Patent 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

For more information about the basics of assessment accommodation, please visit the following link:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/services/assessment-accommodation-page/the-basics-of-assessment-accommodation.html (Please note: to view this link, copy and paste it into a new browser)

Join us and become a crucial part of Canada’s patent system. Our training program will help you master the world of patents.

If you are an autonomous worker with a capacity for understanding how inventions work, strong technical writing skills, and a willingness to learn about intellectual property regulations, this opportunity is for you!

This is a process to fill upcoming permanent Patent Examiner positions in the Biotechnology Division in early 2024.

Visit the Patent Examiner Recruitment link to learn more (https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/canadian-intellectual-property-office/en/patents/patent-examiner-recruitment).(Please note: to view this link, copy and paste it into a new browser)

Patent Examiners may work, subject to permissions, as full-time teleworkers, in Canada. Therefore, no matter where you are in Canada, we invite you to apply. See link below for more information: https://intranet.ised-isde.canada.ca/site/ciponet/en/telework-101

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) is a special operating agency of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. CIPO is roughly 1000 employees strong and is located in Gatineau, Quebec, within sight of the Parliament buildings.

We are an organization that is focused on our people. To this effect, CIPO supports our staff through competitive salaries and benefits, ongoing training, and a culture of respect and continuous improvement.

While a certain proportion of patent applications that CIPO receives is in French, the language used for the majority of the patent applications, our examination reports, and most of our literature searches, is English, so the ability to understand and communicate in English is essential. Regardless, CIPO is a bilingual organization which fosters the use of both French and English, and as such you can expect to work in a bilingual work environment which includes among other things, bilingual documentation and internal work tools, as well as on-the-job training and interacting with your manager in the official language of your choice. For those who are officially bilingual (as established by language testing), you may have the opportunity to examine a proportion of your workload in French. For those who are not yet officially bilingual, you may choose to access our Official Languages Development Program upon completion of your initial training, under certain conditions.

As a Patent Examiner you will read and analyze inventions described in patent applications. Check out the Canadian Patent Database to have a glimpse of what a patent application looks like. You will search technical databases to ascertain how the invention differs from the state of the art. You will communicate with the applicant, (mainly via written reports) outlining your analysis and whatever defects need to be corrected before approving the patent.

The SG-PAT-03 level is a training level in preparation for advancement to the SG-PAT-04 working level for Patent Examiners after a 2-year period (SG-PAT-04 salary from $89,616 to $109,763). You will learn both the technical and legal aspects of patent examination in a comprehensive training program comprising virtual classroom courses and on-the-job practical training under the guidance of a Senior Patent Examiner who will help you become proficient in the art of patent examination.

While efforts are made to match a patent examiner’s background with applications they examine, patent examiners in Biotechnology may be required to examine a variety of applications from different areas within the field of Biotechnology such as: molecular genetics, immunology, molecular and cellular biology, phytotherapeutics, biochemistry, enzymology, virology, agrobiology, microbiology, proteomics and biopharmaceuticals.

Work environment

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) is proud to be named one of Canada's Top 100 Employers 2023, National Capital Region's Top Employer 2023, and Canada's Best Diversity Employers 2023.

These awards recognize Canadian employers with exceptional human resources programs, forward-thinking workplace policies, and exceptional workplace diversity and inclusiveness programs.

CIPO offers flexible telework arrangements to patent examiners, including the option of full-time telework. Whether you prefer to work from the office or enjoy the convenience of working from home, a suitable telework schedule can be arranged in accordance with CIPO Telework 101 guidelines.

Intent of the process

A pool of qualified candidates will be established and will be used to staff positions on an indeterminate (permanent) basis in early 2024.

Positions to be filled: 6

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

EDUCATION:
- Master’s Degree (M.Sc.) or Doctorate (Ph.D.) in a field of Biotechnology such as: molecular genetics, immunology, molecular and cellular biology, phytotherapeutics, biochemistry, enzymology, virology, agrobiology, microbiology, proteomics and biopharmaceuticals.

Degree equivalency

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE:
- Knowledge of Canadian intellectual property rights.

ABILITIES:
- Ability to plan and manage own time by governing his/her work elements systematically.
- Ability to analyze and synthesize or explain the technical elements of a system, device or process to understand the nature of the elements and how they interact.
- Ability to interpret policies, acts, regulations, procedures, guidelines and/or rules and apply them judiciously.
- Ability to solve problems by dealing effectively with a situation through reasoning, discussion and action.
- Ability to communicate orally in such a way that your point of view is understood.
- Ability to communicate in writing in such a way that your point of view is understood.

PERSONAL SUITABILITY:
- Thoroughness
- Judgement
- Self-sufficiency
- Focus on Results
- Effective Interpersonal Relationships
- Dependability
- Adaptability

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

ISED is committed to employment equity (EE). In order to achieve a representative workforce, selection may be based on qualified candidates self-declaring as being a member of one or more of the following EE groups: Indigenous person (First Nations, Metis, and/or Inuit), a person with a disability, a racialized person, or a woman. 

Appointments of members of these EE groups ensure that our workforce is inclusive and representative of the Canadian public we serve. 

Information on employment equity

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Candidates may be required to work on patent applications from any technology area relevant to the Biotechnology Division.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

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.

- Where relevant to manage the volume of applications, random selection will be used to contact applicants for further assessment.

- If you do not fully complete the screening questions as instructed, you will be screened out.

- A written exam may be administered.

- Interviews will be conducted.

- Reference checks will be conducted.

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

- Candidates must meet the essential qualifications to be appointed to a position.

- Candidates invited to an interview will be required to bring proof of their education credentials, in the form of a diploma or official transcript.

- COMMUNICATIONS: Communication for this process will be sent via email. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required; Candidates who apply to this selection process should include an email address that accepts email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email). If you do not wish to receive your correspondence and your results by email or if you change your email address during the process, it is your responsibility to inform us by email at:

- Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent; we will contact candidates when the screening process is completed.

- Candidates with foreign credentials must provide proof of Canadian equivalency. Consult the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials for further information at http://www.cicic.ca/

- Security: This factor is not used at the screening stage. The department is responsible for the security clearance process.

- We will accept applications on-line only.

- 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.

All job applications must therefore be submitted through the Public Service Resourcing System. Following are some of the benefits associated with applying on-line.

Applicants can create a profile and a resume that can be used when applying for other processes without having to recreate a new application each time.

Applicants can modify their application/resume at any time BEFORE the closing date indicated on the job advertisement.

Applicants can verify the status of their applications, at any time.

Applicants can be notified electronically of tests or interviews and results.

For some jobs, applicants will find important information, namely the job questionnaire and a complete statement of merit criteria that are only available when applying on-line.

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

Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line are asked to contact 1-800-645-5605.

If you have questions, need accommodations, or are not able to apply online, please use the Contact information below! We will be glad to help. If you prefer to speak on the phone, please include that request in your email, along with your contact information.

Thank you / Merci / Ekosani / Miigwech / Meegwetch / Mahseecho / Mutna / Wopida / Hei Hei / Marci Cho / ᖁᐊᓇᖅᑯᑎᑦ / Quanaqqutit / ᓇᑯᕐᒦᒃ (Nakurmik) / Nakummek / Qujannamiik / Qujanaq / Kukwstsétsemc / Woliwon / Woliwun / Wela’lin.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans first and then to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, 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.