Not only make your mark but make a difference! As Chief Advisor to the Commissioner for Trademarks, you'll instill confidence in our nation's trademark community as part of our Leadership team, who believe in preserving and protecting brands from the U.S. and around the world. You'll have the opportunity to provide leadership and expert guidance; develop, analyze, and evaluate programs and policies, designed to advance the Trademarks business unit's overall objectives and strategic goals.

Duties

The position is based at the USPTO's headquarters in Alexandria, VA. While teleworking a majority of days per week is possible, the position requires being at the office on an as-needed basis, which varies from week to week. A small amount of travel is likely, mostly within the US, but with the possibility of limited foreign travel as needed. If you are ready to provide expert advice and recommendations to the Commissioner for Trademarks and top management of the business unit, then we are thrilled for you to join our team as the Chief Advisor to the Commissioner for Trademarks (CA). This position is part of the Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks. The role of the Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks is to apply U.S. law in the examination, registration and maintenance of trademarks registrations. As the Chief Advisor (CA), you will work with a variety of team members across the business unit to develop, implement, manage, and evaluate plans and programs. Your work involves functions and processes characterized by breadth and intensity of effort and involves several phases pursued concurrently or sequentially with the support of others within or outside of the Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks. Major duties for the person in this role include: Researches and/or analyzes problems, issues, or program requirements. Provides expert analysis and advice on BU and agency-wide programs. Reconciles conflicts between basic policies and program goals; independently resolves trademark related issues within and outside the Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks. Surveils significant developments related to the Officeof the Commissioner for Trademarks, prepares analyses of the implications of these developments, and recommends strategies and program modifications. Analyzes new legislation and regulations and actively participates in key decision-making sessions with agency and Trademarks leadership to assess the impact of new requirements on Trademark programs and functions. Identifies and collects timely and relevant data including, without limitation, legislative and program data, and information and evidence, gathered from a variety of sources, such as interviews with senior management, program officials, employees, supervisors, and other stakeholders, internal and external to the organization; assembles and assesses information gathered; formulates findings, options, conclusions, recommendations, and strategies for implementation; presents results in written and/or oral form, which are well organized, supportable and clearly expressed. Plans and/or supports committees, boards, symposia, or conferences. Identifies and helps analyze the need for such conferences based on knowledge of the organization's priorities, programs and operations, and through work with related IP offices. Provides analytical and advisory services to assist the Commissioner for Trademarks in executing ongoing and new initiatives designed to impact advancement of the Trademarks business unit's overall objectives and strategic goals and supports the retirement of initiatives and programs that no longer add value, support objectives, or comply with legal or policy requirements. Develops, publicizes, and garners support for the program agenda by meeting with other Trademark program officials, key executives within USPTO, and other interested parties such as key officials of other Federal agencies, TPAC, contractors, members of the academic community, industry representatives, the media, and members of consumer groups. Provides guidance and assists in the creation and execution of BU communication strategies, programs and materials. Serves as liaison between the Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks, the Office of the Under Secretary (OUS) and other business units regarding internal and operational processes. Oversees detailee(s) and or work project participant(s) supporting the Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks; works in conjunction with administrative staff of the Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks. Serves as primary interlocutor for the Trademark Public Advisory Committee (TPAC). Works closely with the TPAC chair and vice-chair to set agendas, coordinate collaborative initiatives, and timelines. Oversees the coordination of TPAC programming throughout the term. Acts as the primary point-of-contact internally and externally for the publication of the TPAC Annual Report. Engages with TPAC members, Trademarks executive leadership team, and business units throughout the agency to ensure a comprehensive report, and all deadlines are met. If you can see yourself in this role and are excited by our mission, we look forward to receiving your application!

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or a National
• Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check
• Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov) if applicable
• Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-278) will be required upon appointment and annually
• You may be required to serve a two-year probationary period
• 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
• The position is based at the USPTO’s headquarters in Alexandria, VA. While teleworking a majority of days per week is possible, the position requires being at the office on an as-needed basis, which varies from week to week.
• A small amount of travel is likely, mostly within the US, but with the possibility of limited foreign travel as needed.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum requirements for this position, candidates must demonstrate their experience in their narrative responses to the Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs) questions and all narrative responses must be fully supported within their resume. *Applicants must use the USA Jobs text boxes to submit their narrative responses to the PTQs. Do not write "see resume" or "see attached documents". Each PTQ has a 10,000-character limit (to include spaces) that must be adhered to. Uploaded documents addressing the PTQs will not be accepted. 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. For the following five PTQs you are required to submit a narrative response addressing your specific knowledge, skills, and abilities that demonstrate your possession of these qualifications. The Professional Technical Qualifications for this position are: Demonstrated knowledge of trademark statutes, case law, rules of practice, Trademark Office operational requirements, practices and procedures, pre-examination, publication and issue, the intent-to-use and divisional units and post registration Comprehensive knowledge of the range of administrative laws, policies, regulations, and precedents applicable to the administration of Trademarks programs sufficient to prepare and comment on recommendations related to the way Trademarks programs are carried out. Demonstrated ability to develop programs that advance trademark policy; draft a variety of communication vehicles, including policy, speeches, testimonies, talking points, briefs, opinions and presentations; work with a variety of domestic and international organizations and stakeholders to develop and implement trademark policies; and interpret, apply, evaluate, analyze, and assess domestic and international trademark laws, policies, and principles. Ability to serve as senior expert and consultant to top agency management officials on integrating Trademarks programs with other programs of equivalent scope and complexity. Comprehensive knowledge of the concepts, processes, and methodologies used in the trademark examination process sufficient to conduct analyses and make recommendations for business unit process improvements. This includes the ability to: understand examination and policy subject matter, apply relevant trademark law legal principles involved in trademark prosecution proceedings, and effectively work with other areas of the Office to resolve complex practice and procedure issues.

Education

The candidate must have a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) 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.

Contacts

• Address EXRD - Trademarks Organization Office of Human Resources Mail Stop 171 P.O. Box 1450 Alexandria, VA 22313-1450 US
• Name: Samantha Middleton
• Phone: 571-272-1746
• Email: [email protected]