Closing Date: 12th April, 2024
Description:
Summary:Serves as legal counsel representing the agency regarding all matters concerning research and development, data sharing agreements, patents, and other intellectual property law.
Duties:
Performs assignments that involve providing leadership to others and providing expert advice and counsel to management, including high-level agency officials, on a full range of research and development, data sharing, and intellectual property (IP) legal services, including the areas of research and development, data sharing and patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and data rights. This includes but is not limited to: Engaging with engaging with employees across the A Government Entity to identify potentially patentable inventions; working with inventors to develop inventive ideas; leading discussions with A Government Entity inventors; participating in the invention development process; making strategic assessments regarding the filing of patent applications, drafting high-quality patent applications potentially involving a wide range of technologies for potential licensing through, and coordination with, the A Government Entity Technology Transfer Office (TTO).
Assists with the counseling and training of A Government Entity engineers & scientists, contract officers, procurement personnel, and lines of business and staff office (LOB/SO) personnel in all areas of research and development centric solicitation and award instruments, data sharing agreements and intellectual property (patent, trademark, copyright), technology transfer, open source software, and data rights (including inventions, patents, trade secrets, computer software, and technical data rights). Serves as an advisor to the TTO and advises on technology transfer matters including patent licensing and Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) matters. Provides legal support for William J. Hughes Technical Center publications, reports, and peer-reviewed journal articles. Negotiates and resolves intellectual property agreements, software licenses and third-party IP rights pertaining to the rights of inventors, research collaborators, other agency personnel, private companies, and funding recipients. Collaborates with the A Government Entity Innovation & Technology Advisory Council (ITAC) located within the William J. Hughes Technical Center, Atlantic City International Airport. On a limited basis, assists in trademark procurement/maintenance, provides litigation support for patent, trademark, and copyright infringement claims, and resolves patent, trademark, and copyright administrative claims.
Provides legal advice for a wide range of issues in the field of research and development and data sharing including contracts, grants, other transaction agreements, and prize competitions.
Is considered a technical authority in United States patent and intellectual property specialties of law. Performs most work independently. Completed work is typically reviewed through status reports and at completion to ensure compatibility with organizational objectives and priorities. Work contributes to the accomplishment of AGC objectives and A Government Entity objectives and programs. Work is subject to critical review by program officials and representatives of external entities. Applies considerable experience in a specialty area and advanced, directly relevant legal knowledge to assignments. Plans and directs the use of time and resources to accomplish organizational objectives.
Produces communications that are well-organized, clear, and persuasive. Provides advice tailored to the client and requirements of the agency. Maintains the appropriate balance between providing accurate, complete, and practical legal advice. Effectively presents advice to meet audience expectations and level of understanding.
Demonstrates interpersonal skills needed to develop and maintain strong client relationships. Actively participates with clients to identify and meet client goals and objectives. Seeks consensus with the client as to the timing and scope of work. Proactively identifies and appropriately pursues solutions to effectively represent the agency's interests in responding to high priority issues.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- US Citizenship is required.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- This position has a positive education requirement. Transcript(s) required.
- Applicants who are or have been employed by the Federal Government SHOULD also upload a copy of the most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action).
- This Level 5 (Moderate Risk; Public Trust) position requires favorable adjudication of a Minimum Background Investigation (MBI) background investigation prior to appointment, unless a waiver is obtained.
Qualifications:
To qualify for this position, ALL applicants MUST meet the following criteria:
(1) have a JD Degree from an accredited law school; and
(2) be admitted to practice before the bar of any U.S. jurisdiction state, territory the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and
(3) be an active member of the BAR; and
(4) be licensed and registered to practice law before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Proof of licensure and registration must be presented at the time of application; and
(5) demonstrate at least one year (52 weeks) of SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE equivalent to the next lower grade/pay band (FG/GS-13/FV-I) that is typically related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization
Specialized Experience is defined as:
- Experience providing legal counsel on the principles and precedents applicable to patent, copyright, and trademark law; and
- Experience drafting and prosecuting of patent applications in the fields of biology, biotechnology, biochemical/biomedical, chemical, cellular/molecular, physiological, genetics, and/or toxicology.
You should include relevant examples of the specialized experience in your work history. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered.
Answer all questions to the best of your ability. DO NOT ASSUME THAT BECAUSE YOU HOLD, OR HAVE HELD THIS POSITION, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE FOUND ELIGIBLE. You may be asked to provide evidence or documentation that you have this type of experience later in the selection process. Your responses are subject to verification through job interviews, or any other information obtained during the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience or any attempt to conceal information can result in disqualification.
Applicants who fail to demonstrate possession of any of the above criteria AND who do not provide the required documentation will receive no further consideration for this position.*
Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and/or selective placement factor(s) (SPF) may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA) and/or Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: (1) score order; (2) category grouping; or (3) alphabetical, and referred to the selecting official for selection consideration.
Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the A Government Entity.
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.**
Education:
This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcripts(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. You may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS or fax it to fax number provided in the announcement (please include announcement number on each page).
Failure to do so will result in loss of consideration.
Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: www.ed.gov/accreditation.
Foreign education must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials or an accredited U.S. educational institution in terms of equivalence to a degree acquired at an American college or university. A copy of the evaluation results must be included, otherwise your foreign education will not be considered.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide such evidence at the time of application. For additional information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
Applicants who are not currently in the 905 occupational series (Attorney) in the Federal Government and fail
