Director, National Patent Engagement & Regional Offices

Are you ready to lead national patent engagement and help shape how innovators connect with the USPTO across the country? 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.

A recruitment incentive may be paid to an employee who is newly appointed to the Federal Government.

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.

Duties

• Leads, coordinates, and facilitates high-level engagement with intellectual property and stakeholder leaders at the local, State, and Federal levels.
• Promotes understanding of intellectual property and the value of patent protection by strengthening public awareness of the products and services the USPTO offers to support the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• Represents the Agency in high-visibility public forums, stakeholder meetings, media interviews, briefings, hearings, conferences, and special events.
• Communicates complex patent 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).
• Builds and sustains productive relationships with key stakeholders, including patent practitioners, inventors, businesses, trade associations, academia, and interagency partners.
• Identifies stakeholder concerns, emerging issues, and opportunities for engagement, and advises senior leadership on matters that may affect confidence in or understanding of patent operations and services.
• Supports Agency efforts to encourage innovation and expand awareness of patent and trademark protections by serving as a catalyst for outreach in key technology areas and innovation communities.

Qualifications

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.

Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs):

• 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.
• Expert knowledge of the scientific, technical, and legal matters in the patent process, including application preparation and prosecution, classification, and comparable patent field work, sufficient to lead high-level external and internal engagements.

Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs):

• Commitment to the Rule of Law and Principles of the American Founding;
• Driving Efficiency;
• Merit and Competence;
• Leading People;
• Achieving Results.

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.

Conditions of Employment

Applications will only be accepted from United States Citizens and Nationals and your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related competencies. If selected, you will be required to pass a background investigation.