Patent Review Quality Assurance Specialist

Summary

Help shape the future of patent quality. The Office of Patent Quality Assurance (OPQA) is hiring highly skilled technical experts to help improve how patent examination is evaluated across the USPTO. These roles blend technical expertise, strategic thinking, and collaboration to boost examination quality, strengthen examiner performance, and support consistent application of patent laws and examination policy.

Duties

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. As a senior technical leader within the Office of Patent Quality Assurance, you'll influence how patent examination is evaluated across the USPTO. Your expertise will help strengthen examination quality, improve consistency, advise executive leadership, and enhance the effectiveness of programs that support innovation nationwide. You'll make an impact by: Leading agency-wide quality reviews of patent examination work, including office actions, allowances, and Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications, to promote consistent application of patent laws, regulations, and examination policy. Driving continuous improvement by analyzing examination trends, evaluating quality data, and transforming review findings into practical recommendations that strengthen patent examination programs and organizational performance. Advising executive leadership, Technology Centers, and management officials on complex patent examination, scientific, engineering, and legal issues while helping shape quality assurance initiatives with agency-wide impact. Developing innovative training, mentoring, and coaching programs that enhance examiner performance, improve examination consistency, and strengthen technical expertise across the Patent organization. Partnering with Patent Examiners, Supervisory Patent Examiners, Technology Centers, and other stakeholders to communicate quality findings, build consensus, and implement solutions that improve examination quality. Championing strategic initiatives by leading special projects, preparing statistical analyses, recommending program improvements, and providing trusted technical advice that influences the future direction of patent quality.

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. For more information, please visit the OPM Qualifications Standards. 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, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to GS-14 in the Federal service: Specialized experience for this position includes experience in all the following: Reviewing patent examination work products, including office actions, allowances, or Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications, and applying patent laws, regulations, policies, and examination procedures to evaluate examination quality; AND Analyzing patent examination data, technical issues, or quality review findings to identify trends, recommend improvements, and strengthen patent examination programs, policies, or procedures; AND Advising managers or patent examiners, delivering technical training or coaching, and communicating quality review findings to improve examiner performance and examination consistency. Selective Placement Factor: Must have full signatory authority. 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.

Education

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