Emerging Technologies Office Director

Full Job Description

This is a full-time competitive career development detail, open to current USPTO employees with comparative experience at the GS-13 level.

Detailees will be selected for up to 120 days and may be extended in increments of up to 120 days for a total detail of one year.

This is an in-person detail on location at the AI Center in San Francisco. These detail hours are not considered production related for production award purposes.

Situational telework may be authorized.

As indicated above, this detail is open to all current non-probationary GS-13 USPTO employees and above with at least FULLY SUCCESSFUL in the most recent performance rating.

To be eligible for this position, the candidate must possess: Experience directly related to the duties as described in the "Duties" section above.

A background or skills that demonstrates the ability to succeed at stakeholder and community outreach and development.

Understanding of how to support, facilitate, coordinate and lead high-level engagements at the local, state and Federal levels; to share visions, effect change and incentivize behavior that will benefit and encourage growth of our innovation-based economy across the entire region.

The Detailee should be conversant in AI/ML and responsible-AI considerations as they relate to patents and trademarks, able to translate complex technical topics for diverse audiences and surface stakeholder feedback to inform USPTO programs and guidance.

Here are some major AI areas the Detailee should explore and understand how each relates to the USPTO: AI-assisted invention and patent disclosure: Engage startups using AI in R&D to clarify inventorship (human contribution), enablement, and disclosure of AI-assisted methods and datasets-helping applicants meet statutory requirements and avoid prosecution pitfalls.

AI for prior art, search, and examination quality: Track advances in semantic/multilingual search and domain-specific AI to inform USPTO tools and examiner training; gather stakeholder feedback on search coverage (including non-patent literature) and transparency needs.

Major Duties:

As the Emerging Technologies Office Director, you will lead the effort to bring critical innovation and intellectual property resources our to stakeholders throughout the AI and emerging technologies community.

The detailee will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following: Facilitate, coordinating and leading high-level engagements with stakeholders at the local, state and Federal levels.

Supporting activities and efforts that promote and protect intellectual property rights, and incentivize innovation from stakeholders such as individual inventors, small/medium/large corporations, start-ups, entrepreneurs and venture capital, among others.

Leading engagement with startups in artificial intelligence, quantum, and other emerging technologies, connecting them with USPTO resources, IP education, and pathways to protect and commercialize innovation.

Coordinating with the Department of Commerce engagement network and partner bureaus (e.g., NIST and NTIA), the Director will co-host roundtables and workshops, share best practices on standards and data stewardship, and strengthen public-private collaboration to support America's innovation ecosystem.

Leading the development and implementation of an engagement strategy that meets the needs of the emerging technologies community.