Federal

Supervisory Petitions Examiner

Patent and Trademark Office ยท Department of Commerce
๐Ÿ“ Alexandria, Virginia GS-15 $183,257 - $197,200/yr
Posted: Mar 11, 2026 Deadline: Mar 24, 2026 (Closed days left)

About This Position

Imagine your career working side by side with Intellectual Property policy leaders. The Office of Petitions plays a role in all aspects of the Patents Business Unit, including administration of patent operations, examination policy, patent quality management, resources and planning, and budget administration. Join the Office of Petition's collaborative and skilled team to help guide petitions practice at the USPTO and support the agency's mission to promote American innovation.

Qualifications

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position.

You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. OPM Qualifications Standards are available at Patent Administration Series 1220 You must meet all qualification requirements including time-in-grade (refer to 5 CFR 300.604 for more information on time-in-grade) by the closing date of the job announcement. Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped applicants with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled.

To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the federal service. For this position, the next lower grade level is a GS-14. Specialized experience for this position includes: Applying legal, technical, and scientific analysis to identify key issues, and to recommend remedies consistent with law and policy; AND Reviewing current laws, regulations, and policies, to recommend changes and oversees the implementation of the revisions/changes; AND Leading a team in day-to-day operation in evaluating and preparing legal decisions.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Major Duties

The physical worksite for this position is located in Alexandria, Virginia. Presence at the Alexandria, VA campus is a requirement for this role as this position 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. The individual selected for this position will be... Reviewing current laws, regulations, and policies; recommending changes and overseeing the implementation of the revisions/changes.

Evaluating and overseeing petition reviews, drafting legally sound decisions, and exercising signatory authority. Coordinating petition evaluation programs to analyze new or modified legislation, assessing impacts on agency petition practices and programs, and guiding policy updates and implementation to ensure consistent, compliant outcomes. Assigning work to staff based on mission priorities, the complexity and requirements of each petition matter, and employees' skills and capabilities; setting short-term timelines and adjusting workload to ensure timely, high-quality petition decisions.

Representing the agency in high-level meetings within the agency, other agencies, vendors, and external stakeholders; presenting complex or controversial assessment results; negotiating agreements; and influencing approval and implementation of agency-wide solutions and plans. Evaluating and overseeing petition reviews and preparing legally sound, final agency decisions consistent with patent statutes, regulations, and agency policy and procedures.

Education

Education may not be substituted for specialized experience at this grade level.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Your resume will be evaluated, using a Structured Resume Review, for evidence of your ability to demonstrate possession of any specialized experience and how well your background and experience relate to the job announcement, required by this position. Any experience claimed in a cover letter should be substantiated by information contained in your resume. An HR Representative will validate the qualifications of those candidates eligible to be referred to the hiring official.

Resume review: Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience.

Your resume should demonstrate how you meet all aspects of the specialized experience statements. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., links embedded in your resume will not be opened). The best qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

If referred all relevant documents submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the selecting official, due weight shall be given to performance appraisals and awards in accordance with 5 CFR ยง 335.103(b)(3), during the interview/selection process conducted by the hiring manager. Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for not hiring you or for changing your scored responses to questions you've answered, which may affect your overall final score. Please click the link below to review the Assessment Questionnaire. https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12900920 If you are invited for an interview, you will be asked to bring a copy of your most recent performance appraisal.

Please note that a complete application is required for consideration. (Please review the "Required Documents" section of this job announcement to see what must be included in a complete application).

Additional Information

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.

This is a Non-Bargaining Unit position. This is a Public Trust position and has a risk level designation of "moderate." Background Investigation - If selected for this position, you may be required to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306), which includes a fingerprint and credit check, to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. The USPTO participates in E-Verify.

For more information on E-Verify, please visit the Department of Homeland Security Website. Supervisory Probationary Period- If selected, you may be required to complete an initial one-year supervisory probationary period.

You will be required to file a confidential financial disclosure report, i.e., the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) Form 450, within 30 days of assuming the position and annually thereafter. All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice. Relocation Expenses are not authorized and will not be paid.

CTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a "well qualified" rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: OPM CTAP/ICTAP. CTAP documentation requirements are listed in the 'Required Documents' section of this announcement.

More than one selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade, and unit occur within 90 days from the date the certificate was issued. All application materials become the property of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. USPTO Job Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should request accommodation(s) from the USPTO at USPTO Reasonable Accommodation.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation), national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, retaliation for engaging in protected activity, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors. If you believe that you have been discriminated against and would like to file an EEO complaint, you must do so within 45 days of the date of the alleged discriminatory act. Claims of employment discrimination must be submitted to the attention of the USPTO's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity via email ([email protected]) or phone (571-272-8292).

How to Apply

You can upload your documents when you register or update your information on the Dept. of Commerce site which you access through the USAJobs site.

Your application and all required documents must be received by 11:59 pm ET on the closing date of this job announcement.

NOTE: The preceding documents requirement are based on job requirements and individual applicant eligibility. Not all documents are applicable to all applicants; if you are unsure which documents apply to you, contact the HR Specialist listed on this announcement.

You MUST apply online. If you experience difficulties with the application process or do not have access to a computer, please contact the HR Specialist listed as the point of contact before the closing date of this job announcement. If you are a new user to the USAJobs Site and have never registered for an account; you will first need to create an account profile with your basic contact information and a resume to begin applying.

You must be a registered USAJobs user AND you must be signed-in to your account in order to apply for this position. For help setting up an account or for general help using USAJobs, go to USAJobs Help Page. Once you have gathered all of the required information and are ready to begin the application process, click the "APPLY" button at the right side of the page.

You will then be directed away from USAJobs to the Department of Commerce application site for USPTO.

You must click "Submit" at the end of the application process to send your application for consideration. To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJOBS account at http://www.usajobs.gov/ and click on "Applications." Click on the position title, then select "Update Application." If you experience any difficulties with the application site, OPM has a Help feature on each page. Use this option when you need assistance.

All required supporting documents will be collected electronically via the USAJobs "Saved Documents" feature. Personally Identifiable Information (PII) Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is defined as information that can be traced back to a specific individual and potentially compromise their security or privacy. Examples of PII include: date of birth, Social Security Number, and place of birth.

Please ensure that you have removed all Personally Identifiable Information from all documents prior to submitting or uploading your applications material.

Required Documents

A complete application consists of: Resume: All applicants are required to submit a two-page resume (NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES). Resumes exceeding this limit will not be considered eligible. Please submit only one resume.

Only the document uploaded under the "Resume "section as the "Document Type" will be reviewed to assess your qualifications and for evaluation purposes. To receive full credit for relevant experience, please list the month/year (MM/YY - MM/YY) and number of hours worked for experience listed on your resume. We suggest that you preview the online questions, as you may need to customize your resume to ensure that it supports your responses to these questions.

Resume should clearly state your experience related to this position as described in the Duties section and Qualifications section. Professional or Academic References: Provide 2-3 professional/academic references (name, phone, email); one must be your current supervisor. We'll notify you before contacting them. Please

Note: Any experience claimed in a cover letter should be substantiated by information contained in your resume. A HR Representative will validate the qualifications of those candidates eligible to be referred to the hiring official. Supporting Documents: 1. Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50): For current and/or former Federal employees, your status eligibility and highest permanent grade/step/salary held in the Federal service will be validated with a copy of your most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" so that we may verify your time-in-grade.

  1. Performance Appraisal: Recent performance appraisal with supervisor's signature showing the official final rating of record, and copy of incentive award(s). In cases where the performance appraisal is incomplete or unavailable, applicants may provide explanation of the reasons.
  2. Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) documents: CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: 1. A copy of your RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice of eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice); 2.

A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade/band level, and duty location; 3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and

  1. Any documentation from your bureau/operating unit that shows your current promotion potential.
  2. Transcripts: You MUST submit copies of your college transcripts for verification of the education requirements. Unofficial copies are accepted, however, if selected you will be required to furnish official transcripts. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the above educational requirement. Inadequate or illegible information could result in non-qualification and loss of consideration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Supervisory Petitions Examiner position at Patent and Trademark Office?
The salary range for this position is $183,257 - $197,200/yr. This is a GS-15 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Supervisory Petitions Examiner job located?
This position is located in Alexandria, Virginia. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. OPM Qualifications Standards are available at ...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Mar 24, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
No security clearance is required for this position.
What does GS-15 mean?
GS-15 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.