Job Description
Director of Governmental Affairs and Oversight
Department of Commerce
Patent and Trademark Office
Office of the Under Secretary and Director
Summary
The USPTO is headquartered in Alexandria, VA. The mission of the USPTO is to promote innovation 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. Through the issuance of patents, the USPTO encourages technological advancement by providing incentives to invent, invest in, and disclose new technology.
Duties
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The Director of Governmental Affairs and Oversight serves as the principal counselor, oversight official, and representative to the Under Secretary and the Deputy Under Secretary, and other senior United States Patent and Trademark (USPTO) officials on all legislative matters and policies that affect substantive programs or interests of the Agency. The incumbent ensures proper oversight of governmental activities and inquiries, and maintains effective communication between the Congress, the USPTO, other government agencies and the Department of Commerce (DOC) that is fully reflective of the Under Secretary's programs, priorities and perspectives.
Other duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Conferring with Members of Congress and their constituents and represents the USPTO before Congress and with officials of OMB, DOC, and other governmental entities and before public and private stakeholders who have interests in key legislative issues. This requires the ability to relate policy and priorities to a very broad and complex range of specific activities.
Developing and maintaining effective relationships with senior USPTO officials to become and remain thoroughly conversant with the operational needs of the agency's programs, problems of a sensitive and controversial nature, and areas of special or urgent congressional, intergovernmental, and stakeholder interest and any developing problems of unusual magnitude.
Communicating with the Under Secretary and Deputy Under Secretary and senior USPTO officials on controversial issues to recommend or seek changes for better public and Congressional program acceptance. This requires the ability to convey and advance the Administration's views in an advocacy manner and develop and direct communication and outreach plans with Congress, other governmental entities, and internal and external stakeholders.
Establishing and maintaining effective liaison with intellectual property bar associations, industry, and other stakeholders concerned with pending intellectual property or agency related legislation.
Providing guidance and executive level leadership to staff members, including setting goals, strategic planning, setting performance standards, conducting performance evaluations, and ensuring that staff members are held accountable for their performance.
Providing expert legal advice to Under Secretary, Deputy Under Secretary and USPTO senior officials on all legislative and Congressional matters and policies that may affect the substantive programs or interests of the Agency.