Director, National Trademarks Engagement & Community Engagement Offices

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.

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.

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 Trademarks Engagement & Community Engagement Offices reports to the Chief Public Engagement Officer and serves as the Agency's principal public-facing spokesperson on trademark matters and provides executive leadership for community engagement activities.

In this senior executive role, the incumbent represents the Agency in high-visibility external forums, media engagements, public events, and stakeholder briefings, and communicates complex trademark policy and operational matters in a clear, accurate, and persuasive manner to a broad range of audiences.

The incumbent also develops and delivers clear, accurate, and accessible information to educate internal and external audiences on basic trademark concepts, including trademark rights, filing requirements, examination procedures, and general trademark terminology. This work supports the USPTO's outreach, educational, and informational efforts designed to enhance understanding of the trademark system and the broader intellectual property system.

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

• Provides executive leadership in planning, coordinating, and facilitating high-level engagement with intellectual property and stakeholder leaders at the local, State, and Federal levels.
• Provides outreach, education, and connection to USPTO resources to current and prospective stakeholders such as innovators, inventors, entrepreneurs, the education community, and businesses of all sizes
• Advances public understanding of intellectual property by promoting awareness of the value of trademark protection and of the products and services the USPTO offers to support innovation, entrepreneurship, and brand development.
• Serves as the Agency's principal spokesperson for public engagement on trademark matters and represents the USPTO in high-visibility public forums, stakeholder meetings, media interviews, briefings, hearings, conferences, and special events.
• Communicates complex trademark 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).
• Establishes and sustains productive relationships with key stakeholders, including trademark practitioners, entrepreneurs, businesses, trade associations, academia, and interagency partners.
• Identifies stakeholder concerns, emerging issues, and opportunities for engagement; assesses potential reputational, operational, and policy implications; and advises senior leadership on matters that may affect confidence in, or understanding of, trademark operations and services.
• Supports Agency efforts to encourage innovation and strengthen awareness of trademark protection by serving as a catalyst for outreach to communities, entrepreneurs, and key industry sectors.

Salary

• $198,491 - $220,000/year

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 trademarks including extensive experience in trademark examination, trademark enforcement, 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 U.S. trademark laws and system, including demonstrated experience with the trademark application process, trademark prosecution, trademark enforcement, and trademark scams sufficient to lead high-level internal and external 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) Other 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. 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 (oeeo@uspto.gov) or phone (571-272-8292). Required Documents A complete application consists of all items listed below. Required materials must be submitted by the conclusion of the staffing process. Applications that are incomplete at that time may not be considered. Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit. Some documents may not apply to all applicants. 1. RESUME: All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages and the font size should not be smaller than 11 pts (i.e., 1 page that is double-sided or 2 pages that are one-sided each). You will not be considered for this vacancy if your resume is illegible/unreadable. Applicants seeking initial career appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) must include evidence of the ECQs and PTQs. PLEASE DO NOT USE USAJOBS RESUME BUILDER. 2. ACCOMPLISHMENT RECORD: Candidates must address all five competencies within a two-page limit using brief written narratives that describes one example of competency-related experience. Each example should document the position title and dates when the experience was obtained, detailed information about the problem or situation, the specific actions taken by the applicant, and the results or outcomes achieved by those actions. The applicant will also provide the name and contact information of an individual who can verify the provided information. 3. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Applicants are required to submit the following supporting documentation if applicable: CURRENT OR FORMER SES MEBERS: Must provide your SES appointment SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), and an SF-50 showing current career SES status or career SES reinstatement eligibility. SES CANDIDATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (SESCDP) GRADUATES: Verification of successful completion of an OPM-approved SESCDP and OPM SES QRB certification. 4. EDUCATION DOCUMENTATION: For positions with an education requirement, submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected and not already on file. See "Education" for more details. 5. PROOF OF GOOD STANDING AND ACTIVE BAR MEMBERSHIP, or the ability to become an active member prior to start date, of a bar of any state, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory. Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents contain personal information such as SSN and DOB and some documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove said personal information before you submit your application. You must provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected. How to Apply

***If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose this information within your application.

To apply for this position, you must complete this application and submit any required documents specified in the Required Documents section and submit by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.

To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.

Follow the prompts to select and upload your resume and/or other required documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the "Include Personal Information" section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.

You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.

It is applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered and uploaded, (i.e., resume and other required documents) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application.

Application packages will NOT be accepted via mail. Due to security processes, mail delivery takes approximately 2-3 weeks to process at which time the vacancy announcement will be closed, and no further consideration will be given to additional application packages.