Director for Trademark Petitions

Summary

Do you believe in preserving an effective and secure trademark register and want to work with us to protect our trademark community? We have an exciting opportunity for you!

If you're ready to take on this rewarding and challenging career, come join our team as the Director of the Office of Petitions and support our ongoing efforts to provide consistent, high-quality and timely trademark services.

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Duties

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The physical worksite for this position is located in Alexandria , Virginia . Presence at the Alexandria, VA campus is required for this role, as it includes on site functions that must be performed in person. Position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with agency policy/business unit discretion. The agency currently allows for 52 hours of telework per calendar year.

If you're inspired and up for an exciting challenge, we invite you to join the dynamic, skilled and collaborative team located in the Trademarks' Office of Petitions, Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Trademark Examination Policy (DCTEP).

The DCTEP is responsible for developing, communicating, and measuring consistency in trademark examination policy to help ensure that the USPTO issues high-quality and timely registrations. In addition, DCTEP develops and administers trademark regulations that implement examination policy and procedures.

The Petitions Office is responsible for deciding Petitions to the Director requesting equitable relief and for determining whether third-party evidence submitted in a Letter of Protest should be referred to examination.

As Director for Trademark Petitions:

• You'll oversee the activities and resources of a high-level team of attorney-advisors, and paralegals within the Trademarks Petitions and Liaison Office.
• You'll be responsible for the development and formulation of new petition practices and procedures as well as revising existing practices, procedures and associated training material.
• You'll provide legal counsel to senior leadership on complex, controversial, and visible legal matters and be involved in the cutting edge of drafting, interpretation, and application of Trademark regulations, orders opinions or other legal instruments.
• You'll provide expert analysis and application of the substantive and procedural aspects of controlling Trademark statues, regulations and case laws that impacts the agency.
• You'll play a critical role in determining whether to grant or deny petitions seeking equitable relief under the delegated authority of the USPTO Director and the Commissioner for Trademarks, as well as whether to forward evidence contained in Letters of Protest to examination.
• You'll provide high-quality written responses to Members of Congress, federal and state agencies, and the public regarding trademark inquiries.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or a National.
• Complete a Declaration of Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment.
• Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so. (see
• Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-278) will be required upon appointment and annually.
• If this is your first federal appointment, you will be required to complete a two-year probationary period. Current federal service employees may be given a new appointment, and a new probationary period may be required.
• You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum requirements for a Senior Level position, candidates must be a recognized subject matter expert with directly related experience. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at the GS-15 or equivalent level in the federal service or its equivalent in the private sector. Candidates must demonstrate their experience meets the Professional Technical Qualifications for this position in their two-page resume and this experience must have been at a sufficiently high level of difficulty to clearly show the candidate possesses the required subject matter expertise and technical qualifications set forth below.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs) related to the position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified.

Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.

PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (PTQS): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications.

PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (PTQS):

1. Demonstrated ability to plan and execute high-level programs and/or projects that are highly specialized and impact the agency or organization level. This includes establishing vision and strategy, making decisions and influencing others, and directly affecting the quality of program or project outcomes.
2. Experience providing legal advice and guidance on trademark laws, examination guidelines and rules of practice, and examining procedures. Collaborates with legal professionals by providing expertise knowledge in trademark programs and activities, to support the development of trademark IT systems.

There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs).

Education

The candidate must have a law degree from an accredited law school program and must be a member of a bar in good standing, in the United States or a Territory of the United States.

A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.

FOREIGN EDUCATION : Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

Additional information

OPM must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

This is a Non-Bargaining Unit position.

You may be required to complete the Fair Credit Act Memo.

This is a Public Trust position and has a risk level designation of " High Risk" .

Relocation expenses are not authorized and will not be paid.

All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.

USPTO Job Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should request accommodation(s) from the USPTO at

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement :

If you receive a tentative offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration of Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

Employment Information Resources - Resource Center :

The USPTO participates in E-Verify . For more information on E-Verify, please visit the Department of Homeland Security Website. All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation), national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, retaliation for engaging in protected activity, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors. If you believe that you have been discriminated against and would like to file an EEO complaint, you must do so within 45 days of the date of the alleged discriminatory act. Claims of employment discrimination must be submitted to the attention of the USPTO's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity via email (View email address on click.appcast.io) or phone View phone number on click.appcast.io).

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.