Examiner

Important messages

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Assessment accommodation

Do you think you have what it takes to become a Trademark Examiner for the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)? If you have recent experience in applying laws or regulations as well as strong writing and reasoning skills, this opportunity is for you! Join us and become a key contributor of Canada’s Trademarks system.

Our department, Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED), was selected as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers (2019)!

For this selection process, you will have to complete the Public Service Entrance Exam (PSEE). You will receive the Unsupervised Internet Test 370 (PSEE UIT 370) around December 12; it MUST be completed within a five (5) day window.

Duties

You will interpret and apply the Acts, the regulations and relevant case law, policies and guidelines to provide trademark rights protection to applicants. Furthermore, you will perform searches in databases, to determine if you can grant Intellectual Property rights.

You will also provide services to clients regarding their applications to explain any objections and requirements resulting from the examination process.

You will learn the legal aspects of trademarks examination in a comprehensive training program comprising a formal lectures course and on-the-job practical training. You will have the chance to be guided by an experienced Examiner to master the Trademarks examination and help launch strong brands and fuel the economy.

Work environment

Who are we?

CIPO is a special operating agency of ISED. We are 1000 employees located in Gatineau, Quebec, within sight of the Parliament buildings.

We are an organization that is focused on our people. To this effect, we support our staff through competitive salaries and benefits, ongoing training, a culture of respect and well-being as well as continuous improvement.

We encourage flexible work arrangements. At the end of your initial training, you will have the possibility to telework.

Intent of the process

We anticipate filing 15 full time permanent (indeterminate) positions. A pool may also be used to staff similar positions.

Positions to be filled: 15

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

Education:
A bachelor's degree from a recognized post-secondary institution;

OR

Graduation with a diploma from a recognized post-secondary institution AND experience in the application of an Intellectual Property Law;

OR

Be a trade-mark agent.

Degree equivalency

Experience:
EX1: Recent experience* in applying laws or regulations**.

* Recent experience is normally acquired over the past three years.
** Regulations are defined as rules given authority by legislative statutes.

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

Various language requirements
Official Language Proficiency:
OLP1: Bilingual Imperative - CCC/CCC
OLP2: English Essential

Information on language requirements

Competencies:
CO1: Reasoning
CO2: Judgement
CO3: Oral communication
CO4: Written communication
CO5: Service excellence
CO6: Self-sufficient
CO7: Thoroughness
CO8: Interpersonal Relationships

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

Organizational Needs:
The Canadian Intellectual Property Office is committed to having a skilled and diversified workforce representative of the population we serve. In support of our strategy to achieve our employment equity goals, preference may be given to candidates self-identifying as belonging to one of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal peoples, Persons with disabilities.

Operational Requirements:
Willingness and ability to work overtime when required.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Tests

Applicants must successfully write Public Service Entrance Exam (PSEE).

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

PLEASE TAKE THE TIME to read the following information carefully as it may have an impact on the outcome of your application.

You must meet all essential qualifications in order to be appointed to the position. Some essential qualifications will be assessed through your application and others during written exams, interviews, etc. It is your responsibility to provide appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet the education and experience qualifications. Failing to do so could result in your application being rejected.

The organization will accept applications on-line only submitted through the Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS). However, persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line are asked to contact 1-800-645-5605.

To submit an application on-line, please select the button "Apply Online" below.

Acknowledgement of receipt of applications will not be sent.

For this process, we find that email is the most efficient way to communicate with you. Candidates who apply to this selection process should include an email address that accepts emails from unknown users (some systems block these types of email). If you change your email address during the process, it is your responsibility to inform us.

Candidates from outside the public service will be required to pay for travel expenses associated with this selection process. However, we can facilitate flexible arrangements such as interviews via videoconference during this recruitment process. Note that the relocation expenses may be reimbursed up to a maximum of 5,000$ for candidate who are not within the public service.

ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

For this selection process, you will have to complete the Public Service Entrance Exam (PSEE). You will receive the Unsupervised Internet Test 370 (PSEE UIT 370) around December 12; it MUST be completed within a five (5) day window.

Please note that the unsupervised PSEE UIT 370 internet test results are not transferable from one process to another. Therefore, in order to be considered for this process, you will have to re-write the PSEE 370 again, and this, even if you have completed it in the past.

If you pass the PSEE UIT 370 and are invited to write the supervised version of the test, then you may choose to reuse your existing supervised PSEE 371 test results or take the test again (if the re-test period of 180 days has expired).

Also note that scores are provided only for supervised tests. Unsupervised tests are more vulnerable to security breaches when test scores are provided to test takers. Consequently, pursuant to Section 22 of The Access to Information Act, UIT test scores are not provided because to do so would threaten the validity and continued use of the test.

A written exam, an interview and reference checks may also be part of the candidate's assessment.

In order to manage the number of applications in this selection process, management may use top-down or random selection at various steps in the process to determine the number of candidates who will continue in the process.

Proof of education and citizenship will be requested at the assessment stage.

Candidates with foreign education credentials MUST have proof of Canadian equivalency at the time of application. Consult the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials for further information at
http://www.cicic.ca/.

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans and to Canadian citizens, in that order, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.