Group Director Trademark Law Offices

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. Learn more about this agency Duties 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 Group Director for Trademark Law (GDTL) offices serve under the general administrative direction of the Commissioner for Trademarks and the Deputy Commissioner for Trademark Operations. As the Group Director for Operations, the incumbent plans, coordinates, and manages the activities of a group of Trademark Law Offices, and/or supporting legal and/or technical divisional units. Provides leadership in achieving continuity of purpose, administrative integration, production efficiency, and uniformity of practice throughout the Trademark Examining operation. In coordination with the Commissioner for Trademarks and the Deputy Commissioner for Trademark Operations, delineates fundamental organizational goals and ensures that necessary measures are taken to attain established objectives. As the GDTL, you will: Manage and coordinate trademark examining functions involving the services of a professional examining corps and/or technical administrative and programmatic staff engaged in diversified legal and registration procedures. Prepare and promulgate notices, directives, and procedural instructions to implement and maintain statutory requirements, Trademark Rules of Practice, and policy decisions. Develop and implement policies, plans, and procedures governing organizational relationships, delegations of authority, the flow and distribution of work, accountability requirements, allocations of facilities, and examination techniques and practices, etc. Establish and maintain standards of professional competence, ensuring that Law Offices and supporting legal and/or technical divisional units are adequately staffed with qualified examining attorneys and technical and administrative support personnel. Analyze and interpret workload and production to achieve balance and maintain optimum pendency and inventory levels. Performs similar or related duties as assigned, including representing the Office to Bar groups and other interested parties. Requirements 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 - 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 (PTQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications. PTQ 1: Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of legal issues associated with the preparation and/or prosecution of trademark applications, or the classification and examination of trademarks, or in comparable work in the trademark field. PTQ 2: Demonstrated high level experience with policy development, program planning/evaluation, leading and implementing change in the areas of major process optimization including in IT systems, analyzing data to define issues effectively, developing long range visions, and achieving quantifiable results, including in law office management and administration. 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 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. 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 ***If you have accepted a VSIP payment in the last 5 years, you must disclose this information within your application. 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. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement: http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/index.cfm Employment Information Resources - Resource Center: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to The USPTO participates in E-Verify. For more information on E-Verify, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov. USPTO Job Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should request accommodation(s) from the USPTO at http://www.uspto.gov/accommodation. 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 ([email protected]) or phone (571-272-8292). Expand Hide  additional information 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. Benefits 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. Review our 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.