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.

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

About the role

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.

This position is located in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Office of Public Engagement (OPE).

Responsibilities

• 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.

Requirements

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 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)

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

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.
• 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.
• Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related competencies.
• If selected, you will be required to pass a background investigation.