Placement Process Overview

Placement Process Overview for Host Offices

  1. Host offices upload and submit position descriptions
  2. Host offices review applications starting March 20, 2026.
  3. Host offices selects and contacts multiple finalists to coordinate and schedule interviews from March 25-April 13 at 12:00 noon.
  4. Rankings: Following interviews, host offices identify finalists they would be happy to host and submit rankings to STPF

Note to offices: Submit your list of preferred finalists for each position. Please be sure to only include names of finalists that you would be happy to host in your office for the fellowship year regardless of their ranking; Do not rank candidates if you do not want to host them. That said, we encourage offices to submit multiple names to STPF to increase the odds of placing a finalist with your position.

Ranking Instructions:

From the Positions page, select "rank" next to your position and the list of available finalists will populate for you to rank. Your rankings should begin with your first-choice finalist as #1, followed by #2, #3, #4, etc.

Note: The liaison who submitted the position description must submit the rankings. This step is tied to the position and cannot be transferred to alternate accounts.

In the case of multiple positions, you must clone the original position description and submit separate ranking lists for each position. If you are making a clone to designate multiple identical positions, please give each one a unique position title for clarity. This can be as simple as "Data Policy Fellow 1 of 2" and "Data Policy Fellow 2 of 2."

Please see Position Rankings for further instruction on how to submit rankings

Connect with your Program Manager after submitting your rankings

Placement Offers:STPF will make offers to the finalists, starting with the top-ranked candidates on your list. The finalists will have two business days to accept or decline each offer. During this period, they may contact you with additional questions.

All offers of fellowship placements are made by STPF via the STPF Program Manager. Because there are multiple candidates and multiple offices/agencies, it is essential that STPF serve as the intermediary, communicating in both directions the offers and acceptances.

If the finalist accepts the offer, and we have received all the necessary paperwork from the office, STPF will send the finalist formal written notification of the fellowship offer in June, which they must sign to finalize the placement with your office. We will copy the host office on these documents. The documentation needed includes written confirmation of the placement and funding for the fellowship.

If the finalist declines the offer, we will move to the next finalist on your list and will proceed in this fashion until the offer is accepted or the list of finalists is exhausted. We will check back in with you if your list is exhausted to ask you whether there are other candidates you may be willing to consider should no finalists accept the position(s).

Offers are extended on a rolling basis. Don't delay on submitting your rankings.

Preparing for a Successful Fellowship
On a rolling basis, STPF will send formal notification letters along with Fellowship Terms and other documents. Once all documents are signed, the security clearance/background check or any onboarding processes can begin.

If you have any questions, please connect with your STPF Program Manager.