Supervisory Patent Attorney

Elevate your career at an agency that celebrates, supports, and thrives on building the bridge that ensures intellectual property (IP) rights are accessible to everyone. The USPTO is a diverse and inclusive agency that is seeking talented professionals to serve as Supervisory Patent Attorneys with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). This position will assist with all PTAB jurisdictions and manage, supervise, and grow the Patent Attorney program.

You must provide at least one of the following as proof of fulfillment of the requisite education requirement:

A. Possess a Bachelor's degree, Master's Degree, or Doctor of Philosophy Degree (referred to as "degree(s)") in a Recognized Technical Subject.

Applicant must establish possession of the necessary scientific and technical training by providing a transcript showing that a degree was awarded in one of the following subjects by an accredited U.S. college or university, or that the equivalent was awarded by a foreign university in one of the following subjects:

1. Engineering (Eng.) Physics; 2.Environmental Eng.; 3.Gen. Engineering; 4. Genetic Eng.; 5.Geological Eng.; 6. Industrial Eng.; 7. Marine Eng.; 8. Materials Eng.; 9. Mechanical Eng.; 10. Metallurgical Eng.; 11. Mining Eng.; 12.Nuclear Eng.; 13. Ocean Eng.; 14. Petroleum Eng.; 15. Textile Eng.; 16. Biology; 17. Biochemistry; 18. Biological Science; 19. Biophysics; 20. Botany; 21. Computer Science*; 22. Electronics Technology; 23. Food Technology; 24. General Chemistry; 25. Genetics; 26. Marine Technology; 27. Materials Science; 28. Microbiology; 29. Molecular Biology; 30. Neuroscience; 31. Organic Chemistry; 32. Pharmacology; 33. Physics; 34. Textile Technology; 35. Aerospace Eng.; 36. Aeronautical Eng.; 37. Agricultural Eng.; 38. Bioengineering; 39. Biomedical Eng.; 40. Ceramic Eng.; 41. Chemical Eng.; 42. Civil Eng.; 43. Computer Eng.; 44. Electrical Eng.; 45. Electrochemical Eng.; 46. Electronics Eng.

Degrees In Other Subjects: Applicant with a degree in a subject not listed above, such as Pharmacy, Mechanical Technology, or a Computer Science degree from an institution that was not accredited by the CSAC of the CSAB or by the CAC of ABET on or before the date the degree was awarded must establish. Applicant possesses the necessary scientific and technical training under either sections B or C below.

OR

B. Possess a Degree in Another Subject other than degree listed in section A.

Applicant must establish possession of scientific and technical training equivalent to that received at an accredited U.S. college or university for a degree in one of the subjects listed in section A. To establish such equivalence, applicant can satisfy one of the following four options, other training, or other education listed below. Applicant must submit the necessary documentation and objective evidence showing satisfaction of one of the options or other means of qualifying. Option 1: 24 semester hours in physics. Only physics courses for physics majors will be accepted. ii. Option 2: 32 semester hours in a combination consisting of the following: Eight semester hours in a combination of chemistry and physics, with at least one course including a lab, and 24 semester hours in biology, botany, microbiology, or molecular biology. Only courses for science or engineering majors will be accepted. iii. Option 3: 30 semester hours in chemistry. Only chemistry courses for chemistry majors will be accepted. iv. Option 4: 40 semester hours in a combination consisting of the following: Eight semester hours in a combination of chemistry, physics, and/or biology, with at least one course including a lab, and 32 semester hours of chemistry, physics, biology, botany, microbiology, molecular biology, or engineering. Only courses for science or engineering majors will be accepted. For Computer Science, see other "Other Acceptable Course Work." All acceptable coursework for Options 2 and 4 must be for science or engineering majors.

OR

C. Possess practical Engineering or Scientific Experience.

Applicant relying on practical engineering or scientific experience or who does not qualify under section A or B above may establish the required technical training by demonstrating applicant has passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) test. Applicant attempting to qualify under this section must submit a transcript showing the award of a Bachelor's degree.

OR

D. Provide evidence that applicant has successfully passed the USPTO registration exam.

Evidence includes a copy of the notice stating that you passed the examination from the USPTO.

AND

E. Proof of successful completion of a law degree (minimum: J.D. or equivalent).

AND

F. Proof of active membership of the Bar of any state, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or any U.S. territory, in good standing.

If this position requires proof of higher education, or you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website - US Department of Education. Another listing of services that can perform this evaluation is available at the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) website. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course-by-course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.

NOTE: Only education and experience acquired before the filing deadline is considered. Report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by institutions recognized by the U.S. Dept. of ED.

The physical worksite for this position is Nationwide. This position is remote eligible per agency and business unit discretion/policy.

This position is located in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).

As a Supervisory Patent Attorney, you will be working within the largest IP Rights governing body in the nation. You will be supporting economic growth and positioning America as the hub of critical thinking on patent-related matters in the world. The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA) (Public Law 112-29; Sept. 16, 2011) has made the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) the cutting edge of evolution in patent law.

This role is the ideal next career step for you if:

• You are able to exercise the full range of supervisory duties, including reviewing and evaluating the performance for all patent attorneys under your supervision for compliance with standards and assigning work.
• You have the skills to analyze procedures before the Board and the ability to develop desirable Rule changes pertinent thereto.
• You have the ability to make authoritative interpretations of legal precedents and technology reviewed by patent attorneys under your supervision, and you are able to perform a number of related duties.
• You have experience reviewing and analyzing current and proposed patent laws, regulations, guides and directives and are able to provide substantive technical guidance on subject issues.
• You are able to develop policies, regulations, and other guidance related to the review of adverse decisions of examiners upon applications for patents, or in reexamination proceedings, the determination of priority and patentability of invention in interferences declared, as well as AIA trial proceedings and other possible future statutory duties.
• You are able to prepare reports and maintain records of work accomplishments and administrative information and coordinate the preparation, presentation, and communication of work-related information to management.

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. OPM Qualifications Standards are available at OPM Website.

Patent Attorney Series, 1222

Specialized Experienceis experience that has equipped applicants with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the federal service. For this position, the next lower grade level is a GS-14.

Specialized experience for this position includes:

1. Experience analyzing and interpreting applicable technologies, patent laws, and regulations to generate and develop new hypotheses and theories relative to patent prosecution or examination of patent applications.
2. Experience leading a team using team-building skills and techniques to ensure efficient and adequate outcomes and results.
3. Experience identifying long-range implications of proposed actions and preparing a plan to address such impacts.

Professional legal experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled. Legal work is described as extremely complex and difficult and requires a high order of original and creative legal endeavor in balancing conflicting interests; has broad or wide-scope impact on an economy, industry, private or public interests; and may involve directly or indirectly very large sums of money. Work may also involve patent examination or patent prosecution experience; acting as an attorney in charge of the preparation and presentation of cases; recommending policies and developing procedures and regulations to implement new or amended legislation; and acting as legal counsel to a major firm or organization.

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.