What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Level Attorney Advisor (Trademarks-Domestic) position at Patent and Trademark Office?

Summary

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), a progressive organization at the forefront of intellectual property issues around the world, is seeking a talented professional to serve as a Senior Level Attorney Advisor. This position is located in the Office of Policy and International Affairs (OPIA) and the individual will serve as a technical and legal expert in the field of intellectual property rights protection for domestic trademark and geographical indications (GI) matters.

This job is open to

Federal employees - Excepted service

Current excepted service federal employees.

Duties

The Senior Level Attorney Advisor (Trademarks-Domestic) serves as the recognized technical and legal expert in the field of intellectual property rights related to the domestic protection and enforcement of trademarks and geographic indications. This position is charged with providing expert legal and technical advice to senior USPTO, Department of Commerce, and other U.S. Government agencies on the domestic protection and enforcement of trademarks and geographic indications.

In addition, the Senior Level Attorney Advisor (Trademarks Domestic) :

Provides expert legal and technical advice to senior USPTO, DOC, and Administration officials on domestic intellectual property policy with emphasis on complex trademark and geographical indication matters. Serves as the USPTO expert on domestic trademark and geographical indications issues related to the Internet.

Proposes domestic legislation on substantive law and administrative matters that are consistent with Administration goals.

Drafts and reviews, when tasked, complex legislative proposals on trademarks and geographic indications, and for major Administration proposals or communications involving trademarks and geographic indications. Clears legislative proposals and views through the Department of Commerce, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of State, the Department of Justice, et al.

Advocates enactment before the private sector, Members of Congress and their staff, particularly when the issues involved are legally or highly sensitive in nature.

Participates in interagency groups and make presentations to and secures comments from high-profile stakeholder groups.

Directs and advises other attorneys on a wide range of domestic trademark matters. Oversees the planning, direction, and timely execution of programs.

Develops multi-year and long-range work plans and contributes to and oversees the overall work to enhance achievement of goals and objectives.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.

Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.

Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov)

A two year probationary period is required.

Responses to PTQs (10,000 character limit each).

You must use the USA Jobs text boxes when submitting your PTQs.

Resume requirements outlined in "Required Documents" Section.

Financial Disclosure report required

Qualifications

To meet the minimum requirements for this position, candidates must demonstrate their experience in their narrative responses to the Professional Technical Qualifications. In addition, all responses should be reflected within the resume.

Experience must have been at a sufficiently high level of difficulty to clearly show that the candidate possesses the required professional / 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.

Professional Technical Qualifications : Applicants must clearly demonstrate in their application materials that they possess technical attributes in the Professional / Technical Qualifications (PTQs).

Please provide your narrative responses to the Professional Technical Qualification (PTQs) questions - Do not write "see resume".

Applicants are required to input narrative responses to the Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs) in the text boxes as prompted by USAJobs. Each PTQ have a 10,000-character limit (to include spaces) and must be adhered to.

Applicants must use the USA Jobs text boxes for submitting their PTQs responses

The Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs) for this position are :

Please demonstrate your comprehensive knowledge of U.S. trademark law, the U.S. legislative process and the U.S. framework for protecting and enforcing trademarks and geographical indications.

Please demonstrate your ability to effectively communicate with high-ranking officials both within and outside the federal government, including Members of Congress, international organizations, and stakeholders regarding highly complex and sensitive issues pertaining to domestic trademark and trademark enforcement laws and geographical indications.

Please demonstrate your extensive experience providing expert legal advice regarding trademark protection and enforcement, including in writing and reviewing complex legal documents pertaining to trademark protection and enforcement.

Please demonstrate your extensive experience in leadership positions and with managing resources in a technical, legal, or government organization.

Education

The minimum educational requirement is a law degree and membership in good standing of the bar of a state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico.

Additional information

Applicants applying for this position must be a United States Citizen.

Probationary Period : You will be required to serve a two-year probationary period.

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. The incumbent may be required to submit to a drug test to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and, if appointed, the incumbent may be subjected to random drug testing procedures.

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.

The USPTO participates in E-Verify. For more information on E-Verify, please visit http : / / www.dhs.gov / files / programs / gc_1185221678150.shtm

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

Relocation and / or recruitment incentives will not be authorized.

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.

The Ethics in Government Act of 1978, as amended, requires senior officials in the executive, legislative and judicial branches to file public reports of their finances as well as other interests outside the Government. If selected for this position you will be required to file a Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 278). The OGE 278 is available to the public. The primary purpose of disclosure is to assist agencies in identifying potential conflicts of interest between a filer's official duties and the filer's private financial interests and affiliations.

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 pregnancy and gender identity), 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 & Diversity via email (oeeod@uspto.gov) or phone (571-272-8292).

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.

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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

In order to be considered for this position, you must demonstrate in your application package that you meet the minimum specialized experience as defined under the "Qualifications" section, answer the Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs), and submit a detailed resume that supports your answers to the PTQs and specialized experience.

Your responses to the PTQs and resume will be evaluated by a Human Resources Specialist and / or a subject matter expert. Falsifying your background, education, and / or experience is cause for not hiring you or for changing your scored responses to questions you've answered, which may affect your overall final score. Please note that a complete application is required for consideration. (Please review the "Required Documents" section of this job announcement to see what must be included in a complete application).

To preview questions please click here.

Benefits

Required Documents

As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

A complete application consists of :

1. A resume or any other written format you choose to describe your job-related qualifications; optional cover letter : Your resume should indicate your citizenship and should list your educational and work experience including job titles, salary, employment dates, duties and accomplishments, experience and how it relates to the PTQs in the job announcement. Please Note : Responses to job questions that are not fully supported by the information in your resume may result in adjustments to your rating.

2. Na rrative responses to the PTQs : Do not write "see resume". Applicants are required to input narrative responses to the Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs) in the text boxes as prompted by USAJobs. Each PTQ and each ECQ have a 10,000-character limit (to include spaces) and must be adhered to.

3. Transcripts : You must submit copies of your law school transcripts for verification of the education requirements. Unofficial copies are acceptable, however, if selected you will be required to furnish official transcripts. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the above educational requirements. Inadequate or illegible information could result in non-qualification and loss of consideration.

4. Proof of active bar membership

5. Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) - Please submit a current SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal Employee. Your status eligibility and highest permanent grade / step / salary held in the Federal service will be validated with a copy of your most recent SF-50 , "Notification of Personnel Action" so that we may verify your time-in-grade.

NOTE : Submit only the documents requested. Additional documents will not be reviewed by the rating panel.

Your application and all required documentation must be received by 11 : 59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the closing date of this job announcement. Review your resume and responses carefully. Responses to job questions that are not fully supported by the information in your application package may result in adjustments to your rating. A Human Resources Representative will validate the qualifications of those candidates eligible to be referred to the hiring official.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements :

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and / or degrees from

schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

You MUST apply online. Email, fax or paper resumes will not be accepted. If you experience difficulties with the application process, it is your responsibility to contact the HR Specialist listed in the "Contact Information" before the closing date of this job announcement.

If you are a new user to the USAJobs Site and have never registered for an account; you will first need to create an account profile with your basic contact information and a resume to begin applying. You must be a registered USAJobs user AND you must be signed-in to your account in order to apply for this job. For help setting up an account or for general help using USAJobs, go to USAJobs Help Page.

Once you have gathered all of the required information and are ready to begin the application process, click the "APPLY ONLINE" button at the right side of the page. You will then be directed away from USAJobs to the Department of Commerce application site for USPTO.

NEED HELP? If you experience any difficulties with the application site, help is available! If you have problems completing your on-line application, contact the Monster Hiring Management Help Desk at 1-866-656-6831 or by e-mail at MGSHELP@monster.com. The help desk is available Monday - Friday 7 : 00 a.m. to 7 : 00 p.m. Eastern Time. You may call and leave a voice mail message at all other times. All required supporting documents will be collected electronically via the USAJobs "Saved Documents" feature.

Agency contact information

Samantha Middleton

Phone

571-272-1746

samantha.middleton@uspto.gov

Address

EXRD - Office of Policy and International Affairs

Office of Human Resources

Mail Stop 171

P.O. Box 1450

Alexandria, VA 22313-1450

Next steps

Candidates are evaluated by an executive rating panel based on the degree to which they meet the PTQs and considering the applicant's education, work-related experience, training, awards, and professional recognition, as set forth in the materials submitted by the candidates and placed in one of two pre-defined categories. These categories are "Highly Qualified," and "Qualified." Candidates placed in the "Highly Qualified" category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

You will receive notification through USAJOBS at each of the following points during the application process : (1) application received; (2) applicant assessed for qualifications; (3) applicant referred or not referred; and (4) selected or not selected.

Fair and Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Criminal history inquiries

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Financial suitability

New employee probationary period

Privacy Act

Reasonable accommodation policy

Selective Service

Signature and false statements

Social security number request