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Patent examiner recruitment

Statement of merit criteria - Patent Examiner Trainee (SG-PAT-02)

Area of Selection

Persons residing in Canada and Canadian citizens residing abroad. For more information, see the "Who can apply" section of the Public Service Commission of Canada Web site.

Essential qualifications

Education:

Graduation from a recognized university with a degree in engineering or an honours degree from a recognized university in a pure or applied science.

For positions in the Biotechnology discipline, an MSc. or PhD. degree in biochemistry or molecular biology is necessary.

Knowledge:

Knowledge of Canadian intellectual property.

Abilities:

Candidates must be able to do the following:

  • Plan and manage their own time by governing work elements systematically and by controlling time effectively;
  • Analyse and synthesize or explain the technical elements of a situation or process to understand the nature of the elements and how they interact;
  • Interpret legal documents and apply them judiciously;
  • Solve problems by dealing effectively with a situation through reasoning, discussion, and action;
  • Communicate effectively both orally and inwriting in English in such a way that the candidate's point of view is understood.

Personal suitability

Candidates should display the following:

  • Thoroughness: Ensures that the work is done correctly, and pays attention to detail;
  • Judgement: Makes appropriate logical and practical decisions;
  • Self-sufficiency: Works from general instructions and uses available resources before asking for help; uses the same work methods, with or without supervision;
  • Focused on results: Balances work quality and objectives;
  • Effective interpersonal relations: Establishes and maintains professional working relationships, based on listening and respect, with persons within the organization and with external clients;
  • Motivation: Uses personal resources and energies with determination to increase work satisfaction. Uses self-motivation when working in an environment consisting of autonomous and repetitive office work requiring consistency and diligence; and
  • Dependability: Is reliable and punctual. Achieves consistent, satisfactory results within established time frames. Performs work consistently and competently.

Asset qualifications

  • Education in specific fields of technology corresponding to Patent Office requirements.
  • Practical and recent experience in fields of technology corresponding to Patent Office requirements.
  • An MSc. (or higher) in the fields of organic or polymer or organometallic chemistry.

Note: with respect to the three (3) preceding asset qualifications:

  • The Patent Branch consists of Patent Examiners each having expertise in distinct fields of technology. Fields of technology are defined by the International Patent Classification (IPC), which presently divides technology into approximately 70,000 subdivisions.
  • The candidate must demonstrate significantwritten communication skills related to clarity of expression, preciseness, conciseness, relevance, and grammar. Any candidate-generated correspondence, including the curriculum vitae, may be used in assessing this asset qualification.

Operational requirements

Security clearance:

Upon successful completion of the interview, we will ask you to complete forms, which will enable CIPO to conduct a reliability check. This process usually involves reference enquiries, verification of qualifications and criminal history checks. The level required for the position is reliability status, which must be obtained before being hired.

Patent Examiner Apprenticeship programme:

Successful candidates appointed to a Patent Examiner trainee position must participate in the Patent Examiner Apprenticeship programme, which lasts a minimum of two (2) years, before acceding to a working-level Patent Examiner position.

Organizational needs

None

Notes

All essential qualifications are considered critical to job performance and are non-compensatory. As such candidates must meet the individual pass mark set for each qualification.

Candidates will be required to pay for their own travel, and may be required to pay for their own relocation expenses.

The Public Service of Canada is committed to having a skilled, diversified workforce reflective of Canadian society, and to the equitable representation of women (especially in non-traditional occupational groups), Aboriginal peoples, persons with a disability, and members of a visible minority group. We encourage members of these designated groups to self-identify. If you have special needs, please ensure that this is communicated to the appropriate person within human resources.

Citizenship

Preference will be given to Canadian citizens. Please indicate in your application the reason for which you are entitled to work in Canada: Canadian citizenship, permanent resident status, or work permit.

For more information, see the "Citizenship" section of the Public Service Commission of Canada Web site.

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| Statement of merit criteria SG-PAT-02 SG-PAT-03 |
| Compensation/Benefits | FAQ | Examiner responsibilities | How to Apply |

Date Modified: 2009-07-31

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