Chief Administrative Officer

Chief Administrative Officer

Department: Department of Commerce

Location(s): Alexandria, Virginia

Salary Range: $208364 - $225700 Per Year

Job Summary: The United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) is headquartered in Alexandria, VA. The mission of the USPTO is to promote innovation and competitiveness by providing quality and timely examination and issuance of patent and trademark applications, guiding domestic and international intellectual property policy, and delivering intellectual property information and education worldwide.

Major Duties:

• The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is a key member of the staff of the Under Secretary and Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director and Deputy Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office and participates fully in the development, management, direction and evaluation of the office's programs, functions and activities. The CAO determines the appropriate methods of best accomplishing U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) management policy objectives and priorities. The Office of the Chief Administrative Officer provides administrative services and support to the entire USPTO. Major areas of responsibility include the Office of Human Resources, the Office of Administrative Services, the Records and Information Compliance Program Office, the CAO Information Technology Program Office, and the Telework Program Office. As the CAO, you will: Serve as the focal point through which all programs and projects/actions of the office receive effective central coordination and review. Decisions made include resources to be expended, the timing of major events, priority of projects and plans, and projects that should be initiated, dropped, or postponed. Ensures that appropriate long-range planning is coordinated and accomplished, and that there is maximum and efficient utilization of available resources. Share responsibility for carrying out the full range of management responsibilities and acts with full authority over the office functions/activities. Recommends courses of action and has full responsibility and authority to determine policies, plans, goals, and organization. Manages and directs major program functions/activities so there is consistency of operations. Assess the impact of Presidential guidance, legislative requirements, and similar external factors, and in taking action to satisfy requirements and improve systems and operations to meet goals and objectives Develop his/her position on major issues arising within the office's areas of responsibility. Toward this end, keeps abreast of USPTO programs, proposed policies, and planning issues, and keeps current on all program areas within the office. Work closely with senior managers within the office, providing advice and guidance regarding their responsibilities for programs and assigned activities. Motivates subordinate managers to incorporate vision, strategic planning, and elements of quality management into the full range of their activities. Assures full consideration of significant matters requiring attention and presents unresolved problems or conflicting interests for final determination, with a recommended course of action. Speak authoritatively in meetings with top USPTO officials, representatives of other government agencies, and other outside groups. Represent the office on various inter- and intra-agency groups and boards to coordinate policy, guidance, procedures and activities.

Qualifications: To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and two Technical Qualifications (TQs), listed below in your resume. NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit will not be reviewed and will be disqualified. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualifications. If your resume does not demonstrate evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position. TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications. TQ 1: Ability to direct, plan and manage complex operational activities including real property, mail services, travel, vehicle management and human resources management. TQ 2: Demonstrated ability to develop and implement innovative management or human capital strategies and solutions in a large, complex organization. EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQS): In addition to the Technical Qualification requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position. ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and Principles of the American Founding: Requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people. ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency: Involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades. ECQ 3: Merit and Competence: Involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality. ECQ 4: Leading People: Involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable. ECQ 5: Achieving Results: Involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors. Note: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) or your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.

How to Apply: You must submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. To receive consideration, the complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date. Select Apply. If you are not logged in, you will be prompted to log in or create an account. Then prompted to Start the Application Process by selecting "Start Application". Add your two-page resume. Select the documents you want to be included in this application. Review the package to acknowledge that your documents were reviewed. After reading and certifying the application is true and submitted in good faith, select "Continue to Agency Site." Follow onscreen prompts and instructions to complete your application. Add the supporting documents by indexing your documents with the dropdown. Upload any missing documents or optional documents. Review and Submit Application. While logged in, you can check the status of your application by selecting "+" next to the job title for this position. You can review or revise your application at any point during the open period of the announcement. To update an application, you should log into your USAJOBS account and select "+" next to the job title for this position. Select "Update Application" for this job.

Application Deadline: 2025-12-02