Examiner of Patents (Jun 2023)

About IP Australia

IP Australia is an Australian Government agency responsible for administering Australia’s intellectual property (IP) rights system, specifically patents, trademarks, designs, and plant breeder’s rights. IP Australia also undertakes programs to educate and promote an awareness of IP, provides IP policy input to Government, develops legislation to support the IP system and contributes to bilateral and multilateral negotiations to improve IP protection internationally. 

About the role

As a Patent Examiner, you will use your STEM knowledge, in combination with the legal training we provide, to assess whether patent applications comply with the requirements set out in the patent legislation. This includes searching patent and scientific databases to ensure the invention is new and inventive. As such, Patent Examiners are amongst the first to see new developments across a wide range of emerging technologies. The role has a customer service element as you will correspond with patent attorneys, or directly with applicants/inventors, working to resolve issues within their applications.

Launching your career as a Patent Examiner with IP Australia, you will be supported by a workplace coach through a competency-based training program to build your competence/expertise. This includes both virtual classroom-style training and virtual on-the-job learning. After successful completion of the training program, you will work collaboratively in an examination team where you will search and examine patent applications and produce search and examination reports.

What will I do?

Specific duties of a patent examiner include, but are not limited to:

• Examining the invention from a scientific standpoint, determining that the invention is described clearly and in such a way that a skilled person would be able to use it
• Researching and analysing scientific literature and patent databases to make sure that the application is new and inventive
• Communicating with the applicant and patent attorney the outcome of examination and considering their responses
• Maintaining an understanding of their responsibilities under the Work Health & Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) and a commitment to promoting a healthy and safe workplace
• Contributing to the Patents Examination Group and IP Australia to achieve our strategic goals.

How do I apply?

We have an online application that you will need to complete. You’ll be asked to upload your resume, academic transcript, and respond to two questions.

What does Affirmative Measures mean?

The filling of this vacancy is intended to constitute an affirmative measure under Section 26 of the Australian Public Service Commissioner's Directions 2022. This vacancy is open only to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

If you are interested in this position and not a Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, please see our website for our general stream.

Want more information?

For more information about the role, please take a look at our Candidate Kit or register to attend one of two Information Sessions. 

Details about the sessions and the Candidate Kit are available on our website.

Applications for this vacancy close at 11.55pm AEDT on Sunday 19 March 2023