Attorney (Patent Attorney) Job

Vacancy No. 20250020 Department National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
Salary $147,194.00 to $191,900.00 Grade 05 to 05
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/21/2024 Close Date 11/16/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Saint Louis, MOSpringfield, VA


Summary

Attorneys provide legal advice and representation to ensure that NGA accomplishes its mission in compliance with applicable laws. They ascertain facts, analyze issues, apply legal authorities, render opinions, and advocate Agency positions. Attorneys work cooperatively with others within the office, the Agency, the Intelligence Community, the DoD, and the U.S. Government. Attorneys perform legal r

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

External Applicants Only

Duties

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Duties:
1. Serves as authority on invention disclosures ensuring that legal position/rights of the Agency, inventors, and contractors are clearly defined;
2. Reviews and coordinates the disposition of administrative claims for infringement of patents or copyrights;
3. Coordinates with and supports the Department of Justice in litigation of patent or copyright infringement claims brought in federal court;
4. Advises senior leaders on probable outcomes of pending legal actions, and documents justification selected course of action; represents NGA during legal proceedings and evaluate the outcomes for future planning;
5. Develops and executes legal strategies consistent with NGA mission;
6. Interprets applicable laws, and provides expert, authoritative legal advice and trains the workforce;
7. Oversees implementation of corrective actions to prevent recurrence of contractor and government program deficiencies; and
8. Performs other duties as assigned by the General Counsel.

Candidates will be assessed based upon the information relayed in their submitted (uploaded) resume, cover letter, and supporting documentation. Upload under the "other" option when completing your online application. Please ensure all work experience details month and year of starting or concluding a position.

It is important applicants fully complete the following sections of the online application within the candidate portal (https://careers.nga.mil): Start, Prequalify, Personal Information, Preferences, and Education sections of the online application. For the Work Experience and Accomplishments sections, applicants need only identify their most recent work experience and accomplishment because the assessment panel will primarily rely upon the information contained within the candidate's submitted resume and supporting documents.

Additional Application Requirement: You may be asked to complete one or more assessments in addition to the application you submit on this website as part of your application to NGA. These assessments may include but are not limited to: 1) Online questionnaires or assessments that require you to describe your job-related knowledge, skills, abilities, or other characteristics that are aligned with the mandatory and desirable qualifications of this job posting. The information you provide in the application you submit must support the response you provide to this questionnaire. You will receive an email to describe any additional assessments required. Please monitor your emails and complete any required assessments as soon as possible.

This position may be eligible for a RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE: selected candidates may be offered an incentive as part of the offer of employment. To receive the incentive, selected candidates must be eligible under 5 CFR Part 575, Subpart A, upon issuance of the Final Offer Letter. Changes in federal employment status prior to issuance of the Final Offer Letter may affect eligibility. To receive the incentive, selected candidates will be required to sign a service agreement to stay within the position at NGA for the agreed upon time. If the service agreement is terminated before its completion, the employee may be required to repay a pro rata share amount of the incentive to the government. Additional information regarding recruitment incentives for current federal employees can be found in DoDI 1400.25, Volume 2006.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Security Investigation

SPECIAL INFO:
As a condition of employment at NGA, persons being considered for employment must meet NGA fitness for employment standards.

- U.S. Citizenship Required

- Security Clearance (Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information)

- Polygraph Test Required

- Position Subject to Drug Testing

- Two Year Probationary Period

- Direct Deposit Required

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
You must be able to obtain and retain a Top Secret security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information. In addition, you are subject to a Counterintelligence Polygraph examination in order to maintain access to Top Secret information. All employees are subject to a periodic examination on a random basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Refusal to take the examination may result in denial of access to Top Secret information, SAP, and/or unescorted access to SCIFs.

Employees with SCI access and who are under NGA cognizance are required to submit a Security Financial Disclosure Report, SF-714, on an annual basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Failure to comply may negatively impact continued access to Top Secret information, Information Systems, SAP, and/or unescorted access to SCIFs.


NGA utilizes all processes and procedures of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). Non-executive NGA employees are assigned to five distinct pay bands based on the type and scope of work performed. The employee's base salary is established within their assigned pay band based on their unique qualifications. A performance pay process is conducted each year to determine a potential base pay salary increase and/or bonus. An employee's annual performance evaluation is a key factor in the performance pay process. Employees on term or temporary appointments are not eligible to apply for internal assignment opportunity notices.

This position is a DCIPS position in the Excepted Service under 10 U.S.C. 1601. DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are an external applicant claiming veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must self-identify your eligibility.

Qualifications

MANDATORY QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: For this particular job, applicants must meet all competencies reflected under the Mandatory Qualification Criteria to include education (if required). Online resumes must demonstrate qualification by providing specific examples and associated results, in response to the announcement's mandatory criteria specified in this vacancy announcement:

1. Demonstrated proficiency writing patent applications and practicing before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
2. Demonstrated experience in the legal, scientific, and technical work concerning patents, trademarks, and other intellectual property as described in this position announcement.
3. Demonstrated experience providing timely, accurate, and practical legal advice to help clients meet organizational objectives while remaining compliant with applicable law.
4. Demonstrated experience collaborating with clients and colleagues to enable effective and proactive resolution of legal matters.
5. Superior legal research and analytical skills developed in either private practice or government service; a demonstrated ability to evaluate pertinent facts; research, analyze, and apply laws, rules, and regulations; and execute legal strategies.
6. Demonstrated experience navigating ambiguity by adapting to new demands or information and handling situations with multiple variables or unknowns, especially in situations where there is little judicial precedent or case law.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: A. Education: Juris Doctorate degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. -AND- LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS: Must be a member in good standing of a bar of a U.S. state or territory, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: In addition to the mandatory qualifications, experience in the following is desired:

1. Prior experience writing and prosecuting software patents, particularly those related to computer vision, artificial intelligence, or machine learning.
2. Prior experience providing legal advice and counsel on all aspects of intellectual property law.
3. Prior experience advising private sector executives, federal senior executives, and/or military commanders regarding law and policy related to intellectual property, including statutory and other authorities.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Applicants are not required to submit a cover letter for employment consideration with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. However, a cover letter is recommended. Applicants will have the option to attach a cover letter in the Qualifications - Attachments step of the online application.

APPLICANT EVALUATION PROCESS: Applicants will be evaluated for this job opportunity in three stages:

1) All applicants will be evaluated using the Mandatory Qualification Criteria,

2) Qualified applicants will then be evaluated by an expert or panel of experts using a combination of qualification criteria to determine the best-qualified candidates,

3) Best-qualified applicants may then be further evaluated through an interview process.

Military retiree applicants, if selected, may be impacted by the 180-day appointment restrictions of DODI 1402.01. HD personnel will provide additional information if applicable.

Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the Assignment Description, Additional Information Provided By the Selecting Official, and the Qualification Requirements; and then construct their resumes to highlight their most relevant and significant experience and education for this job opportunity. This description should include examples that detail the level and complexity of the performed work. Applicants are encouraged to provide any education information referenced in the announcement. If education is listed as a mandatory requirement, only degrees obtained from an institution accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the Secretary, US Department of Education will be accepted.

In accordance with section 9902(h) of title 5, United States Code, annuitants reemployed in the Department of Defense shall receive full annuity and salary upon appointment. They shall not be eligible for retirement contributions, participation in the Thrift Savings Plan, or a supplemental or redetermined annuity for the reemployment period. Discontinued service retirement annuitants (i.e., retired under section 8336(d)(1) or 8414(b)(1)(A) of title 5, United States Code) appointed to the Department of Defense may elect to be subject to retirement provisions of the new appointment as appropriate. (See DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 300, at http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives.)

All candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, disability, or sexual orientation.

NGA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Applications will only be accepted online. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us at recruitment@nga.mil. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.

Disabled applicants are encouraged to apply directly to external job announcements in addition to the Resume Repository. NGA reserves the right to direct hire Disabled Veterans with 30%+ Comp in alignment with the NGA Hiring Strategy. By selecting this option on the application form and applying to the NGA Resume Repository, you may be considered for future direct hire against critical mission vacancies. Participation does not guarantee employment.

Required Documents

None

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.

How to Apply

Application submission involves applying using NGA's online application process at NGA Careers Portal. Additional information concerning NGA's hiring process can be found by visiting NGA Hiring Process.

All announcements close at 11:59PM EDT on the closing date listed. Be sure to complete and submit your application by that time in order to be considered.

ONLY ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Both applicants for employment and current employees of NGA are entitled to request religious accommodations from generally applicable employment-related rules and requirements, so long as the accommodation requested would not result in an undue hardship to the conduct of NGA's business.

You can apply for the job opening at https://careers.nga.mil/psp/CAREERS/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=20250020&PostingSeq=2

Agency contact information

Recruitment
Address
NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL-INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Mailstop: S44-HDR
7500 GEOINT Drive
Springfield, VA 22150
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

After visiting the NGA Careers Portal and applying via NGA's online application process, applicants can follow their status via that same NGA online application functionality. Several other topics relating to what is involved in the hiring process and how long it takes can be found by visiting the NGA Hiring Process.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.