functional expertise, and many other factors, including how the overall cohort will work together.

Candidates can share their project preference with us, though there is no guarantee you will interview for that project. Project matching comes down to the right skills for a federal agency’s needs.

Yes, if you’re not selected, please apply to future opportunities. Our project opportunities are always changing and we may not have the right fit for your skills the first time you apply.

We do not consider recommendations in the application process.

No, you do not need clearance to apply. If you are selected for a position, a GSA staff member will provide you instructions on how to begin the necessary clearance process once you accept the tentative job offer.

All government positions require some level of background check. Most roles at PIF require a public trust position clearance, which is more thorough than most private-sector background checks but not as intensive as a higher government security clearance. The clearance process adds some time and forms to the hiring process, but the GSA Human Resources team will guide you through it. GSA is the federal agency under which PIF operates.

The pre-employment process can take weeks or months depending on the depth of the background check, and your speed of responsiveness to the different steps (i.e. fingerprinting, completing security forms, etc.).

PIF operates within Technology Transformation Services (TTS), a tech organization within the federal government’s U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), an agency that covers everything from government real estate to IT. You may see TTS and GSA referenced in links or our hiring process - that means you’re in the right place! You can learn more about these organizations on the GSA website.

Yes, fellows are hired as full time federal employees qualified at the GS-15, Step 1 level with locality adjustment for the Washington D.C. Metro area. As of January 2024, the salary for PIF's pay grade and locality is $163,964. For current information please see the OPM Salaries & Wages page.

Yes, fellows are considered full time employees, and are eligible to receive health coverage and other benefits (such as retirement savings account eligibility) through the General Services Administration. You can learn more on the GSA website.

All fellows must pass a background check to obtain a public trust clearance and onboard as a Presidential Innovation Fellow. During the interview process candidates are notified if an agency placement requires a higher security clearance. For example, placements in the White House, Department of Defense, and Office of Management Budget often require higher clearances. The fellow must pass the required security clearance of their selecting agency.

Presidential Innovation Fellows are based in the Washington, D.C. area, for the duration of the fellowship. Fellows will spend a portion of their time working at one of the federal agencies to which they are assigned, which are typically in Washington, D.C. or the surrounding area. Fellows occasionally co-work and collaborate on projects in space provided by the General Services Administration. In addition to onsite work at agencies, we believe that sharing a D.C. “home base” helps foster community. While based in the D.C. area, the PIF program generally encourages telework flexibility, and PIFs set telework expectations with their partner agency. Where possible, PIF asks that fellows spend 2 days per pay period onsite at GSA for cohort meetings and collaboration.

No. Unfortunately, the government does not allow us to cover moving or relocation expenses.

While fellows are placed across the government in various federal agencies, the PIF program is administratively housed in the General Services Administration (GSA). All fellows are hired by GSA and then detailed to agencies. All fellows will be based in the Washington, D.C. area.

PIFs are required to be based in the Washington, D.C. area with telework flexibility determined by the agency they are placed with. Where possible, PIF asks that fellows spend two days per pay period onsite at GSA for cohort meetings and collaboration.

While the White House Presidential Innovation Fellows (PIF) was founded by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) in 2012, we have been administered within the General Services Administration (GSA) since 2013 under the “Presidential Innovation Fellows” program name. We’re proud to lead cross-agency innovation that leads to better government by and for the people. Our work aligns to Administration priorities, the President’s Management Agenda (i.e. improving customer experience), and we have led or contributed to White House innovation efforts (i.e. promoting the trustworthy use of AI, or serving as first responders to healthcare.gov).

At this time we do not allow for part-time positions; working on some of the nation’s biggest challenges is a full-time job.

No, but there are some great organizations where college students and recent graduates can get involved in civic tech, and TTS recently launched the U.S. Digital Corps, which is focused on empowering the next generation of technology leaders to launch careers in public service and create a more effective, equitable government.

The number of fellows throughout the year varies, depending on the needs of our partner agencies and projects we are supporting. We currently have more than 50 fellows in the program, 20 of whom are in our newest cohort, and 20+ of whom are returning fellows. We typically recruit 20-35 fellows for each new cohort.

The PIF program does not facilitate career roles in the Federal government though many fellows take government roles. Many others take private-sector roles and even start their own companies. We have an active alumni foundation that hosts networking and community events

Established in 2012, the Presidential Innovation Fellows (PIF) program is a fellowship that recruits senior-level private sector leaders with a proven track record in design, technology, entrepreneurship, and strategy. PIF exists to unite innovators with federal leaders across government to solve our nation’s toughest challenges and emerging issues. The Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) program is administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Since 1977, the PMF program has been a part of the Pathways Programs and matches current graduate students or recent graduate students with federal agencies within the Executive Branch. PMF exists to recruit and develop a core of future government leaders from all segments of society. To learn more about the PMF program, please visit their website at PMF.gov.