Deputy Chief Policy Officer for Patents and Innovation

Summary

The United States Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) mission is to promote innovation and competition by providing quality examination and issuance of patent and trademark applications, guiding domestic and international intellectual property policy, and delivering intellectual property information and education worldwide. Through the issuance of patents, the USPTO encourages technological advancement by providing incentives to invent, invest in, and disclose new technology worldwide.

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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.

All applicants will be assessed for executive competency against the five mandatory Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs). If your two-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and PTQs, you will not receive further consideration for the position. For more information regarding the SES and ECQs, please visit the Executive Core Qualifications page.

The incumbent of this position serves as a USPTO DCPO and, as such, directs the successful administration and implementation of the strategic goals for OPIA.

Specifically, the incumbent performs or supervises the following functions:

• Leading and directing the formulation of legal policy proposals, preparation of interpretive and supporting documentation to carry out the programs and policies, and the review and analysis of other legal proposals concerning intellectual property matters.
• Analysis of patent-related policy issues before the executive branch and evaluation of public views through various means, including public hearings, request for comments, round tables, and other forms of stakeholder consultations.
• Developing patent-related policy and leading in promoting international development of intellectual property systems and advocating improvements in and more cost-effective means of protecting and enforcing the intellectual property rights of U.S. nationals throughout the world.
• Supporting developing and maintaining multilateral systems for the protection of intellectual property rights with respect to patent issues.

• Participation in the establishment, negotiation, examination, and execution of agreements with other intellectual property of?ces on patent matters, including the development and implementation of programs aimed at facilitating the acquisition and enforcement of patent rights.
• Participating in the intellectual property aspects of trade consultations in the conclusion of free trade agreements, bilateral investment treaties, and other trade agreements.
• Participating in the intellectual property aspects of United Nations negotiations relating to health, climate, food, security, and other matters that may intersect with intellectual property .
• Promotion of the establishment and execution of adequate and effective IP protection and enforcement systems in developing and least-developed countries.

The OPIA DCPO is responsible for the oversight, coordination, and management of the OPIA Patent Team, which includes attorneys and economists. Responsibilities include management oversight of the following:

• Recruitment, management and supervision of the selection, training and development of personnel.
• Coordination of policies relating to domestic and international patent-related issues and priorities.
• Development of policy priorities for the USPTO and the Administration with regard to the provision of technical assistance and capacity building for developing and least-developed countries.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Subject to a 1-year Senior Executive Service (SES) probationary period (unless already completed).
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment.
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so. (see
• File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278e within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
• You will be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
• May be subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.

Qualifications

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. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs) related to this 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.

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

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

PTQ 1 : Knowledge and experience in U.S. and international intellectual property legal systems and procedures, including patent law, and in international trade and IP treaties and agreements.

PTQ 2 : Experience managing domestic and international programs, including planning, evaluation, and resource allocation.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the Professional Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and PTQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position.

There are five ECQs:

• ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding
• ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency
• ECQ 3: Merit and Competence
• ECQ 4: Leading People
• ECQ 5: Achieving Results

Note: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.

Education

You 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 : If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov)

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.

Mobility: Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES leaders. Individuals selected for SES positions members may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines, and may be required to sign a Reassignment Rights and Obligation Agreement.

Veterans Preference: Veterans' preference is not applicable to the SES.

Tiering: The USPTO structures its SES positions into categories (i.e. tiers) to determine the pay range for each position. The categories are based on the position scope, breadth, functions, and placement within the structure of organizational levels across the Department/Agency. This position falls within Tier II of USPTO's structure.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement :

Employment Information Resources - Resource Center :

The USPTO participates in E-Verify. For more information on E-Verify, please visit

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

The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, 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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