Director, National Patent Engagement & Regional Offices

Director, National Patent Engagement & Regional Offices

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. A $25,000 recruitment bonus may be authorized for new federal employees in alignment with federal regulations and a signed 1-year service agreement.

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. This position is located in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Office of Public Engagement (OPE). The Director, National Patent Engagement & Regional Offices reports to the Chief Public Engagement Officer and serves as the agency's principal spokesperson for public engagement on patent matters.

The incumbent provides strategic leadership, policy guidance, and operational oversight to ensure the regional offices support USPTO mission delivery, stakeholder engagement, and agency priorities.

The incumbent represents the agency in high-visibility external forums, media engagements, public events, and stakeholder briefings, and communicates complex patent policy and operational matters in a clear, accurate, and persuasive manner.

In addition, the incumbent develops and delivers accurate, accessible information for internal and external audiences on basic patent topics, including patent types, filing requirements, examination procedures, and general patent terminology. This role supports the USPTO's outreach, education, and informational efforts to improve understanding of the patent system and the broader intellectual property system.

The Director, National Patent Engagement & Regional Offices major duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Leads, coordinates, and facilitates high-level engagement with intellectual property and stakeholder leaders at the local, State, and Federal levels.
• Promotes understanding of intellectual property and the value of patent protection by strengthening public awareness of the products and services the USPTO offers to support the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• Represents the Agency in high-visibility public forums, stakeholder meetings, media interviews, briefings, hearings, conferences, and special events.
• Communicates complex patent policy and operational matters in a clear, credible, authoritative, and audience-appropriate manner.
• Coordinates outreach-related resources and materials with relevant business units across the Agency, including the Office of the Chief Communications Officer (OCCO), the Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks, the Office of the Commissioner for Patents, the Global Intellectual Property Academy (GIPA), and the Office of Governmental Affairs (OGA).
• Builds and sustains productive relationships with key stakeholders, including patent practitioners, inventors, businesses, trade associations, academia, and interagency partners.
• Identifies stakeholder concerns, emerging issues, and opportunities for engagement, and advises senior leadership on matters that may affect confidence in or understanding of patent operations and services.
• Supports Agency efforts to encourage innovation and expand awareness of patent and trademark protections by serving as a catalyst for outreach in key technology areas and innovation communities