Executive Assistant - COLLEGE GRADUATE

Summary

• -----------

The CAO provides administrative support to the USPTO, including Human Resources (executive resources; comp \& benefits; staffing; training; strategic HR; employee \& labor relations); Administrative Services (facilities; safety; security; asset \& transportation management); Records \& Information Compliance (records; PRA; Privacy Act; CUI; forms); and the Insider Threat, CAO IT, and Telework offices.

Learn more about this agency

This job is open to

• -----------------------

### The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

### Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from all U.S. Citizens or Nationals.

Duties

• ----------

The physical worksite for this position is located in Alexandria, Virginia. Presence at the Alexandria, VA campus is required for this role, as it includes on site functions that must be performed in person. Position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with agency policy/business unit discretion. The agency currently allows for 52 hours of telework per calendar year.

Acting as a trusted gatekeeper and integrator, the Executive Assistant converts complexity into clarity so senior leadership can focus on strategic decisions. In this role, you anticipate needs, resolve conflicts, and ensure seamless execution of meetings, correspondence, records, and high\-visibility engagements.

*This is your next ideal career move if:*

You can maintain confidentiality and discretion when maintaining executive leadership calendars; scheduling meetings and pre\-briefing; arranging substitutes when needed; coordinating basic logistics and responding to routine scheduling inquiries.*

You have strong time management and prioritization skills to assist in performing daily administrative support; establishing and maintaining official files/directives; tracking actions to completion; recording final dispositions and notifying leadership of changes in suspense or priorities.*

You have proficient oral and written communication skills to assist with screening incoming/outgoing correspondence for completeness, format, and procedural compliance: composing routine responses and routing items for coordination.*

You have experience in MS tools to assist with preparing and developing executive\-ready presentations and talking points with minimal direction.*

You have exceptional organizational skills to assist with arranging domestic/international travel and lodging to include preparing travel orders and vouchers for senior leadership.*

Requirements

• ----------------

### Conditions of employment

• Applications will only be accepted from United States Citizens and Nationals.
• Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job\-related competencies.
• You must meet the definition of specialized experience.
• Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
• Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
• If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
• You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
• Suitable for Federal Employment

### Qualifications

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. OPM Qualifications Standards are available at Administrative and Management Positions.

This position is being filled as a College Graduate under Public Law 115\-232, 5 CFR § 315\.614 (i). Applicants must meet the BASIC REQUIREMENTS of the College Graduate authority:

• Recent graduates who have completed, within the previous two years, a bachelor's or graduate degree
OR
• Veterans who have completed a bachelor's or graduate degree and were unable to apply within two years of obtaining their degree due to a uniformed service obligation of at least 4 years, may apply within two years of their discharge from uniformed service.

In addition to meeting the specialized experience below you must meet the basic requirement above to qualify for this position. Specialized Experienceis experience that has equipped applicants with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled.

GS\-07

To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the federal service. For this position, the next lower grade level is a GS\-05.

Specialized experience for this position includes:

• Experience performing daily administrative and office management duties to support senior level management, establishing and maintaining files; and screening and routing incoming correspondence.

OR

EDUCATION: 1 academic year of graduate education in a related field of study such as: business administration, public administration or other administrative and management fields OR Superior Academic Achievement may be met by having a Bachelor's degree, with one of the following: A GPA of 3\.0 or higher on a 4\.0 scale for all completed undergraduate courses or those completed in the last 2 years of study, or a GPA of 3\.5 or higher on a 4\.0 scale for all courses in the major field of study or those courses in the major completed in the last 2 years of study, or rank in the upper one third of the class in the college, university, or major subdivision, or membership in a national honor society recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies OR Equivalent combination of qualifying graduate education and experience.

GS\-09

To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the federal service. For this position, the next lower grade level is a GS\-07.

Specialized experience for this position includes:

• Experience managing calendars for senior level management, arranging travel orders or making travel arrangements to include preparing briefings, handbooks, reports, forms, and formal correspondence.

OR

EDUCATION: A master's or equivalent graduate degree; OR 2 full years of progressively higher\-level graduate education leading to a graduate degree in a related field of study (i.e., business administration, public administration or other administrative and management fields) OR an LL. B or JD if related (i.e., business administration, public administration or other administrative and management fields) OR Equivalent combination of qualifying graduate education and experience.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

NOTE: This is a career\-ladder position that includes grades GS\-07, GS\-09, GS\-11 and GS\-12\. Upon satisfactory completion of qualification/performance requirements and at management's discretion, the incumbent may be advanced non\-competitively to the next higher level. It is the ability to demonstrate satisfactory performance at the next higher level in all aspects of the position that is the primary basis for consideration for promotion. Meeting the time\-in\-grade requirement for the higher\-grade position does not automatically entitle the incumbent to a promotion.

### Education

SEE QUALIFICATIONS LISTED ABOVE.

If this position requires proof of higher education, or you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to General Schedule Qualification Policies for more information. You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website \- US Department of Education. Another listing of services that can perform this evaluation is available at the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) website. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.

NOTE: Only education and experience acquired before the filing deadline will be considered. Report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

### Additional information

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.

This is a Non\-Bargaining Unit position.

This is a Public Trust position and has a risk level designation of "MODERATE".

Background Investigation \- If selected for this position, you may be required to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF\-306\), which includes a fingerprint and credit check, to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.

The USPTO participates in E\-Verify. For more information on E\-Verify, please visit the Department of Homeland Security Website.

All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.

Relocation Expenses are not authorized and will not be paid.

More than one selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade, and unit occur within 90 days from the date the certificate was issued.

All application materials become the property of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case\-by\-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport.usastaffing.gov/hc/en\-us/sections/28980686389652\-Reasonable\-Accommodation\-Information).

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

========

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full\-time, part\-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

• -----------------------------

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

This position will be filled through the College Graduate Hiring Authority. Under this authority, competitive rating and ranking procedures do not apply. Appointments are made without regard to CTAP, ICTAP or veteran's preference.

The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

The best qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview. If referred all relevant documents submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the selecting official, due weight shall be given to performance appraisals and awards in accordance with 5 CFR § 335\.103(b)(3\), during the interview/selection process conducted by the hiring manager. Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for not hiring you or for changing your scored responses to questions you've answered, which may affect your overall final score.

To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12935538

*The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation), national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, retaliation for engaging in protected activity, parental status, military service, or other non\-merit factors. If you believe that you have been discriminated against and would like to file an EEO complaint, you must do so within 45 days of the date of the alleged discriminatory act. Claims of employment discrimination must be submitted to the attention of the USPTO's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity via email (oeeo@uspto.gov) or phone (571\-272\-8292\).*

Required Documents

• ----------------------

A complete application consists of:

1\. Resume: All applicants are required to submit a two\-page resume (NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES). Resumes exceeding this limit will not be considered eligible. Please submit only one resume. Only the document uploaded under the "Resume "section as the "Document Type" will be reviewed to assess your qualifications and for evaluation purposes. To receive full credit for relevant experience, please list the month/year (MM/YY \- MM/YY) and number of hours worked for experience listed on your resume. We suggest that you preview the online questions, as you may need to customize your resume to ensure that it supports your responses to these questions. Resume should clearly state your experience related to this position as described in the Duties section and Qualifications section.

Please Note: Any experience claimed in a cover letter should be substantiated by information contained in your resume. A HR Representative will validate the qualifications of those candidates eligible to be referred to the hiring official.

2\. Professional or Academic References: Provide 2\-3 professional/academic references (name, phone, email); one must be your current supervisor. We'll notify you before contacting them.

3\. Transcripts: You MUST submit copies of your college transcripts for verification of the education requirements. Unofficial copies are accepted, however, if selected you will be required to furnish official transcripts. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the above educational requirement. Inadequate or illegible information could result in non\-qualification and loss of consideration.

You can upload your documents when you register or update your information on the Dept. of Commerce site which you access through the USAJobs site.

Your application and all required documents must be received by 11:59 pm ET on the closing date of this job announcement.

NOTE: The preceding documents requirement are based on job requirements and individual applicant eligibility. Not all documents are applicable to all applicants; if you are unsure which documents apply to you, contact the HR Specialist listed on this announcement

### If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

• ----------------

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:

• Click the
Apply Online button.
• Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
• Click the
Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
• If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.
• Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
• Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
• Set aside at least 2 hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re\-use your unique assessment link.
• Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused.

Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources here.

To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.

### Agency contact information

Alicia Matute

Phone

571\-270\-0483

Email

alicia.matute@uspto.gov

Address

TMCO\-Office of the Chief Administrative Officer

Office of Human Resources

Mail Stop 171

P.O. Box 1450

Alexandria, VA 22313\-1450

US### Next steps

You will receive a notice generated by the USAJobs System when you have successfully submitted your application.

You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website at http://usajobs.gov/ and clicking on "Track Your Online Application." The four points of notification are:

1\. Application Received or Application Incomplete;

2\. Minimum Qualification Requirement Met or Minimum Qualification Requirement Not Met;

3\. Eligible (Application Referred to the Selecting Official) or Eligible (Application Not Referred to the Selecting Official); and

4\. Selected or Not Selected.

After all application packages have been received, we will review your application and transcript(s) (if you are qualifying based on education) to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and you may be contacted for follow\-up supplemental documentation. It is the applicant's responsibility to provide any supplemental documents or information requested by the Office of Human Resources within the allocated timeframes.

You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, veterans' preference, disability, etc.). You can check the status of your application by logging into USAJOBS. You may also sign up to receive automatic emails anytime the status of your application has changed by logging into your USAJobs Account, editing your profile and changing the "Notification Settings" to indicate that you want to be notified by email when the status changes. Information regarding the status of your application should be updated in the system within 2 weeks after the closing date of this job announcement.

Overview

• ------------

Accepting applications

Open \& closing dates

04/15/2026 to 04/28/2026

This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more

Salary

$57,736 \- $91,815 per year

Pay scale \& grade

GS 7 \- 9

Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

Alexandria, VA

Remote job

No

Telework eligible

Yes—Situational Telework Program.

Travel Required

Not required

Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

Appointment type

Permanent

Work schedule

Full\-time

Service

Competitive

Promotion potential

12

Job family (Series)

• 0301 Miscellaneous Administration And Program

Supervisory status

No

Security clearance

Not Required

Drug test

No

Position sensitivity and risk

Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process

• Credentialing
• Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure

No

Bargaining unit status

No

Announcement number

TMCO\-OCAO\-26\-12935538\-CG

Control number

865307600