Technology Center Group Director

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.

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 (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications.

PTQ 1: Demonstrated management of professional staff in the patent prosecution process prioritizing responsibilities, guiding teams through challenges, devising and implementing solutions and achieving measurable results.

PTQ 2: Demonstrated ability to develop, lead, and implement organizational policies and programs in Intellectual Property and expert knowledge of scientific, technical, and legal matters in the patent process (application preparation/prosecution, classification, comparable patent-field work) sufficient to manage and lead others.

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.

Responsibilities:

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 (Director) serves under the general administrative direction of the Assistant Commissioners. The Director's duties include, but are not limited to:

• Operating and administrating at least one group in a Technology Center, identifying and allocating resource needs, initiating programs consistent with the priorities and goals of the Agency, communicating policy and decisions, establishing procedures, adjudicating petitions, participating in activities which promote the goals of the Office and supporting improvements programs presented by the Commissioner.
• Implementing of policy for the Patent Examining Groups, including changes in patent practice, revision of procedures, establishment of examining priorities, and classification of arts. The Director oversees the needs of the Group(s) pertaining to patent examination processes utilizing the Patent Statutes, the Rules of Practice, the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure and the Director's directives from the Office of the Under Secretary and the Office of the Commissioner for Patents.
• Monitoring the groups and art units for compliance with the policies and procedures of the Office. If discrepancies are identified, it is the duty of the Director to present these issues to the managers and subordinated to ensure a resolution. Additionally, the Director has the ability to resolve concerns that arise between subordinates including decisions of patentability. The Director is also responsible for communicating issues that arise in the Technology Centers and Groups to his/her superiors.
• Determining firepower needs; hiring personnel consistent with merit, qualifications and recruitment principles; placing examiners in art units best suited to their technological backgrounds and consistent with the business needs of the Office; recommending reassignments, if necessary; determining if art units should be re- organized and the reassignment of staff. Thus, the Director selects Subordinate Patent Examiners, SPRES, QAS and clerical supervisors to supervise subordinate art units and the technical support staff. The Director, is responsible for performance support staff supervisors, and reviews performance ratings for examiners and any other staff members.
• Communicating policy and procedures to their subordinates and communicating issues from the subordinates to their superiors. If discrepancies are identified, the Director present these issues to the managers and subordinated to ensure a resolution. Additionally, the Director has the ability to resolve concerns that arise between subordinates including decisions of patentability.
• Adjudicating petitions and approving Office actions in reexamination application where patents are involved in litigation. The Director is also responsible for ensuring classification of the arts and documents in the Technology Center are kept current. The Director may be assigned duties as representing the Office to Bar associations and other parties.

Salary : $198,491