The United States Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) mission is to promote innovation and competition by providing quality examination and issuance of patent and trademark applications, guiding domestic and international intellectual property policy, and delivering intellectual property information and education worldwide.
Through the issuance of patents, the USPTO encourages technological advancement by providing incentives to invent, invest in, and disclose new technology worldwide.
The physical worksite for this position is located in Alexandria, Virginia. Presence at the Alexandria, VA campus is required for this role, as it includes on site functions that must be performed in person. Position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with agency policy/business unit discretion. The agency currently allows for 52 hours of telework per calendar year.
All applicants will be assessed for executive competency against the five mandatory Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs). If your two-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and PTQs, you will not receive further consideration for the position. For more information regarding the SES and ECQs, please visit the Executive Core Qualifications page.
This position is located in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Office of Commissioner for Patents.
The Deputy Commissioner for Patents (DCP) is responsible for initiating programs consistent with the priorities and goals of the Agency, communicating policy and decisions within the context of her/his responsibilities, mentoring and coaching of subordinates, coordinating Patent strategic initiatives, establishing procedures, participating in activities which promote the goals of the Office and supporting improvements and programs presented by the Commissioner.
The DCP provides strategic vision, guidance, and direction to ensure that the necessary monitoring, assessment, and training required to instill confidence in the patent system are provided to internal and external stakeholders. The DCP makes managerial and technical decisions required for successful program development, administration, and management.
Major duties include, but are not limited to, the following: The DCP, along with Commissioner and the other DCPs, frames out vision-oriented initiatives and provides strategic direction to individuals/teams for accomplishing these initiatives. The DCP ensures administrative policies and procedures are communicated to Patent business unit employees.
Where practices and procedures are not aligned with the overall goals of the USPTO, it is the DCP's responsibility to create remedies and implement practices to ensure compliance. The DCP is also responsible for communicating issues that arise in the organization to the Commissioner for Patents.
The DCP represents the Commissioner for Patents and has full authority in contacts with members of the public, officials of other Government agencies, Department of Commerce and Patent and Trademark Office emp1oyees, members of Congress, and foreign government officials. The DCP participates in matrix management with other DCPs in Patents.
Hence, the duties and responsibilities described herein are carried out consistent with the principles set forth in matrix management and require coordination of responsibilities with other DCPs.
Additionally, matrix management requires that the DCP possess the skills, knowledge and abilities necessary to work in a team environment yet be able to exhibit effective leadership in planning and organizing the assignments of a large number of executives, professionals and their supporting staff. The DCP has direct management oversight of at least one senior executive (i.e. Patent Assistant Commissioner for Patents (AC), Technology Center (TC) Group Director, etc.).
Technology Center Operational Component Oversight: The DCP provides the Commissioner for Patents with the necessary management support of day-to-day operations within the Patent Organization.
This include oversight administrative oversight to patent technology centers in their direct chain of oversight and coordinates with the other DCPs, who also oversee technology center components, to enable and ensure the examination of applications for and reissues of patents to ascertain if applicants are entitled to patents under the law; and prepares the grants of patents to those so entitled.
Non-Technology Center Operational Component Oversight: The DCP's non-technology center functional area of management oversight duties may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following Patents non-technology center operational components: workforce management; financial management; data analytics; project management; patent training; stakeholder engagement; process improvement; classification; international patent cooperation; information technology (e.g.
patent automation, scientific and technical information, etc.); and, application processing.
The educational requirement for this position is at least a bachelor's degree in an engineering, scientific, or technical field. A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.
Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.
If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov)
This position is with Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Commerce.
The posted pay range is $220500 – $224000/yr.
This position is eligible for telework.
Applications close on 2026-09-17.
This position is open under the 'Ses' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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