This position is located in the U.S. Consulate Guangzhou, China. The incumbent will serve as an Intellectual Property Attorney-Advisor (IP Attaché) for the International Trade Administration/Global Markets (ITA/GM) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. This position reports to the Senior Commercial Officer and the USPTO IP Attaché Program Director, who directs the incumbent, reviews the incumbent's performance and ensures consistency with agency and administration priorities.
Summary
This position is located in the U.S. Consulate Guangzhou, China. The incumbent will serve as an Intellectual Property Attorney-Advisor (IP Attaché) for the International Trade Administration/Global Markets (ITA/GM) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. This position reports to the Senior Commercial Officer and the USPTO IP Attaché Program Director, who directs the incumbent, reviews the incumbent's performance and ensures consistency with agency and administration priorities.
The Attorney-Advisor provides authoritative advice and guidance to post senior and executive staff, U.S. Consulate executives, other government agencies, international organizations, U.S. businesses, and foreign governments regarding complex legal issues, opinions specifically related to intellectual property rights, U.S. law, and the intellectual property infrastructure in the host country. As the Attorney-Advisor, the incumbent serves as advisor to U.S. Embassy staff, other DOC agencies, Foreign Service Commercial staff at posts, other U.S. government agencies, and U.S. companies; interpreting U.S. and host country laws, calling their attention to host country actions that may affect U.S. intellectual property policy and business concerns.
Typical duties performed include but are not limited to:
Serves as an expert in intellectual property, as well as international trade, legislative procedures and executive branch decision making related to intellectual property.
Promotes high standards of intellectual property protection and enforcement in host country and/or region. In doing so, the incumbent carries out U.S. objectives to promote improvements in patent, trademark and copyright legal systems internationally for the benefit of U.S. interests.
The incumbent develops, in consultation with appropriate USPTO representatives, strategic plans for engaging countries in the region to improve their intellectual property regimes.
Serves as the United States Patent and Trademark Office representative on U.S. delegations to international meetings on intellectual property to develop international agreements, revise existing agreements or address implementation of agreements or treaties.
Responsible for program areas of international trade and intellectual property; and identifies and addresses impediments affecting the program areas.
Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Please see "Additional Information" for requirements and Conditions of Employment. Any required investigations and clearances must be completed before the selectee can be placed in the position.
Must be a US Citizen or US National.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance.
Must pass pre-employment & post-employment random drug testing.
Must be 21 years of age.
Must be registered with Selective Service System.
Must be able to obtain a medical clearance for worldwide assignment.
Must posses a Juris Doctor (JD) and/or Masters of law (LL.M) from an accredited law school.
Must be a current member of the Bar in good standing of any state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
The position requires a law degree and knowledge of all fields of IP and international agreements governing IP, including IP office operation and administration, IP training, and adherence to IP standards of protection and enforcement.
Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Please see "Other Information" for requirements and Conditions of Employment.
Qualifications
To qualify for the FP-0905-01, (GS-15 equivalency), applicants must have a minimum of six (6) years of general law experience and one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of a GS-14 in the Federal Service. Your resume will be evaluated based on evidence of your ability to clearly demonstrate the required professional law experience, specialized experience and knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs).
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):
Ability to supervise, manage, and oversee a subordinate staff engaged in legal work.
Ability to write a variety of documents including policy, speeches, talking points, briefs, and options.
Ability to provide succinct, timely and comprehensive reports, both orally and in writing.
Knowledge of foreign and domestic intellectual property laws, the effect of U.S. political relationships and positions with respect to other countries on the protection of intellectual property internationally, foreign and domestic laws affecting the rights of U.S. citizens and foreign nationals and/or international agreements, treaties, etc., including business or economic matters affecting the same.
Ability to prepare expert legal analysis on intellectual property issues developing in the host country and the region.
Ability to express orally and in writing complex legal issues and interrelationships of public policy interests and issues impacting agency programs.
Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with high-level officials.
Professional Legal/Law Experience for all attorneys: Professional legal/law experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) and/or competencies to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled. This experience is characterized by breadth and depth of experience in rendering professional legal advice and services with respect to questions, regulations, practices, or other matters falling within the purview of a Federal government agency, private sector, law firm, or other organization; preparing interpretative and administrative orders, rules, or regulations to give effect to the provisions of governing statutes or other requirements of law; drafting, negotiating, or examining contracts or other legal documents; drafting, preparing formal comments, or making substantive recommendations regarding proposed legislation; editing and preparing for publication statutes enacted by Congress and opinions or decisions of a court, commission, or board; drafting and reviewing decisions for consideration and adoption by an organization or official; conducting investigations to obtain facts; determining questions of law; studying, analyzing and evaluating legal precedents, to present findings. 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 acting as principal 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, general or senior counsel to a major firm or organization.
Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.
Specialized Experience is defined as:
Experience demonstrating knowledge of all fields of Intellectual Property (IP) and International IP agreements;
Experience assisting in and/or devising the correct strategy for resolving complex issues by applying sound knowledge of the fields of foreign policy, international trade and IP;
Strong communication skills to liaise with local contracts and work closely with appropriate Consulate officials on developments.
Experience providing guidance and assistance in negotiating on IP matters in bilateral and/or multilateral settings;
Experience planning, organizing and/or executing training and outreach programs on complex IP issues.
Experience providing guidance and assistance on the basic principles governing protection of intellectual property, such as patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets and/or treaties administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in order to monitor foreign governments' implementation of trade agreements and to assess foreign governments' compliance with international trade obligations;
Experience supervising professional staff and managing resources in a technical or legal organization; AND
Experience demonstrating of U. S. statues, regulations, decisions and policies and international agreements pertaining to international trade and intellectual property to enable development of proposals or recommendations that may alter (e.g. improve property protection for U. S. interests) domestic and international law on international property or affect the role or operation of the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office(USPTO).
Education
Applicants must meet the following criteria before the closing date of this announcement.
You must have a graduate degree, with an LL.M or J. D. form a full course of study in a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association, or a State Accredited Law School;
Be a current member in good standing of the bar of a State, Territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;
Posses at least six years of professional legal/law experience; and
Posses at least one year of specialized experience.
POSITIVE EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS: (All grade levels)You must have a graduate degree, with an LL.M. or J. D. from a full course of study in a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association, or a State Accredited Law School, and be a current member in good standing of the bar of a State, Territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.
Additional information
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: You must complete a Financial Disclosure Report within 30 days of appointment.
MEDICAL CLEARANCE: You must be able to obtain a medical clearance for worldwide assignment (including dependents if applicable).
VETERANS PREFERENCE: Veterans' preference does not apply to this vacancy as an Attorney Appointment within the Excepted Service. While there is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service, the Department considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor in the hiring process. If claiming veteran's preference, you must indicate the type of veteran's preference you are claiming on your resume. Any supporting documentation received from veterans will be retained to document veteran's status if selected.
FEDERAL STATUS: Current Federal applicants/employees will be appointed/converted at their current grade level. Upon appointment/conversion to the Foreign Service, there are no promotion opportunities. Employees will be converted/appointed in accordance with Subchapter 200-1 of DAO 202-900.
RE-EMPLOYMENT WITH LOSING AGENCY: An employee of any agency who accepts, with the consent of the head of that agency, a limited appointment in the Foreign Service under section 309 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 is entitled, upon the expiration of that appointment, to be reemployed in that employee's former position or in a corresponding or higher position in that agency. Upon reemployment under this section, an employee shall be entitled to any within-grade increases in pay which the employee would have received if the employee had remained in the former position in the agency.
APPLICANTS WITH A DISABILITY: The Department of Commerce provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Office of Foreign Service Human Capital contact identified in this vacancy. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) EMPLOYER.
SELECTIVE SERVICE REQUIREMENT: Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must certify at the time of appointment that they have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under Selective Service law.
DRUG TESTING: Under the Department of Commerce's Drug Free Workplace Plan, all applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment, and if appointed the incumbent will be subjected to random drug testing procedures.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: The Department of Commerce provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Office of Foreign Service Human Resources contact identified in this vacancy. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. The Department of Commerce is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer. EEO Policy Statement: http://www.usajobs.gov/vacancy/vac_eeo.asp Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement: http://www.usajobs.gov/vacancy/vac_reas_acc.asp Legal and Regulatory
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be evaluated for this job based on a comparison of the position requirements against the quality and extent of the experience and/or related education as reflected in your resume and supporting documentation. You are encouraged to ensure work experiences clearly show possession of the specialized experience required for this position. We will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the assessment questionnaire.
A complete resume in your online application is required for consideration. (To create a Federal resume, please see the "How to Apply" section of this announcement.) We encourage you to review the resume that you submit and update it to accurately reflect your current experience, providing specifics that will help us verify the responses provided to the vacancy questions. If, after reviewing your resume and any supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your category placement may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.
Only the best qualified candidates will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration. You will not be considered for the position if any part of the application is incomplete. You must provide the required user information (including your resume in the Commerce on-line automated system), as well as responses to the questions specific to the vacancy in order to receive consideration. Your resume must support your answers to the questions in the vacancy announcement.
Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Grouping procedures. Under Category Grouping, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:
Gold (Best Qualified): Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies as determined by the job analysis.
Silver (Well Qualified): Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies as determined by the job analysis.
Bronze (Qualified): Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies as determined by the job analysis.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required Documents In addition to a resume and the assessment questions, you must submit copies of the following documents:
RESUME - showing relevant experience.
Your resume MUST include the following information. Failure to do so may disqualify you from consideration for the position for which you are applying.
a. Full name, mailing address (including zip code), and day and evening telephone numbers.
b. Citizenship
c. If you are a male born after 12/31/59, acknowledgement that you are registered for Selective Service .
d. Work experience including the dates (mm/yy) of each employment along with the number of hours worked per week. Include paid and Non-paid job-related work experience. For each job listed you are to provide:
Job title
Duties and accomplishments
Employer's name and address
Supervisor's name and phone number
Starting and ending dates (mm/yy)
Salary
If Federal; Title, Series, and grade/pay band
Education: Provide name, city and state of all schools attended (i.e., high school, colleges and universities, vocational, trade, business, technical). Provide dates of attendance, major, type of degree and year degree was received.
Other job-related qualifications information: Providing training courses, special skills you possess, certificates and licenses, honors, awards, special accomplishments, etc. applicable to this position.
SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable)- must include your current grade, step and series. NOTE: An award SF-50 (i.e. cash or time off award) does not indicate grade or level (i.e. pay band) or tenure to determine your eligibility for this position and will not be accepted.
TRANSCRIPTS - You must submit a copy of your College/University and Law School transcript (unofficial is acceptable). Transcripts must show school name, Students name, credit earned, degree and date awarded. Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U. S. Department of Education. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. For example, specific courses accepted for college-level credit by an accredited U. S. college or university, or foreign education evaluated by an organization recognized for accreditation by the Department of Education as education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U. S. college or university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. For more information on Recognition of Foreign Qualifications, click here.
LICENSURE - You must submit a copy of your Bar license for a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
All documents must be received by the closing date of this announcement.
FAILURE TO SUBMIT (VIA UPLOAD) THE APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS MAY EXCLUDE YOU FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION. You may submit required and/or supplemental documents through any of the following methods:
Upload your file(s);
Download from your USAJOBS account.
If you have any issues uploading supporting documents or if you wish to fax in your documents, please contact mgshelp@monster.com or call 866-656-6831. Documentation Receipt Confirmation: If you fax in your documentation, you will receive an email notification from mgssupport@monster.com. If you do not receive this confirmation email within 24 to 48 hours, please call the help desk at (866) 656-6831. These documents must be received by the closing date of this announcement. NOTE: If you have problems completing your on-line application, including problems faxing your supporting documents or you want to confirm receipt of all of your documents, please contact the HELP DESK by phone at 1-866-656-6831. The help desk is available Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET.
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.
Applicants applying under this announcement are required to complete and submit an on-line application through the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) application system, USAJOBS at website http://www.usajobs.gov/. The information you provide and your resume will become part of your application and will automatically be transferred to the Department of Commerce's application system when you apply on-line. Information you provide is general information that must be completed by all applicants.
There are several parts of the application process that will affect your overall evaluation:
(i). Your on-line resume,
(ii). Your responses to the vacancy questions,
(iii). Your supporting documentation.
Your complete application, including required documents, must be received on-line by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. If you encounter technical difficulties during the application process please call 1-866-656-6831 Monday through Friday, 7:00AM to 7:00PM ET (excluding Federal holidays).
International Trade Administration
1401 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20230
US
Next steps
You will receive notice that your application has been received. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://www.usajobs.gov/. - Click on the MY USAJOBS, which brings you to the login screen. - Login to your account. - You can check your status by either clicking on Track your online job Applications or on the APPLICATIONS tab.
Other than the system status, we will not provide any additional information about why an applicant did not make the referral list.
Note: USAJOBS accounts are deactivated after 18 months of inactivity. If your account has been deactivated, you should create an entirely new resume. It is to your advantage to update your resume at least twice a year to maintain your marketability and to avoid deactivation.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Required Documents In addition to a resume and the assessment questions, you must submit copies of the following documents:
RESUME - showing relevant experience.
Your resume MUST include the following information. Failure to do so may disqualify you from consideration for the position for which you are applying.
a. Full name, mailing address (including zip code), and day and evening telephone numbers.
b. Citizenship
c. If you are a male born after 12/31/59, acknowledgement that you are registered for Selective Service .
d. Work experience including the dates (mm/yy) of each employment along with the number of hours worked per week. Include paid and Non-paid job-related work experience. For each job listed you are to provide:
Job title
Duties and accomplishments
Employer's name and address
Supervisor's name and phone number
Starting and ending dates (mm/yy)
Salary
If Federal; Title, Series, and grade/pay band
Education: Provide name, city and state of all schools attended (i.e., high school, colleges and universities, vocational, trade, business, technical). Provide dates of attendance, major, type of degree and year degree was received.
Other job-related qualifications information: Providing training courses, special skills you possess, certificates and licenses, honors, awards, special accomplishments, etc. applicable to this position.
SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable)- must include your current grade, step and series. NOTE: An award SF-50 (i.e. cash or time off award) does not indicate grade or level (i.e. pay band) or tenure to determine your eligibility for this position and will not be accepted.
TRANSCRIPTS - You must submit a copy of your College/University and Law School transcript (unofficial is acceptable). Transcripts must show school name, Students name, credit earned, degree and date awarded. Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U. S. Department of Education. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. For example, specific courses accepted for college-level credit by an accredited U. S. college or university, or foreign education evaluated by an organization recognized for accreditation by the Department of Education as education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U. S. college or university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. For more information on Recognition of Foreign Qualifications, click here.
LICENSURE - You must submit a copy of your Bar license for a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
All documents must be received by the closing date of this announcement.
FAILURE TO SUBMIT (VIA UPLOAD) THE APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS MAY EXCLUDE YOU FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION. You may submit required and/or supplemental documents through any of the following methods:
Upload your file(s);
Download from your USAJOBS account.
If you have any issues uploading supporting documents or if you wish to fax in your documents, please contact mgshelp@monster.com or call 866-656-6831. Documentation Receipt Confirmation: If you fax in your documentation, you will receive an email notification from mgssupport@monster.com. If you do not receive this confirmation email within 24 to 48 hours, please call the help desk at (866) 656-6831. These documents must be received by the closing date of this announcement. NOTE: If you have problems completing your on-line application, including problems faxing your supporting documents or you want to confirm receipt of all of your documents, please contact the HELP DESK by phone at 1-866-656-6831. The help desk is available Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET.
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.
Applicants applying under this announcement are required to complete and submit an on-line application through the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) application system, USAJOBS at website http://www.usajobs.gov/. The information you provide and your resume will become part of your application and will automatically be transferred to the Department of Commerce's application system when you apply on-line. Information you provide is general information that must be completed by all applicants.
There are several parts of the application process that will affect your overall evaluation:
(i). Your on-line resume,
(ii). Your responses to the vacancy questions,
(iii). Your supporting documentation.
Your complete application, including required documents, must be received on-line by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. If you encounter technical difficulties during the application process please call 1-866-656-6831 Monday through Friday, 7:00AM to 7:00PM ET (excluding Federal holidays).
International Trade Administration
1401 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20230
US
Next steps
You will receive notice that your application has been received. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://www.usajobs.gov/. - Click on the MY USAJOBS, which brings you to the login screen. - Login to your account. - You can check your status by either clicking on Track your online job Applications or on the APPLICATIONS tab.
Other than the system status, we will not provide any additional information about why an applicant did not make the referral list.
Note: USAJOBS accounts are deactivated after 18 months of inactivity. If your account has been deactivated, you should create an entirely new resume. It is to your advantage to update your resume at least twice a year to maintain your marketability and to avoid deactivation.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
