Member of the Opposition Board

Important messages

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Assessment accommodation

Please note that TELEWORK may be an option. The conditions and details will be determined at the time of the appointment of the candidate(s).

Work environment

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) is looking for talented individuals to join the Trade-marks Opposition Board (TMOB). Could that be you? You would be the ideal candidate if you are knowledgeable and experienced in applying provisions of the Trade-marks Act, the Trade-mark Regulations and CIPO’s practice notices, bear excellent judgment, and demonstrate solid analytical thinking.

As a privileged Member of the TMOB, you will work alongside some of the most highly skilled people in trade-mark law in respect to opposition and section 45 proceedings, within an environment which offers an unparalleled work life balance. It is an exciting time to join TMOB because sweeping legal reforms will transform the Canadian trademark landscape on June 17, 2019!

Here are the main tasks that you would perform:
Members have delegated authority under subsection 63(3) of the Trade-Marks Act from the Registrar to conduct hearings and render quasi-judicial decisions pursuant to the Trade-marks Act and Trade-marks Regulations with respect to three types of proceedings: opposition proceedings, objection proceedings and section 45 proceedings. Members also assist with policy in each of these areas and render interlocutory rulings.

More information about CIPO:
CIPO is a Special Operating Agency of Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) that is responsible for administering Canada's system of intellectual property rights. Its areas of activity include: patents, trademarks, copyrights, industrial designs and integrated circuit topographies.

To learn more about CIPO, please visit: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/Home.

Positions to be filled: 2

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 degree from a recognized post-secondary educational institution.

Degree equivalency

Experience
• Appreciable experience* in legal information research and analysis;
• Experience in formulating recommendations to senior management;
• Experience in writing legal opinions or legal decisions.

* Appreciable experience means rich and diversified experience normally acquired during the performance of tasks over a period of at least two (2) years.

If you possess any of the following, your application must also clearly explain how you meet it (other qualifications)

Education
A law degree from a recognized post-secondary educational institution.

Degree equivalency

Certification
Registration as a trademark agent.

Experience
• Work experience in the field of trademark law;
• Experience in presenting at or conducting hearings before administrative tribunals.

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

Various language requirements
English essential
Bilingual imperative BBB/BBB
Bilingual imperative CCC/CCC

Information on language requirements

Knowledge
• Knowledge of the main trade-marks reference documents such as the Trade-marks Act, Trade-mark Regulations, relevant jurisprudence and Trade-mark Opposition Board practice notices;
• Knowledge of the Rules of Natural Justice

Competencies
• Effective written communication;
• Effective oral communication;
• Decision-making;
• Analytical reasoning;
• Attention to detail;
• Judgment;
• Teamwork and collaboration.

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

Consent to work overtime occasionally.

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

Only on-line applications received via the Jobs GC site will be accepted. Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line are asked to contact the Public Service Commission at 1-800-645-5605.

The selection decision(s) may be based on one or more of the following criteria:
• Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the strengths and weaknesses of the work team.
• Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the specific duties of the position being staffed;
• Depth, breadth, type of work-specific experience;
• Level/degree of one or more competencies/qualifications;
• Asset qualifications.

All communication relating to this process, including email correspondence, may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

You will be required to show how you meet the EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE requirements for both the ESSENTIAL and ASSET QUALIFICATIONS, if applicable, for the initial screening through your résumé and in answering online screening questions. It is your responsibility to PROVIDE CLEAR AND CONCRETE EXAMPLES. It is NOT sufficient to only state that the qualifications are met or to provide a listing of current or past responsibilities. Rather you must clearly demonstrate HOW, WHEN, and WHERE the qualification was met through substantiation by examples.

Resumes may be used as a secondary source to validate the experience described in the online screening questions. As such, information on your described experience, etc. provided in the screening questions should be supported by your résumé.

Failure to provide the above information in the format required may result in your application being rejected from the process.

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.

Depending on the number of candidates, the department's needs and it's Human Resource plans, volume management strategies such as, but not limited to, top-down selection process, cut-off scores, random selection and/or assessment may be used for the purpose of managing applications/candidates. Preference may be given to candidates based on the depth and breadth of their experience.

Our means of communication with applicants is via e-mail. Please ensure to include a functional e-mail address, which will accept messages from unknown users (some e-mail systems block these types of e-mails). It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required.

Travel costs for the assessment are the responsibility of the candidate.

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.