Summary

Take your career to the next level by becoming one of USPTO's senior leaders within the Patents Corps! As a Supervisory Patent Examiner, imagine being responsible for fostering innovation and enabling the protection of intellectual property.

Duties

This position is announced as remote, subject to agency policy and applicable law. Employees who are current participants in the USPTO's Telework Enhancement Act Program (TEAP) may be approved to continue to work from their current alternate worksite as their official duty station in this position, with reporting to the office as required pursuant to the TEAP Operating Procedures. Employees whose current alternate worksite is within 50 miles of the USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, VA, are not eligible for new participation in TEAP in this position but may continue to telework and report to the office in accordance with USPTO telework policy.

As a Supervisory Patent Examiner, you will:

• Drive innovation in how we examine patents. Beyond day-to-day examination, you'll contribute to improving our processes through analytical research and active involvement in shaping the future of patent work.
• Test new ideas and methods. Try alternative examination approaches and share valuable feedback to help improve efficiency and performance.
• Play a key role serving as head of a Patent Examining Art Unit under the general administrative direction of the Group Director.
• Guide authoritative interpretation of legal precedents for making a wide variety of decisions involving the subject matter of a Technology Center.
• Evaluate cutting-edge technologies by testing innovative tools, including artificial intelligence, and provide insights on their potential to transform how we work; as well as participating in pilot programs and new initiatives. Help shape and refine new work structures and processes, offering recommendations for streamlining operations and improving outcomes.
• Lead through the energetic and dynamic exercising of the full range of supervisory and managerial duties associated with the direction of work in the art unit, developing and training employees, reviewing and evaluating the work and performance of subordinates, and determining the staffing needs of the unit.
• Selectee(s) may be required to perform an initial rotational assignment at the Patent Training Academy prior to assignment in the Technology Center.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Applicants will only be accepted from United States Citizens and Nationals.
• Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related competencies.
• You must meet the definition of specialized experience.
• Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
• Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
• If selected, you may be required to complete a one-year supervisory probationary period.
• You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
• Time-in-grade/band requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
• Suitable for Federal Employment.
• This position requires the completion of an OGE-450 Financial Disclosure.

Qualifications

You must meet the following United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements for the advertised position. OPM's prescribed Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Professional and Scientific Positions can be found at: Group Coverage Qualifications Standards for Professional and Scientific Positions and the Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) for GS-1226, Patent Examining Series: General Schedule Qualification Standards. You must meet all qualification requirements including time-in-grade (refer to 5 CFR 300.604 for more information on time-in-grade) by the closing date of the job announcement.

Patent Examining Series: 1226 Individual Occupational Requirements:

Basic Requirements:

1. Degree: industrial design, product design, architecture, applied arts, graphic design, fine/studio arts, or art teacher education. OR
2. Combination of education and experience courses equivalent to a major in one of the above disciplines, or a combination of related courses totaling at least 20 semester hours in industrial design, product design, architecture, applied arts, graphic design, fine/studio arts, or art teacher education, plus appropriate experience or additional education. OR
3. Four years of experience in the field of industrial design, product design, architecture, applied arts, graphic design, fine/studio arts, or art teacher education that demonstrated knowledge of the fundamental principles of the field involved in the position to be filled equivalent to that which would have been obtained through successful completion of a full 4-year degree as shown in A above.

NOTE: The experience described in (C) can include reviewing and analyzing technical drawings submitted in patent applications and relevant prior art.

Evaluation of Graduate Education: Qualifying graduate education must have been in a field appropriate to the position to be filled. An LL.B. or J.D. degree from a recognized law school or membership in the bar of any State, territory, or the District of Columbia is also qualifying for GS-9.

Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the federal service.

Candidates for the GS-15 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as experience examining patent applications and reviewing drawings as related to articles of manufacture.

Selective Placement Factor: Must have full signatory authority.

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.

Education

Education may not be substituted for specialized experience at this grade level.

Additional information

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.

This is a Non-Bargaining Unit position.

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

Background Investigation - If selected for this position, you may be required to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306), which includes a fingerprint and credit check, to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.

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

The USPTO participates in E-Verify. For more information on E-Verify, please visit the Department of Homeland Security Website.

Supervisory Probationary Period - If selected, you may be required to complete an initial one-year supervisory probationary period.

Relocation Expenses are not authorized and will not be paid.

CTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a "well qualified" rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: Career Transition.

CTAP documentation requirements are listed in the 'Required Documents' section of this announcement.

More than one selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade, and unit occur within 90 days from the date the certificate was issued.

All application materials become the property of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

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

Benefits

Help

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.