Summary Would you like to work with USPTO to support U.S. commerce and innovation? The Trademarks organization supports these goals in service to brand owners and entrepreneurs through the examination of trademark applications and issuance of trademark registrations. We welcome innovative thinkers who enjoy a collaborative and dynamic work environment at the exciting intersection of trademark law, policies, regulations, and procedures related to the federal registration of trademarks. Responsibilities If you are ready to showcase your legal skills in developing legislation, federal rules and agency policy related to the examination of applications for trademark registration, then we are excited for you to join our senior team as the Trademark Legal and Examination Policy Specialist. This position is located within the Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Trademark Examination Policy. The Office is charged with developing trademark examination policy and trademark regulations that implement examination policy and procedures. As the Trademark Legal and Examination Policy Specialist, your colleagues will comprised of highly skilled team members with expertise in trademark law, business, data and project management, and IT, working together to ensure that new legislation, rules, and policy decisions are translated into revised procedures for Examining Attorneys and other staff under the Commissioner for Trademarks. The person in this role: Reviews problem cases and identifies issues on which there is a need for a statement of examination policy. Discusses relevant issues with high-level agency officials and develops trademark examination policy whenever the law is undecided, unclear, or ambiguous and has resulted in a diversity of opinion as to its application, or where inconsistent practices have developed within the USPTO. Identifies examination procedures that are unnecessary or cumbersome and suggests ways to eliminate or revise the procedures to result in a more efficient and useful examination process. Serves as the principal specialist in preparing new rules that affect trademark policy, examination, and procedures. Conducts or participates in hearings, conferences and meetings with trademark organizations and private sector trademark attorneys to explain the proposed rules changes and, where appropriate, seek public comment. Translates policy decisions into revised rules and procedures for Examining Attorneys and support staff in organizations under the Commissioner for Trademarks. Produces official memoranda of USPTO policy and detailed directives to the examiners and the public for acceptable trademark practice and interpretation. Serves as an expert in trademark examination issues related to international treaties such as the Madrid Protocol, the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks, and the Paris Convention. Serves as the liaison to the Office of Policy and International Affairs. Represents the agency in meetings with officials from foreign governments to explain U.S. practice regarding trademark examination and registration, and to explain the U.S. application of various international agreements relating to trademark registration. Assists in answering questions from members of Congress regarding trademark examination policy. Assists in developing new or revised legislation, including legislation that implements international agreements and treaties. If you can see yourself in this role and are excited by our mission, we look forward to receiving your application! Requirements Conditions of Employment 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 four 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: Expert knowledge of trademark law, policy, practice, and procedure relating to the examination of applications for trademark registration, including knowledge of international trademark treaties. Expert knowledge of the rule making process and the process for developing examination policy. Experience analyzing and reviewing complex legal documents pertaining to Trademark law. Experience of effective communication, both written and oral to senior level officials. Education Candidates must have a law degree and active membership in good standing of the Bar of any state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or any territorial court under the Constitution. Additional Information Probationary Period: You will be required to serve a two-year probationary period. Relocation expenses are not authorized and will be paid. 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 noncritical sensitive designation of moderate risk. 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 the Department of Homeland Security Website. All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice. 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).