Directorate of Operations Undergraduate Intern

CIA.GOV/CAREERS Careers - CIA

Undergraduate Internship Program-Directorate of Operations - CIA

Undergraduate Internship Program - Directorate of Operations

As a Directorate of Operations Undergraduate Intern for CIA, you will support the Directorate of Operations (DO) mission of collecting human intelligence on critical international developments.

• Internship
• Starting salary: $58,714
• Full-time student with one completed semester/quarter of an undergraduate degree and who will not be graduating before December 2027.

Agency-wide Requirements

All applicants must be:

• U.S. citizens (dual U.S. citizens also eligible)
• At least 18 years of age
• Willing to move to the Washington, DC area
• Able to complete security and medical evaluations
• Registered for the Selective Service

About the Job

As a Directorate of Operations (DO) Student Intern (DOSI), you will have the opportunity to work in two of three potential DO positions that drive intelligence collection and provide the vital investigative research and strategic oversight to operations that are run around the world.  DOSIs are most likely to spend their summer internships serving as either a Staff Operations Officer (SOO), Collection Management Officer (CMO), or Targeting Officer (TO) to be determined based on program availability during each summer. DOSIs will be working alongside DO officers to provide seamless integration between CIA Headquarters and DO offices overseas. Your critical-thinking, advanced analytic, and creative problem-solving skills will all figure prominently as you drive clandestine operations success. DOSIs will have the opportunity to work on current challenges and are expected to participate in crafting recommendations and solutions. You will have the opportunity to learn the work of the DO and your work will make a difference to national security!

SOOs apply advanced knowledge and expertise of clandestine operations, operational trade craft, and intelligence priorities while providing strategic guidance and operational case management. SOOs are often asked to find solutions to complex operational problems, identifying new technical tools and capabilities to advance operations, and tapping the resources of the DO, CIA, and U.S. Government to ensure operational requirements are met.

CMOs use area expertise to understand intelligence needs and identify opportunities to collect foreign intelligence to fulfill those needs. CMOs also help evaluate collected intelligence to determine its quality and timeliness while maintaining its secret nature.

TOs are integral to the planning and implementation of DO foreign intelligence collection, counterintelligence, and covert action operations. You will combine specialized training, utilize advanced analytic skills and tools to identify new opportunities for DO activities and enhance ongoing operations.

After successful completion of internships in each of these positions and depending on hiring needs of the mission at that time, DOSI may be offered the opportunity to convert into being hired into the Professional Trainee (PT) program. 

Who You'll Work With

At the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), we recognize our Nation’s strength comes from the diversity of its people. People from a broad range of backgrounds and viewpoints work at CIA, and our diverse teams are the reason we can keep our country safe.

Read more about diversity and inclusion

What You'll Get

The CIA offers various benefits to students, including:

• Paid time off
• Federal health and life insurance
• Retirement
• Education and training
• Health services
• Child care center
• Credit union

As a CIA employee, you’ll also get the satisfaction of knowing your work is part of something bigger than yourself. Our work is driven by one mission: to keep our Nation safe. Every day is an opportunity to enhance U.S. national security.

Learn more about working at CIA

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be a full-time student in their first year of study pursuing an undergraduate degree in a 4-year academic institution with only one semester/quarter completed at the time of expressing interest. Competitive candidates enrolled in a 2-year degree program that feeds into an accredited 4-year program will be considered. Please address your plans to acquire a Bachelor’s degree in your Cover Letter. Proof of acceptance into a 4-year program will be required prior to the start of your first internship.
• At least a 3.0 GPA on a 4-point scale preferred (NOTE: In order to remain in the DOSI program, you must provide proof of maintaining this GPA throughout your undergraduate college experience.)
• The availability to interview during the summer of 2025 and to attend two sets of follow-on appointments in the Washington DC area in the late summer and early winter
• The ability to intern in person in the Washington DC area for a 90-day duration during the summer of 2026 and 2027 and return to their academic institute to complete at least one semester/quarter prior to graduation. As such, this internship is open to freshman only.
• These internships are paid but you will be responsible for covering the cost of housing.
• Personal integrity with impeccable discretion
• Strong writing, briefing and organizational skills
• Action and results oriented
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work independently and in team
• Flexibility, adaptability, and commitment to CIA
• Ability to meet the minimum requirements for CIA, including U.S. citizenship and background investigation

Please include the following in your interest form submission:

• An unofficial transcript for the first semester/quarter in an accredited undergraduate program that shows your program of study and current GPA
• A completed and uploaded qualification statement and cover letter
• Given the nature of the work and this internship, please note that you will not be able to receive college credit for this internship or list a CIA internship on your resume

(NOTE: Resumes without accompanying transcripts and all supplemental attachments will not be considered.)

Desired Qualifications

• Experience or familiarization in STEM fields, to include academic, professional, or personal interests
• Foreign cultural or language ability (academic or personal)
• The ability to quickly apply learning to new situations and complex, international issues
• Inquisitive and investigative to push for creative recommendations to evolving challenges
• Determined, collaborative and mission driven team players
• Ability to shift focus quickly, work on multiple tasks concurrently, and excel in high-pressure/high-impact situations
• Broad knowledge of CIA mission and values