Summary Serves as senior legal counsel representing the agency regarding all matters concerning research and development, data sharing agreements, patents, and other intellectual property law. Responsibilities Leads highly complex, highly visible, and challenging intellectual property (IP) assignments providing expert advice and counsel to management, including high-level agency officials, on a full range of research and development, data sharing, and IP legal services, including the areas of research and development, data sharing, and patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and data rights. This includes, but is not limited to: engaging with employees across the FAA to identify potentially patentable inventions; working with inventors to develop ideas; leading discussions with FAA inventors; participating in the invention development process; making strategic assessments regarding the filing of patent applications; drafting high-quality patent applications involving a wide range of technologies for licensing through, and coordination with, the FAA Technology Transfer Office (TTO). Provides counseling and training of FAA engineers & scientists, contract officers & procurement personnel, and lines of business and staff office (LOB/SO) in personnel on all areas of research and development centric solicitation and award instruments, data sharing agreements and intellectual property (patent, trademark, copyright), technology transfer, open source software, and data rights (including inventions, patents, trade secrets, computer software, and technical data rights). Provides legal advice for a wide range of issues in the field of research and development and data sharing including contracts, grants, other transaction agreements, and prize competitions. Represents the agency as a recognized expert in United States patent and other intellectual property laws with other federal and state agencies, aviation industry organizations, and at national meetings and conferences. Decisions and opinions on highly complex issues frequently establish the agency's position, and create agency policy and precedents on a long-term basis. Conducts thorough legal research by appropriately identifying and analyzing relevant legal and factual issues and arguments. Assesses legal strengths and weaknesses of available arguments to provide accurate, complete, and practical legal advice and conclusions. Identifies and learns emerging issues, principles, and practices relevant to the legal practice area. Serves as an expert advisor to the TTO and advises on technology transfer matters including patent licensing and Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) matters. Negotiates and resolves complex intellectual property agreements, software licenses and third-party IP rights pertaining to the rights of inventors, research collaborators, other agency personnel, private companies, and funding recipients. Collaborates with the FAA Innovation & Technology Advisory Council (ITAC) located within the William J. Hughes Technical Center, Atlantic City International Airport. On a limited basis, assists in trademark procurement/maintenance, provides litigation support for patent, trademark, and copyright infringement claims, and resolves patent, trademark, and copyright administrative claims. Produces communications that are very well-organized, clear, and persuasive. Provides advice tailored to the client and requirements of the agency. Maintains the appropriate balance between providing accurate, complete, and practical legal advice. Effectively adjusts communications and/or advice to meet audience expectations and level of understanding. Demonstrates interpersonal skills needed to develop and maintain strong client relationships. Actively participates with clients to identify and meet client goals and objectives. Seeks consensus with the client as to the timing and scope of work. Proactively identifies and appropriately pursues solutions to effectively represent the agency’s interests in responding to high-priority issues. Puts forth effort to meet established proficiency level goals and objectives. Performs other duties as assigned. Requirements Conditions of Employment We are not accepting applications from noncitizens. Qualifications To qualify for this position, ALL applicants MUST meet the following criteria: (1) have a JD Degree from an accredited law school; and (2) be admitted to practice before the bar of any U.S. jurisdiction state, territory, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and (3) be an active member of that BAR; and (4) be licensed and registered to practice law before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Proof of licensure and registration must be presented at the time of application; and (5) demonstrate at least one year (52 weeks) of SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE equivalent to the next lower grade/pay band (FG/GS-14/FV-J) that is typically related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as: Experience providing legal counsel on the principles and precedents applicable to patent, copyright, and trademark law, including serving as lead/principal counsel; and Experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications. Desirable candidate(s) will have experience in U.S. government data rights, training, and counseling across a wide variety of legal vehicles (i.e., contracts, other transaction agreements, grants, and technology transfer). You should include relevant examples of the specialized experience in your work history. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered. Answer all questions to the best of your ability. DO NOT ASSUME THAT BECAUSE YOU HOLD, OR HAVE HELD THIS POSITION, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE FOUND ELIGIBLE. You may be asked to provide evidence or documentation that you have this type of experience later in the selection process. Your responses are subject to verification through job interviews, or any other information obtained during the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience or any attempt to conceal information can result in disqualification. *Applicants who fail to demonstrate possession of any of the above criteria AND who do not provide the required documentation will receive no further consideration for this position. Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and/or selective placement factor(s) (SPF) may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) and/or Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: (1) score order; (2) category grouping; or (3) alphabetical, and referred to the selecting official for selection consideration. Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement. Education This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcripts(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. You may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS or fax it to fax number provided in the announcement (please include announcement number on each page). Failure to do so will result in loss of consideration. Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: www.ed.gov/accreditation. Foreign education must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials or an accredited U.S. educational institution in terms of equivalence to a degree acquired at an American college or university. A copy of the evaluation results must be included, otherwise your foreign education will not be considered. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide such evidence at the time of application. For additional information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html Applicants who are not currently in the 905 occupational series (Attorney) in the Federal Government and fail to provide a copy of an unofficial or official transcript will not receive further consideration for this vacancy. Upon selection, if not currently employed in the 905 occupational series (Attorney), you will be required to submit an official transcript prior to appointment. If you do not have an official transcript (original, with the raised seal), you should contact your school immediately to request it. Additional Information We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions. Position may be subject to a background investigation. A one-year probationary period may be required. The U.S. Department of Transportation strives to ensure that equity, transparency, accountability, collaboration, and communication permeate all that we do for the betterment of the Department, the traveling public, and our nation. As such, DOT values a highly diverse workforce of persons who promote a culture of belonging by respecting the personal dignity and worth of each individual and fostering a positive environment where all feel safe and welcome. If these commitments coincide with your personal ideals and professional aspirations, please consider joining the DOT family. Leave Enhancement: FAA organizations may offer enhanced annual leave accrual to newly appointed or reappointed employees. In order to receive consideration for such a benefit, applicants' prior non-Federal service or active duty uniformed service must directly relate to the duties of the position to which appointed. Granting enhanced annual leave is at the sole discretion of the hiring organization, and granting such benefit is not an entitlement nor guaranteed to any newly hired employee. NOTES: 1) As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA. In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA section, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a human resource specialist as appropriate. 2) Some, all or none of the referred applicants may be interviewed. 3) The base salary range above will be adjusted for locality: Anchorage, AK: $144,250 - $221,900 (incl. 31.96% for Anchorage, AK) Atlanta, GA: $134,947 - $209,098 (incl. 23.45% for College Park, GA) Atlantic City, NJ: $140,522 - $217,735 (incl. 28.55% for Philadelphia, PA) Burlington, MA: $144,261 - $221,900 (incl.31.97% for Boston, MA) Des Plaines, IL: $142,556 - $220,886 (incl.30.41% for Chicago, IL) Des Moines, WA: $142,993 - $221,564 (incl. 30.81% for Seattle, WA) Fort Worth, TX: $138,729 - $214,958 (incl. 26.91% for Dallas, TX) Kansas City, MO: $129,700 - $200,67 (incl. 18.65% for Kansas City, MO) El Segundo, CA: $148,491 - $221,900 (incl. 35.84% for Los Angeles, CA) New York, NY: $150,022 - $221,900 (incl. 37.24% for Queens-New York, NY) Oklahoma City, OK: $127,699 - $197,867 (incl. 16.82% for Rest of the U.S.) Washington, DC: $145,671 - $221,900 (incl. 33.26% for Washington, DC) Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA