Skip to main content

This job has expired

Technology Center Group Director

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Alexandria, Virginia
Closing date
Aug 13, 2021
Duties

Summary

The USPTO is a fully user fee-funded organization with an annual budget in excess of $3 billion and approximately 13,000 employees comprised largely of engineers, scientists, and attorneys. The USPTO, a progressive organization at the forefront of intellectual property issues around the world, is seeking a high performing professionals to join its Senior Executive Team as Technology Center Group Directors.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The Group Director will serve under the administrative direction of an Assistant Commissioner for Patents, and will exercise administrative and technical authority over a patent examining group. The Group Director is responsible for the following:
  • Comprehensive planning and management functions essential to effective patent examining group Technology Center operations;
  • Recommends or initiates programs and procedures to implement official policies, and assists in the development of patent examining practice and procedures and maintains quality, timeliness and quantity performance standards;
  • Adjudicates petitions for the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office;
  • Performs staff functions related to human resource management and manpower utilization, training and career development, along with the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity program goals affecting the group;
  • Supports automation and the classification and documentation of the technological arts.

PLEASE NOTE: The physical worksite for this position is located in Alexandria, VA. However, the USPTO is currently under a maximum telework posture due to the COVID-19 pandemic; therefore, this position is currently under a 100 percent telework schedule. The position's telework schedule will likely change in the future when USPTO moves away from its maximum telework posture. At that time, the incumbent will be expected to report to the physical work site in accordance with the updated status requirements of their supervisor. The nature and scope of future telework opportunities will be subject to the unit's telework policy, any applicable bargaining unit agreements, and supervisory approval. Payment of relocation expenses, as applicable, will be paid in accordance with this Job Opportunity Announcement. Non-compliance with the supervisor's telework-schedule requirement could result in adverse action, including separation.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Occasional travel may be required.

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
00

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen or National
  • Be willing to relocate to the Washington, DC metro region
  • Have comprehensive, recent experience in the duties described
  • Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check
  • Work effectively both autonomously and within a matrixed team
  • Responses to PTQs and ECQs (10,000 character limit each)
  • You must use the USA Jobs text boxes when submitting your PTQs & ECQs
  • Resume requirements outlined in "Required Documents" Section
  • Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov)


You must be a U.S. Citizen or National to qualify for this position. You will need to successfully complete a background security investigation before you can be appointed into this position. You may be required to serve on a one year probationary period. You will be required to submit a Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-278) upon appointment.

Qualifications

Experience must have been at a sufficiently high level of difficulty to clearly show that the candidate possesses the required professional and technical qualifications and executive core 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.

Applicants must clearly demonstrate in their application materials that they possess managerial attributes in the four Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs). Each response should should clearly describe the applicant's experience in relation to the specific PTQ and specific examples of accomplishments. Applicants must also clearly demonstrate in their application materials that they possess managerial attributes in the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs). Each response should clearly describe the applicant's experience in relation to the specific ECQ and specific examples of accomplishments.

* Please provide your narrative responses to the Professional Technical Qualification (PTQs) and Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) questions - Do not write "see resume".

*Applicants are required to input narrative responses to the Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs) and Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) in the text boxes as prompted by USAJobs. Each PTQ and each ECQ have a 10,000-character limit (to include spaces) and must be adhered to.

*Applicants must use the USA Jobs text boxes for submitting their PTQs and ECQs.

The Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs) for this position are:

1. Please describe your experiences and the principles you applied while managing a professional staff who worked in the patent prosecution process. Be sure to include specific examples of the challenges you faced, the results of your actions, how you prioritized your responsibilities and how you led your staff. Clearly articulate your rationale in devising a solution and some of the lessons you learned.

2. Please clearly describe your experiences in developing, leading, and implementing organizational policies and programs in Intellectual Property. Be sure to explain fully your contributions to a team or to a project that furthered the organizational mission and your rationale behind your actions.

3. Please clearly describe your experiences, as a manager or neutral mediator, addressing conflicts that arose in the patent prosecution process. Be sure to include specific examples, your rationale in addressing the conflicts, the results of your actions and any lessons you learned.

4. Please clearly describe your knowledge of the scientific, technical and legal matters associated with the patent process, which includes the preparation and/or prosecution of patent applications, the classification of patents, or comparable experience in the patent field. Competency in these areas must be sufficient to manage the patent process.

Please Note: Current career SES members, former career SES members with reinstatement eligibility and SES Candidate Development Program graduates who have been certified by OPM, only need to submit a resume and narrative statement covering each of the Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs) requirements and do NOT need to address the Executive Core Qualifications.

For the following five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs), you are required to submit a narrative response addressing your specific knowledge, skills, and abilities that demonstrate your possession of these qualifications. Be sure to provide specific examples of what you have done that demonstrates your possession of each ECQ. For more information about the Executive Core Qualifications please visit this site: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/reference-materials/guidetosesquals_2012.pdf

Leading Change - This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.

Leading People - This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide a teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.

Results Driven - This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems and calculating risks.

Business Acumen - This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial and information resources strategically.

Building Coalitions- This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.

Applicants are encouraged to follow the Challenge, Context, Action and Result (C-C-A-R) model outlined in the Guide to SES Qualifications.

Challenge - Describe a specific problem or goal.
Context - Describe the individuals and groups you worked with, and/or the environment in which you worked, to address a particular challenge (e.g., clients, co-workers, members of Congress, shrinking budget, low morale).
Action - Discuss the specific actions you took to address a challenge.
Result - Give specific examples of measures/outcomes that had some impact on the organization. These accomplishments demonstrate the quality and effectiveness of your leadership skills.

Note: Submit only the documents requested. Additional documents will not be reviewed by the rating panel. Uploaded documents addressing the PTQ's and ECQs will not be accepted.

Education

You must show successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, biotechnology, computer science, or other physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering fields.

Additional information

Probationary Period: You will be required to serve a one-year probationary period unless you previously completed the probationary period in the SES.

Mobility: Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES leaders and generally is a key to advancement. Therefore, applicants are expected to be mobile and once appointed SES members may be reassigned at the discretion of the appointing authority.

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 risk level designation of "high" risk.

Drug Testing: The incumbent may be required to submit to a drug test to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and, if appointed, the incumbent will be subjected to random drug testing procedures.

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 http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1185221678150.shtm

All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.

Relocation Expenses are not authorized and will not be paid.

Veteran preference does not apply to the Senior Executive Service.

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).

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applicants must clearly demonstrate in their application materials that they possess managerial attributes in the four Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs). Each response should clearly describe the applicant's experience in relation to the specific PTQ and specific examples of accomplishments.

Applicants must also clearly demonstrate in their application materials that they possess managerial attributes in the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs). Each response should clearly describe the applicant's experience in relation to the specific ECQ and specific examples of accomplishments.

Resume - Applicants have the option of including a USAJobs system generated resume or uploading a resume in PDF (Only the first 5 pages will be reviewed). Uploaded resume pages in excess of five pages will not be considered beyond the five pages.

Narrative Responses - Please provide your narrative responses to the Professional Technical Qualification (PTQs) and Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) questions - Do not write "see resume".

Applicants are required to input narrative responses to the Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs) and Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) in the text boxes as prompted by USAJobs.

*Each PTQ and each ECQ have a 10,000-character limit (to include spaces) and must be adhered to. Applicants must use the USA Jobs text boxes for submitting their PTQs and ECQs.

Note: Submit only the documents requested. Additional documents will not be reviewed by the rating panel. Uploaded documents addressing the PTQ's and ECQs will not be accepted.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)

Trust determination process
Credentialing , Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

A complete application consists of:

1) Resume - Your resume should indicate your citizenship and should list your educational and work experience including job titles, salaries, employment dates, duties and accomplishments, experience and how it relates to the PTQ's in the job announcement. Please Note: Responses to job questions that are not fully supported by the information in your resume may result in adjustments to your rating. Applicants have the option of including a USAJobs system generated resume or uploading a resume in PDF (Only the first 5 pages will be reviewed). Uploaded resume pages in excess of five pages will not be considered beyond the five pages.

2) Narrative responses - Your narrative responses to the Professional Technical Qualification (PTQs) and Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) questions. Do not write "see resume". Applicants are required to input narrative responses to the Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs) and Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) in the text boxes as prompted by USAJobs. Each PTQ and each ECQ have a 10,000-character limit (to include spaces) and must be adhered to.

Applicants must use the USA Jobs text boxes for submitting their PTQs and ECQs.

3) Transcript(s) - Unofficial copies are acceptable; however, if selected you will be required to furnish official transcripts. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements. Inadequate or illegible information could result in non-qualification and loss of consideration.

4) SES CDP QRB Certificate - Candidates who have successfully completed an Office of Personnel Management approved SES Candidate Development Program must submit a copy of their Qualification Review Board (QRB) certificate.

5) SF-50 (Applicable to Current or Former Federal Employees Only): If you are a current or former Federal employee, a copy of a recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, that indicates Federal status, grade, tenure, and type of service. Please redact your social security number and date of birth.

NOTE: Submit only the documents requested. Additional documents will not be reviewed by the rating panel. Uploaded documents addressing the PTQs and ECQs will not be accepted.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Get job alerts

Create a job alert and receive personalized job recommendations straight to your inbox.

Create alert