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Commercial Officer (Intellectual Property)

Department of Commerce
Commerce, International Trade Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the U.S. Embassy, New Delhi-India. The incumbent will serve as a Commercial Officer (Intellectual Property) in New Delhi for the International Trade Administration/Global Markets (ITA/GM) and United States Patent and Trademark office. The position requires knowledge of all fields of IP and international agreements governing IP rights, including IP office operation and administration, IP training, and adherence to IP standards of protection and enforcement.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
09/27/2018 to 10/19/2018
Salary
$105,123 to - $136,659 per year
Pay scale & grade
FP 01
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
New Delhi, India
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - Frequency of travel will vary.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Relocation to New Delhi and return to U.S. Continuing Service Agreement required.
Appointment type
Temporary - NTE 2 Years* Tour of duty is two years. Extension(s) up to a maximum of 5 years is possible.
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
01
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
ITA-FSHR-2018-0008
Control number
512348000

Duties

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As a Commercial Officer (IP), the incumbent will act as a resource on South Asian intellectual property regime for other U.S. Government agencies. This position reports to the Senior Commercial Officer and the IP Attaché Program Director, and must also coordinate with other parts of the U.S. Embassy. Serves as a professional expert in intellectual property, international trade, legislative procedures and executive branch decision making.

Promotes high standards of intellectual property protection and enforcement in host country and/or region.

Carries out U.S. objectives to promote improvements in patent, trademark and copyright legal systems internationally for the benefit of U.S. interests.

Serves as U.S. 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 patent, trademark, copyright and enforcement legal systems; and identifies and addresses impediments affecting the program areas.

Exercises managerial authority over local staff.

The incumbent develops, in consultations with appropriate USPTO representatives, strategic plans for engaging countries in the region to improve their intellectual property regimes.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Pass a thorough background and security investigation.
  • Receive a negative result on a drug test.
  • Meet rigorous medical clearance requirements, including dependents.
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • Must be registered for the Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).

Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. This position requires a security and medical clearance. Any required investigations and clearances must be completed before the selectee can be placed in the position.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet the following criteria before the closing date of this announcement:
Applicants must have a minimum of at least one year specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to that of a GS-14 in the Federal Service.
Specialized experience is defined as experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled as follows:

(1) Knowlege of all fields of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and international IPR agreements.

(2) 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 IPR.

(3) Strong communication skills to liaise with local contacts and work closely with appropriate Embassy officials on developments. Ability to write a variety of documents including policy, speeches, testimonies, talking points, briefs, opinions.

(4) Ability to provide succinct, timely and comprehensive reports both orally and in writing.

(5) Provide guidance and assistance in negotiating on IPR matters in bilateral and multilateral settings.

(6) Planning, organizing and/or executing training and outreach programs in complex IPR issues.

(7) Experience in providing guidance and assistance on the basic principles governing protection of intellectual property, such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets and/or basic knowledge of the international agreements governing intellectual property rights, such as the World Trade Organization's Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) and/or treaties administered by 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.

(8) Knowledge of U. S. statues, regulations, decisions and policies and international arrangements pertaining to international trade and intellectual property to enable development of proposals or recommendations that may alter (e.g. improve intellectual property protection for U. S. interests) domestic and international law on international property or affect the role or operation of the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO).

(9)Ability to supervise, manage, and oversee a subordinate staff engaged.

Education

Applicants must possess a bachelor's degree in any connection with three years of professional experience, or a master's degree, JD degree, or PhD along with two years of professional experience.

Undergraduate Education: Major study - science, engineering, global business management, global public policy, international finance, business administration, textile and apparel studies, political science, economics, marketing, international trade, international business, international affairs, international relations, international economics, or other related fields of study.

Graduate Education: Major study - law, science, engineering, international policy, international commerce, international management, intercultural relations, international development, global economy, government and foreign affairs, international business, international trade, international economics, international affairs, international relations, or other related fields of study. 

Additional information

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 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.

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.

Current Department of Commerce employees will be converted at their current grade level. Upon conversion to the Foreign Service, there are no promotion opportunities. Employees will be converted in accordance with Subchapter 200-1 of DAO 202-900 at the foreign service salary that equals or exceeds employee's current pay.
Must be available for frequent overnight travel.

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 Resources contact identified in this vacancy. The decision on granting reasonable commodation will be on a case-by-case basis.

THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) EMPLOYER.
Veteran's preference applies. Qualified veterans will be considered consistent with the requirements of the Foreign Service Act.

ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: http://www.opm.gov/ctap. ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: 1. A copy of your RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate, notice of disability annuity termination, or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement. 2. A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL. 3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and 4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential. The following links provide information on how you may be eligible for various hiring authorities: *Veterans Recruitment Act (VRA) *Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) *30% or more disabled veterans *Persons with disabilities *Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) *Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP).

How you will be evaluated

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

We will review your resume, optional cover letter, and supporting documentation to determine if you meet the minimum qualification requirements for the position as described in this vacancy announcement. If you meet the qualification requirements stated in the vacancy announcement, we will compare your resume, optional cover letter, and supporting documentation to your responses to the vacancy questions. Your resume or optional cover letter must support your responses to the vacancy questions, or your score may be lowered. High self-assessment in the vacancy questions that is not supported by information in your resume and/or supporting documents may eliminate you from further consideration and/or best qualified status. The best qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the selecting official/hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.
Your answers to the questions in the online application process serve as the basis for your initial rating and will determine who is best qualified for this position; only the best qualified candidates
will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.
To preview questions please click here.
To preview questions please click here.

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