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.

A $25,000 recruitment bonus may be authorized for new federal employees in alignment with federal regulations and a signed 1-year service agreement.

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.

This position is located in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Office of Public Engagement (OPE).

The Director, National Patent Engagement & Regional Offices reports to the Chief Public Engagement Officer and serves as the agency's principal spokesperson for public engagement on patent matters. The incumbent provides strategic leadership, policy guidance, and operational oversight to ensure the regional offices support USPTO mission delivery, stakeholder engagement, and agency priorities.

The incumbent represents the agency in high-visibility external forums, media engagements, public events, and stakeholder briefings, and communicates complex patent policy and operational matters in a clear, accurate, and persuasive manner.

In addition, the incumbent develops and delivers accurate, accessible information for internal and external audiences on basic patent topics, including patent types, filing requirements, examination procedures, and general patent terminology. This role supports the USPTO's outreach, education, and informational efforts to improve understanding of the patent system and the broader intellectual property system.

The Director, National Patent Engagement & Regional Offices major duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Leads, coordinates, and facilitates high-level engagement with intellectual property and stakeholder leaders at the local, State, and Federal levels.
• Promotes understanding of intellectual property and the value of patent protection by strengthening public awareness of the products and services the USPTO offers to support the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• Represents the Agency in high-visibility public forums, stakeholder meetings, media interviews, briefings, hearings, conferences, and special events.
• Communicates complex patent policy and operational matters in a clear, credible, authoritative, and audience-appropriate manner.
• Coordinates outreach-related resources and materials with relevant business units across the Agency, including the Office of the Chief Communications Officer (OCCO), the Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks, the Office of the Commissioner for Patents, the Global Intellectual Property Academy (GIPA), and the Office of Governmental Affairs (OGA).
• Builds and sustains productive relationships with key stakeholders, including patent practitioners, inventors, businesses, trade associations, academia, and interagency partners.
• Identifies stakeholder concerns, emerging issues, and opportunities for engagement, and advises senior leadership on matters that may affect confidence in or understanding of patent operations and services.
• Supports Agency efforts to encourage innovation and expand awareness of patent and trademark protections by serving as a catalyst for outreach in key technology areas and innovation communities

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 https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx)
• File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278e within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.

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. Your resume may NOT exceed two pages, and the font size should not be smaller than 11 pts. You will not be considered for this vacancy if your resume is illegible/unreadable. Additional information on resume requirements can be located under "How To Apply".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).

A preferred candidate will have multiple years of experience relevant to patents including extensive experience in patent examination, patent prosecution, or similar duties, and the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position. The incumbent must possess the following Professional Technical Qualifications

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

PTQ 1: Exceptional oral and written communication skills, with demonstrated experience planning and leading public engagement events on intellectual property for diverse innovation audiences (academics, innovators, start-ups) and serving as a public spokesperson or executive presenter before national-level audiences.

PTQ 2: Expert knowledge of the scientific, technical, and legal matters in the patent process, including application preparation and prosecution, classification, and comparable patent field work, sufficient to lead high-level external and internal engagements.

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 - This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.
• ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency -This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.
• ECQ 3: Merit and Competence - This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.
• ECQ 4: Leading People - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.
• ECQ 5: Achieving Results - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

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

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

Your law degree must be from an accredited (or provisionally approved) law school. Accreditation in the U.S. is primarily granted by the American Bar Association. There are resources and guides that list the accredited law schools in the U.S.

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 III of USPTO's structure.

Benefits

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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.

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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.