Associate Patent Examiner - Newport

Associate Patent Examiner - Newport

About the job

Job summary

Please note: Applicants should review all aspects of this advert to ensure a thorough understanding. If reviewing via a screen reader, please note that the Job Description, Benefits and How to Apply sections have been emphasised

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is the official UK government body responsible for intellectual property (IP) rights including patents, designs, trade marks and copyright. IP touches everything that makes life more enjoyable, easier, safer, and more prosperous. Our work gives researchers, inventors, creators and businesses the confidence to invest their time, energy and money in doing something new.

Explore the Frontier of Innovation as an Associate Patent Examiner

Patent Examiners are at the forefront of technological advancement, playing a pivotal role in shaping our future. Patent examining offers a unique and fascinating career where scientific and technical ingenuity meets legal acumen.

We are seeking scientists, engineers and mathematicians with enthusiasm and energy for furthering their technical expertise to join our new training programme. Artificial Intelligence, 6G, and quantum computing have the potential to transform our world in the next decade. Our personalised training programme will build on your existing STEM knowledge to enable you to examine patents from innovation hot-spots within such fields as computing, cyber security, telecommunications and image processing.

Working location
This role will be carried out in-line with IPO Hybrid working arrangements where staff are currently expected to spend at least 20% of their time working onsite from one of our offices. This role is based in our Newport office.

We would encourage candidates to discuss working arrangements with the recruiting manager to agree a reasonable balance between working from home and the office. The requirement for attendance at an office location can vary by role but is very unlikely to be less than 1 day per week.

Job description

Why Join Us?As a Patent Examiner, you'll be at the forefront of technological advancement, playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of innovation in the world around us.

Unparalleled Training and Mentorship

• If you are excited about expanding your knowledge of emerging technologies, we will provide you with a personalised program of training and development. This may take the form of mentoring, formal technical training courses and on-the-job learning.
• To complement this scientific and technical knowledge, we'll also provide you with all the necessary training in the legal aspects of the role.
• Your STEM background and technical aptitude will be used to determine the area of innovation that you will be trained to work on.
• The initial training course will start on Monday 3 February 2025 full time for 7/8 weeks. The training will include an engaging variety of seminars, practical demonstrations, coursework and associated tutorials. This training will be held in person, onsite at our Newport Office allowing you to get to know your colleagues and fellow recruits.

Professional Development

• At our organisation, we prioritise the growth and development of our team members.
• With a clear path for advancement, after 2-5 years you'll have the opportunity to progress from Associate Patent Examiner to Patent Examiner. After a few more years of development, a further non-competitive promotion is available to Senior Patent Examiner to become a subject matter expert and leader within our division.

A Collaborative Environment

• Join a team of like-minded individuals who share your passion for science, technology and engineering.
• Collaborate with colleagues, engage in knowledge sharing, and leverage the collective expertise of our diverse team.

To find out more about the Patent Examining career check out IPO Opportunities , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk)

Person specification

Please refer to the job summary and job description sections.

To find out more about the Associate Patent Examiner role at the IPO, sign up to our Webinar which is due to take place on Monday 23 September 2024 6PM - 7PM. Register here

Qualifications

Applicants must hold at least a 2:2 degree in science, engineering, maths, computing, telecommunications or a related field.
Alternatively, applicants must demonstrate equivalent proficiency through substantial industrial experience in technical roles.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Working Together
• Developing Self and Others
• Changing and Improving

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Established knowledge in science, engineering, maths, computing, telecommunications or a related field detailing how you have applied and embedded your technical knowledge in practical situations.
• Ability to understand and evaluate scientific and technical information to reach conclusions accurately, providing reasoning respectfully whilst adapting quickly to apply new learning points.

We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:

• Established knowledge in science, engineering, maths, computing, telecommunications or a related field detailing how you have applied and embedded your technical knowledge in practical situations.

Benefits

Benefits of working with us:

• A flexible working scheme with excellent development opportunities
• 25 days annual leave moving to 30 days in annual increments (1 day per year) over 5 years of reckonable service. You will also get 8 days public leave and 1 day privilege leave
• A very generous pension scheme with 28.97% employer contributions. Further information around the benefits of joining the Civil Service can be found via the Civil Service Pension Scheme
• Family friendly policies that support modern working families and individuals with caring responsibilities
• A variety of support functions; Staff Counselling Service, Peer to Peer Support Group
• Eligibility for special and office-wide bonus payments
• The opportunity to form part of our many inclusive network groups, find out more by looking at Intellectual Property Office (IPO) (diversityjobsgroup.com)
• A range of wellbeing initiatives; Onsite Gym (Newport office), Eye Care Scheme, Volunteering Programme, Cycling facilities
• Free car parking is available on site at our Newport office
• On-site shop, restaurant and coffee shop at our Newport office

For more information about what's on offer at the Intellectual Property Office please review our IPO benefit pack attached to the bottom of this advert.

Please note that benefits may be subject to change.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

How to apply

Candidates to note:

• In order to capture your employment history please complete the employment history box under the 'Your CV' section of the online application form.
• All communications will be electronic therefore it is vitally important that you check your Civil Service Jobs account regularly, as well as your spam/junk email folder

The application process will consist of 4 separate stages. Applicants will need to pass stage 1, stage 2 and stage 3 to progress to stage 4: Interview.

The stages will be structured as followed:

Stage 1: Pre sift test
You need to be complete and pass the below pre sift test before your application will be seen by the panel:

• Civil Service Verbal Test

Applicants to note:

• There are no time limits for the completion of tests.
• Please ensure you complete the test with enough time to fully complete and submit your application before the closing date.
• Full instructions will be given at the start of the test.
• The deadline for completing the tests is the same as the application deadline: Monday 30th September 2024 at 23:55.

Please ensure you leave yourself enough time to fill out the application after completing the tests.

Stage 2: Sift
An initial sift of applications will be carried out to create a shortlist.
This will be based on the evidence provided for the following Success Profile elements:

Experience
When completing your 250 word Personal Statement, please ensure that you outline evidence of your enthusiasm and openness to continual learning and self-development, including the approach you take to learning about new technology.

Technical
In the 250 word box provided please evidence your established knowledge in science, engineering, maths, computing, telecommunications or a related field detailing how you have applied and embedded your technical knowledge in practical situations, for example through research project, industrial or laboratory experience.

Stage 3: Drafting Assessment
An online drafting assessment activity will be used to assess the candidate's ability to evaluate written information and present clear and concise written communication.

You must complete and pass the assessment to be able to progress to interview.

Stage 4: Interview
If invited to interview Behaviour and Technical based questioning will be used.

Behaviours
The below behaviours will be assessed at interview

• Working Together
• Development of Self and Others
• Changing and Improving

Technical
The above Technical criteria will be assessed at interview along with the below

• The ability to understand and evaluate scientific and technical information to reach conclusions accurately, providing reasoning respectfully whilst adapting quickly to apply new learning points.

Please note: Specific information regarding the Success Profile elements that will be assessed at interview will be contained within the interview invitation

Please note:

• Interviews are due to take place week commencing Monday 4th November to Friday 22nd November 2024.
• Interviews for this role will be carried out in person at our Newport Office.
• The UKIPO will refund reasonable travel expenses for attending the interview (from within the UK).
• IMPORTANT: CVs sent direct to the IPO will not be accepted.

If you require job-specific information, please contact:

Name: Kathryn Orme
Email: kathryn.orme@ipo.gov.uk

Applicants to note:This post is being advertised to Internal, across Government and external candidates at the same time.
Incomplete and/or late submissions will not be accepted or considered.

IPO are a UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Licence sponsor and can sponsor exceptional talent under this route.

This Associate Patent Examiner role is open to qualifying individuals who meet the CS Nationality Rules and the criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route.

Please note: Applicants should be aware of the importance of holding a sufficient amount of time on current visas before requiring sponsorship.

Should you have any queries or require any assistance in please contact the IPO Recruitment team at Recruitment@ipo.gov.uk prior to the closing of the post.

In line with Government guidance, successfully appointed candidates will need to provide documents for our Right to Work checks. Information on this will be sent within the invite to interview text.

If you require an adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process, then please let the recruitment team know via ; recruitment@ipo.gov.uk

For more information on the IPO's terms and conditions, please review the attached IPO Modernised Terms and Conditions document attached at the bottom of this advert.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window) .

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) .

Location: Newport, GB

Posted Date: 9/24/2024