Director of the Office of Enrollment and Discipline and Deputy General Counsel

Director of the Office of Enrollment and Discipline and Deputy General Counsel

Department: Department of Commerce

Location(s): Alexandria, Virginia

Salary Range: $201936 - $222480 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 Director of the Office Enrollment and Discipline is the principal advisor to the General Counsel on matters relating to the investigation and prosecution of attorney misconduct among patent attorneys and agents admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The incumbent performs a variety of complex and sensitive assignments relating to enrollment and disciplinary functions that affect the livelihood of patent attorneys and agents throughout the United States and abroad and manages the operations within the Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED). OED's responsibility includes the investigation of grievances relating to attorney and agent misconduct, determining what disciplinary proceedings are appropriate, and suspending or excluding from practice before the USPTO any practitioner found to be culpable of misconduct by violating USPTO Model Rules. Other major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Negotiating settlement arrangements on extremely sensitive cases, which may involve criminal or civil charges, and coordinates such settlements with the State bar associations, civil authorities, and the United States Attorney's Office. Managing the screening candidates who wish to be registered to practice before the USPTO and conducting investigations, preparing charges, collecting and presenting testimony and deciding whether to present cases for suspension or exclusion from practice of the attorneys and registered agents admitted to practice before the USPTO. Supervising the work of subordinate employees and works closely with attorneys in the Office of the Solicitor and General Law Office when they engage in disciplinary matters. Developing and formulating policies related to the enrollment and discipline of patent attorneys and agents. The incumbent will provide administrative and technical leadership for patent attorneys and technicians. Representing the USPTO, OGC, and OED before various committees and public and private sector groups, (e.g., the American Patent Law Association, the Patent, Trademark, and Copyright Committees of the American Bar Association), to gain support and acceptance of OED programs.

Qualifications: Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin. To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position. There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) or the Professional/Technical Qualifications (PTQs). PROFESSIONAL/TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (PTQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications. PTQ 1: Demonstrated knowledge of the controlling statutes, regulations, and case law pertaining to the subject matter of the particular issue sufficient to develop legal opinions whether through the litigation process or administratively. PTQ 2: Demonstrated ability to express, orally and in writing, to pursue the particular legal issue against opposition, which vigorously contests the agency position and is highly sophisticated and talented, usually involving top attorneys in both the private and public sectors. 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 and TQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position. There are five ECQs: ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding - This core qualification 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 - This core qualification 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 - This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality. ECQ 4: Leading People - This core qualification 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 - This core qualification 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)) of 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: 2025-11-28