Attorney-Adviser (Patent)

Federal Aviation Administration •

Queens, New York, United States

Position Type: Contractor

Job Description:

Serves as senior legal counsel representing the agency regarding all matters concerning research and development, data sharing agreements, patents, and other intellectual property law.

Duties

Leads highly complex, highly visible, and challenging intellectual property (IP) assignments providing expert advice and counsel to management, including high-level agency officials, on a full range of research and development, data sharing, and 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 employees across the FAA to identify potentially patentable inventions; working with inventors to develop ideas; leading discussions with FAA inventors; participating in the invention development process; making strategic assessments regarding the filing of patent applications; drafting high-quality patent applications involving a wide range of technologies for licensing through, and coordination with, the FAA Technology Transfer Office (TTO).

Provides counseling and training of FAA engineers & scientists, contract officers & procurement personnel, and lines of business and staff office (LOB/SO) in personnel on 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).

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.

Represents the agency as a recognized expert in United States patent and other intellectual property laws with other federal and state agencies, aviation industry organizations, and at national meetings and conferences. Decisions and opinions on highly complex issues frequently establish the agencys position, and create agency policy and precedents on a long-term basis. Conducts thorough legal research by appropriately identifying and analyzing relevant legal and factual issues and arguments. Assesses legal strengths and weaknesses of available arguments to provide accurate, complete, and practical legal advice and conclusions. Identifies and learns
emerging issues, principles, and practices relevant to the legal practice area.

Serves as an expert advisor to the TTO and advises on technology transfer matters including patent licensing and Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) matters. Negotiates and resolves complex 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 FAA 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.

Produces communications that are very 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 adjusts communications and/or 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. Puts forth effort to meet established proficiency level goals and objectives.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:
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.
This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation plan. Additional information about core compensation is available on the following website: http://jobs.faa.gov/FAACoreCompensation.htm.

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 that 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-14/FV-J) 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, including serving as lead/principal counsel; and
Experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications.

*Desirable candidate(s) will have experience in U.S. government data rights, training, and counseling across a wide variety of legal vehicles (i.e., contracts, other transaction agreements, grants, and technology transfer).

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 FAA.

**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 to provide a copy of an unofficial or official transcript will not receive further consideration for this vacancy. Upon selection, if not currently employed in the 905 occupational series (Attorney), you will be required to submit an official transcript prior to appointment. If you do not have an official transcript (original, with the raised seal), you should contact your school immediately to request it.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IMPORTANT: Applicants may be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position(s). All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated. Ensure that your application package/resume supports your responses.

Required Documents

ALL applicants MUST submit the following:

(1) resume with complete work history;

(2) proof of active BAR membership in any U.S. jurisdiction or within the District of Columbia. or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Please provide bar association number(s) & verification of active status.);

(3) writing sample (not to exceed 10 pages);

(4) copy of unofficial or official transcript from an accredited law school verifying JD degree; and

(5) proof of license & registration to practice law before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO).

For guidance on how to create a Federal resume, visit http://www.archives.gov/careers/jobs/forms/resume-guide.pdf.

Only the documents listed above will be accepted in combination with your online application. These documents MUST be uploaded or before the closing date of this announcement.

Failure to submit all required documents by the closing date will result in a finding of ineligible. We are not responsible for incomplete, missing or illegible documents. Please DO NOT email application documents. Documents received via email will NOT receive consideration.

This position has a positive education requirement; college transcripts are required for ALL candidates newly appointed to the FAA in the 905 series.

College transcripts must be submitted from current FAA employees applying for internal vacancies if they have never held a position in the 905 series with the FAA.

College transcripts are not required from current FAA employees who are currently occupying a 905 series.

If selected, official transcripts are required prior to employment.

If you want consideration for one or more of the Special Hiring Authorities, documentation that must be submitted at time of application can be found at Direct Hiring Authorities | Federal Aviation Administration (faa.gov).

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Salary Range: $127,699 - $221,900

Job Ident #: 8088265008

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Attorney-Adviser (Patent)

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