Job title: Patent Examiner, Intellectual Property Office of Ireland
Employer: Intellectual Property Office of Ireland
Location: Kilkenny
Closing Date: 3pm, Thursday, 20th February 2025
Salary: Starting at €43,002
About the Employer:
The Intellectual Property Office of Ireland (IPOI) is the national intellectual property body, under the auspices of the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment, that is responsible for the administration of intellectual property (IP) rights in Ireland. The IPOI is an independent statutory office headed by the Controller of Intellectual Property.
The central mission of the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland is “To deliver a modern, digitalised Intellectual Property Office, encouraging innovation and enterprise, that provides world class professional services to be proud of.” This is to be achieved through the protection of intellectual property rights in the fields of patents, trade marks and designs within an effective legal framework which encourages innovation in Ireland and facilitates the proactive dissemination of relevant knowledge on intellectual property rights (IPRs) and the intellectual property (IP) system.
About the Role:
Reporting to the Senior Examiner of Patents, Patent Examiners assess the technical and legal aspects of an invention disclosed in a patent application or of a product disclosed in an application for a Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC). They play a crucial role in examining applications and providing detailed assessments of patent/SPC applications to determine whether the application meets the legislative requirements of the Patents Act 1992 and other associated legislation.
The role will involve identifying any legal issues that may prevent an application from proceeding (e.g., whether the subject matter is patentable or whether the applicant has properly described what the patent is for) and determine whether the invention which is the subject of an application is not new and/or inventive.
The Patent Examiner will work both independently and as part of a small team. The role will require them to manage and be responsible for their own work, meeting targets, and performing other search, examination, and administrative tasks to achieve the organisational goals. In addition, they will use patent and technical databases, procedural manuals, legislation, and their own technical knowledge.
The role is a technical position and offers a unique opportunity to combine scientific expertise with legal aspects of intellectual property. As the IPOI receives patent applications covering a wide range of subject matters, it will be necessary for the Patent Examiner to assess applications which are outside their specific area of qualification and/or expertise. On the job training will be provided as appropriate.
About You:
1. Candidates must have on or before 20th February 2025:
2. A qualification at minimum level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) or a NARIC Ireland Foreign Qualifications equivalent in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biotechnology or other specific related scientific discipline such as Pharmacology.
3. At least two years practical postgraduate experience in an area such as scientific research or working in the pharmaceutical sector.
4. Strong organisational and time management skills with the ability to work under pressure while undertaking high volumes of work to tight deadlines.
5. An ability to provide analysis of information from a range of sources and make sound decisions/judgements with a well-reasoned rationale.
6. Strong communication skills including a capacity to communicate complex technical and legal arguments clearly and concisely, both in writing and verbally with colleagues, applicants and patent attorneys.
7. Excellent interpersonal skills with the capacity to develop, manage and maintain effective working relationships both internally and externally.
8. An ability to develop expert competence in the diverse range of areas for which the IPOI has responsibility.
9. The self-motivation, initiative and resilience to manage tasks and progress projects and deliver high quality outcomes in a fast-paced work environment.
10. The ability to exercise professional judgement including a high level of discretion and the ability to handle sensitive information with integrity.
11. Strong IT skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel, Word)
12. A commitment to continuous learning and development.
Desirable:
1. An appropriate postgraduate professional qualification.
2. Presentation and/or public speaking experience.
3. Knowledge of Irish and European patent law.
The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 3pm on Thursday, 20th February, 2025.
We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and encourage applications under all nine grounds of the Employment Equality Act.
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