Executive Level 1 - Senior Examiner of Patents_EXT
Senior Examiner of Patents
Position title: Executive Level 1 - Senior Examiner of Patents_EXT
Job Requisition ID: 1338
Location: Flexible location
Tenure: Ongoing/Non-Ongoing for a period of up to 18 months
Our Opportunity
A Senior Examiner of Patents actively contributes to the management and leadership of an examination section under limited direction from the Supervising Examiner of Patents (EL2). The typical examination section has around 30 staff including a Supervising Examiner, 4-5 Senior Examiners and approximately 25 Examiners.
Each Senior Examiner will lead and directly manage a small team of staff, including trainees. Coaching and training new staff to achieve Acceptance Delegation via a Competency Based Training program is an important responsibility of the role. Senior Examiners support senior management to foster inclusive and high performing teams and expected to take on initiatives and projects, to deliver on IP Australia’s strategic and operational priorities.
Please note: this process will be used to fill current vacancies across the five Chemical examination sections. A merit pool will be established and may be used to fill future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies within Chemical sections in the Patent Examination Group (PEG). Those found suitable will be advised that they have been placed in the pool. The merit pool will be valid for 18 months from the date the process was advertised.
Job specific capabilities
• Working collaboratively with the section management team to effectively lead and manage the operation and direction of the section and deliver the section's commitments
• Contribute to building and maintaining a culture of high performance, including leading a team of patent examiners, fostering an inclusive and safe environment, mentoring and developing staff, assessing staff performance, providing feedback, and encouraging staff to reach personal, section and corporate goals
• Establishing clear expectations and creating a productive environment to achieve stated goals and objectives, taking ownership and honouring commitments
• Providing on-the-job patent examination training and coaching to trainee examiners and contributing to their competency-based assessment process
• Reviewing and supervising examination work as part of the quality review process
• Directly contributing to the section’s overall production commitments through undertaking examination work and contributing to priority tasks
• Participating in group and corporate projects as required, and representing the section in various fora
• Exercising appropriate powers, authority, delegations and discretion under the Patents Act 1990
• Demonstrating attitudes and behaviours responsive to workplace change (including participating in and encouraging others to participate in change and contributing to successful outcomes)
• Improving organisational performance through effective engagement with and management of risk within relevant sphere of influence
The successful candidate will:
• Hold the Commissioner of Patents' Acceptance Delegation or be able to achieve this Delegation within 6 months of commencement
• Have a demonstrated ability to examine and supervise technologies in one or more chemical sections, including biotechnology, chemical compounds, bio-therapeutics, applied chemistry or pharmaceuticals
• Have a demonstrated ability to create an engaged, customer-centric team through goal setting, providing regular feedback and staff development
• Have a demonstrated ability to deliver results through effective leadership and management of a diverse team in a hybrid environment
• Have an ability to establish an inclusive, lifelong learning and high performing team culture in a hybrid environment
• Think strategically to build organisational capability and to deliver on our priorities
• Be able to successfully manage or lead change and demonstrate adaptability, resilience and judgement when dealing with risk and uncertainty
• Be able to proactively and effectively communicate both verbally and in writing
• Be able to communicate complex legal and procedural concepts in the field of patent examination
• Have an ability to provide effective coaching/training and contributing to competency-based assessment process for trainees
Looking for more information?
Our candidate kit contains details including the capabilities required, the contact officer, and how to apply.
Please use the link below to access the candidate kit:
Applications Close
Applications close at 11:59pm on Wednesday 11 June 2025.