The District of Columbia Government’s Department of Human Resources is proud to offer its District Leadership Program (DLP). The DLP is an internship program designed to provide tomorrow’s leaders with the knowledge, tools, skills, and experiences that can be readily applied to their future challenges and pursuits, whether personal or professional.
Program Information
The program takes a holistic approach to developing Interns by providing a wide range of stimulating and developmental activities including:
- Substantive assignments in an unlimited array of functional areas related to government operations (i.e., Human Capital Management, Finance and Budgeting, Information Technology, Legal, Contracting and Procurement, Small and Local Business and Economic Development, Legislative Affairs, Health and Human Services, Education, and Performance Management);
- A customized Individual Development Planning Learning Lab and Tool;
- Classroom lectures and coursework on topics centered around core business services as well as other topics;
- Web-based training and development courses;
- A series of Profiles in Leadership brown bag seminars and presentations;
- 360⁰ performance feedback for each intern; and
- Guest lecturers focusing on topics such as Customer Service, Priorities for the District of Columbia, and Leadership Development
Participating Agencies
A number of District of Columbia Government agencies have invested in supporting the program and committed to champion the professional and personal development of the selected applicants. These agencies include Office of Human Rights, Office of Planning inclusive of its Historic Preservation Office, Child & Family Services Agency, Department of Human Services, Department of Health, District Department on the Environment, District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department, Health Benefit Exchange, District Department of Transportation, District Department of Human resources; Office of the Secretary, Executive Office of the Mayor, Board of Ethics, Office of Labor Relation and Collective Bargaining; and more!
Eligibility Requirements & Information
Undergraduate (junior or senior year) and Graduate students (currently enrolled)
- Good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 2.5 in an accredited U.S. college or university
- Must be eligible to work in the United States.
Applicants will be evaluated by the following:
- Three (3) well written essays
- A panel interview
Preference will be given to applicants who are residents of the District of Columbia and graduates of a District of Columbia high school.
Application Process
This program offers hybrid posture. Based on the host agency standard an intern will be 100% in person. The hours will remain the same.
Dates:
Required Essay: Well written essay to address three specific questions below, double space, 1000 to 1200 words using the Microsoft Office Word counter. You must answer the following questions:
- What skills and experiences do you feel have prepared you for admission to this program?
- What skills or abilities do you hope to strengthen through the District Leadership Program?
- What are your short-term and long-term goals?
Special Instructions:
- You must submit all documents attached to your application. If any document is missing, the application will be deemed incomplete and will not be evaluated.
- Professional resume
- Letter from school official (dean, head of department, advisor, etc) – to verify that you are enrolled and a student in good standing. It must include your current grade point average
- Letter from a professor (current) – to support your application as a viable candidate for this leadership program
- Well written 1000 to 1200 words essay ( one word document). Include your name, questions, and answers.)
- Submit four references with full name, email address, and telephone number
- All ‘eligible’ applicants will experience the following screening:
- Telephone interview
- Essay will be evaluated for content, structure, logic, grammar, etc
- The highest ranked applicants will go through a final evaluation during the week of May 8, 2023. This final evaluation process will be phone interviews by leaders of agencies throughout the District of Columbia Government who will host selected applicants.
Online Application
Application is closed
Contact Information
For more information on the DLP, please contact DCHR at [email protected] or Program manager, [email protected].