Examiner (Trademarks)

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 Acts 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)!

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.

You will work in a fast-paced and constant evolution work environment.

Work environment

Who are we?

CIPO is a special operating agency of ISED. We are located at promenade du Portage, Gatineau, Quebec (walking distance to downtown Ottawa). The building is located in downtown Gatineau, with restaurants and boutiques close by. There is also easy access to public transportation and various paid parking options available. Like to exercise? There are two gyms close by, as well as some great walking and biking trails.

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:
ED1: A degree (1) from a recognized post-secondary institution (already obtained or will be obtained by September 30, 2019) OR an acceptable combination of education and experience (2).

Notes:
(1) The term “degree” refers to a baccalaureate as established by educational authorities.
(2) By acceptable combination of education and experience, we mean a post-secondary diploma (already obtained or will be obtained by September 30, 2019) from a recognized post-secondary institution AND experience in the application of an Intellectual Property Law.

Degree equivalency

Experience:
EX1: Recent* experience** in applying Acts or Regulations***

Notes:
*Recent experience is normally acquired over the past three years.
**Experience may be demonstrated through employment, volunteer work, student employment or scholastic activity or achievement.
***Regulations are rules of order having the force of law.

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: Action Management
CO4: Communication (oral and written)
CO5: Service excellence
CO6: Dependability
CO7: Detail oriented
CO8: Effective interpersonal relationships

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

Asset Qualifications
AQ1: Have a minimum of two years of experience in trademarks and be a Registered Canadian Trademark Agent.

Operational Requirements
OR1: Willingness and ability to work overtime when required.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Tests

Public Service Entrance Exam UIT

Applicants must complete the Public Service Entrance Exam Unsupervised Internet Test as part of the screening for this selection process. This exam consists of two sub-tests: the Test of Reasoning and the Test of Judgement. While all applicants are asked to take the first sub-test, you will only be invited to take the second sub-test if additional information is required to complete the assessment. You will have 90 minutes to complete the Test of Reasoning and 75 minutes to complete the Test of Judgement (if required). You must complete the test(s) before you submit your application for this position.

For more information, please consult: Public Service Entrance Exam - Unsupervised Internet Test

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.

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). Please note that the Unsupervised Internet Test 370 (PSEE UIT 370) 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.