INVENTORY - Examiner (Intellectual Property)

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

When you apply to this selection process, you are not applying for a specific job, but to an inventory for future vacancies. As positions become available, applicants who meet the qualifications may be contacted for further assessment.

Not familiar with inventories? No problem! We have created a ''Frequently Asked Questions'' section at the bottom of the poster to clarify it all under Other information.

The inventory will be updated every 30 days. You will receive a notice in your applicant account 7 days before the end of your active period to determine whether or not you wish to keep being considered for an additional 30 days.

If you wish to reapply to this Trademark Examiner for the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) selection process, the retest period is 180 days from the date of elimination at either the written exam or interview/reference stage. Therefore, you will not be assessed more than once.

Video - How to prepare for an appointment process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GW7P3g9hhI

Duties

Do you think you have what it takes to become a Trademark Examiner or an Industrial Design 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 innovation and economy.

Are you passionate about Canadian businesses and/or intellectual property (IP)? Do you have a strong desire to serve the public in a fast-paced, complex and interesting field where every file is different? IP Examiners at Trademarks and Industrial Designs Branch (TIDB) are responsible for assessing and processing applications by individuals and companies for registration of trademarks and industrial designs in Canada. This means that each application is examined for registrability in accordance with the applicable Act and Regulations, based on defined policy and practice. Examiners communicate with clients in writing and over the phone. The ideal Examiner is sharply detail oriented, client focused, able to adapt to change, and can easily handle a large file-load.

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 wellbeing as well as continuous improvement.

TIDB is a high-volume production environment, which means there are clear and specific expectations about the quality and quantity of daily work (quotas). Each year, we receive up to 70 000 trademark and industrial designs applications, and our mandate is to examine them as efficiently as possible. The Examiner role is very independent and self-sufficient in managing day-to-day tasks. After a period of training and peer-coaching (generally up to seven months from hire), IP Examiners may have opportunities to work on special projects that enhance the services delivered by the branch.

Due to COVID-19, employees of TIDB are currently working remotely where operational needs do not require physical presence in the office. Training and coaching is being offered virtually during COVID-19 restrictions. Examiners do have various tasks that must be done in the office, and generally, attend on a rotational basis once every week following all applicable health and safety guidelines.

Please note that due to the nature of the work, relocation close to the workplace is mandatory.

Intent of the process

We anticipate filling approximately 50 permanent (indeterminate) full-time positions.

Appointments are expected to take place at the end of March 2022/early April 2022. For this reason, qualified candidates who will receive a job offer must be available to begin intensive training on trademarks or industrial designs on these dates.

In addition, a pool of qualified candidates will be established to meet the future needs of the organization.

Positions to be filled: 50

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(1) from a recognized post-secondary institution (already obtained or will be obtained by September 30, 2022) 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 successful completion of two years of an acceptable post-secondary educational program from a recognized post-secondary institution (CÉGEP, Community College or University) AND a experience** in applying legislation or regulations** related to one of the Intellectual Property fields such as Trademarks, Industrial Designs, Patents, Copyrights, etc.

*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.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE (E):
E1: Experience* in applying legislation or regulations**.

Notes:
*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
- Bilingual Imperative: CCC/CCC
- English Essential
- French Essential

Information on language requirements

COMPETENCIES (CO):
CO1: Ability to analyze and interpret information
CO2: Written communication
CO3: Attention to detail
CO4: Time Management
CO5: Service excellence
CO6: Reliability
CO7: Effective Interpersonal Relationships
CO8: Judgement
CO9: Oral communication

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

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS

EXPERIENCE (AE):
AE1: Have a minimum of two years of experience in trademarks and be a Registered Canadian Trademark Agent.

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS:
At ISED, diversity is our strength. If you are a woman, an Aboriginal person, a person with a disability or a visible minority, please let us know by completing the Employment Equity (EE) section in your application. Appointments of members of these EE groups ensure our workforce is inclusive and representative of the Canadian public we serve.

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.

Information on employment equity

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Willingness and ability to work overtime when needed.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

RELOCATION:
- Willingness to relocate.

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.

Depending on the number of applicants, the needs and/or Human Resources plans, volume management strategies such as random selection, top-down approach and/or establishing cut-off scores to determine who will continue in the staffing process, MAY BE USED for the purpose of managing applications.

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.

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

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.

If you are not able to apply online, please contact the person below for assistance.

INVENTORY FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- How will you communicate with me ?
We will contact you by email or through your GC Jobs account. Please ensure that your email is valid and accepts messages from unknown users. It is your responsibility to regularly check your inbox, junk mail and your GC Jobs account to find out about all the information regarding this inventory.

- Why was my application automatically rejected when I submitted it ?
In order to be placed in the inventory, you must meet the essential education qualification at the time you submit your application. If you receive a message "Application rejected at screening" immediately after submitting your application, you probably answered "No" to the screening question assessing the essential qualification of education. If you have incorrectly indicated "No" for this qualification, simply retrieve your application and update your answer to the screening question.

- What does "Registered in the inventory" mean ?
Once your application has been successfully submitted to the inventory, your status may be: "Date of disclosure of results: Listed in the inventory". This automatically generated message by the system means that your application can be considered. You will be informed in the event that your application is considered as part of a process generated from this inventory.

- What happens if my application expires ?
Your application will be kept in the inventory for 60 days. A notice will be posted in the "My Job File" menu of your account 12 days before your application expires. If you do not take this into account, your application will be deactivated and it will no longer be considered for submissions from this inventory. In the event that your application expires during the effective period of this inventory, a notice will be posted in your account. If you wish to confirm your interest and reactivate your application, select the "Renewal of my application" link.

- My personal information has changed, what should I do ?
Simply update them in the "Personal Information" section, in the "My Job File" menu of your account. This will allow us to have your current contact information and ensure adequate follow-up in the event that your application is considered as part of a process issued from this inventory.

- I have a disability that does not allow me to apply online, who do I contact to help me with the submission of my job application ?
You can contact an Officer at the Federal Public Service Job Advertisement Information Line by calling 1-800-645-5605.

- Who can I contact if I have technical difficulties with the GC Jobs website ?
You can contact the Public Service Commission of Canada's support centre by selecting the "Contact Us" link below, in the left corner of this window, or by calling 1-888-780-4444.

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.