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About the job
Job summary
We know life offers lots of challenges that can impact work and at the IPO, we dont believe it should prevent you from reaching your full potential. We want to provide you with an opportunity to return to STEM by offering training, mentoring, coaching and opportunities to build your confidence. In return, youll be involved in the exciting world of Patents and Innovation, as well as being part of an organisation that values and supports you.
We understand the need for a good work/life balance and offer both flexitime and part time hours along with hybrid working, which includes a proportion of homeworking
At a STEM career crossroads? Take the Patent Examiner route – Intellectual Property Office blog
If you have a gap in your STEM career, then you qualify for this fantastic 8-month returning to STEM opportunity!
This role will be carried out in-line with IPO Hybrid working arrangements where staff are currently expected to spend at least 20% of their time working onsite from one of our offices. This role is based in our Newport office
The requirement for attendance at an office location can vary by role so we would encourage candidates to discuss working arrangements with the recruiting manager to agree a reasonable balance between working from home and the office.
Job description
The Technical assistant role will be to work with a small team of patent examiners to help them scrutinise both the technical and legal aspects of patent applications to determine if the inventions set out in those applications are new and inventive and whether the applications satisfy other legal requirements.
General Strengths/Skills required for the technical assistant
- Enthusiasm for understanding how things work.
- Ability to communicate technical information both orally and in writing.
- Self-starter who has the ability to manage their own work.
- STEM expertise via a relevant STEM qualification or industry experience.
Setting up for success!
We aim to nurture and support our Technical Assistants, setting up for future success, including enabling the opportunity to apply for one of our Associate Patent Examiner roles at the end of the 8- month posting, subject to availability.
This will involve applying via fair and open competition, with appointments awarded based on ability and performance against the advertised criteria and holding either a minimum 2:2 degree, or relevant industry experience. We are particularly looking to recruit in the following areas:
Organic Chemistry, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical science, Bioinformatics, Telecommunications Engineering, Computer Systems Engineering, especially technical knowledge in quantum computing, neural networks, security architectures, virtualised and cloud computing, fault-tolerant computing, hardware design and database technologies.
Please note: GCSE grade C or above (or equivalent) in Mathematics may also be required.
Comprehensive training and mentoring in the legal skills required for the role will be provided.
Person specification
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Benefits
Benefits of working with the wider IPO:
- A very generous pension scheme with 27.1% employer contributions. Further information around the benefits of joining the Civil Service can be found via the Civil Service Pension Scheme page;
- 25 days annual leave moving to 30 days in annual increments (1 day per year) over 5 years of reckonable service. You will also get 8 days public leave and 1 day privilege leave;
- The opportunity to form part of our many inclusive network groups, find out by looking at Disability Jobs, BME Jobs and LGBT Jobs
- A variety of support functions including our excellent Staff Counselling Service which is a source of support for all staff at the IPO
- A flexible working scheme which has no core hours and excellent opportunities for home, part-time and term-time working;
- Eligibility for special and office-wide bonus payments
- Excellent development opportunities;
- Opportunities for secondments, both internal and external;
- Opportunities to join many civil-service clubs such as the Sports and Social Association, Motoring Club (CSMA), which provide numerous discounts to members
When working at Concept House, Newport the following benefits are also available:
- Free car parking is available on site;
- On-site facilities including gymnasium, shop, restaurant
Please note that benefits may be subject to change.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
How to apply
All communications will be electronic therefore it is vitally important that you check your Civil Service Jobs account regularly, as well as your spam/junk email folder
Sift
An initial sift of applications will be carried out to create a shortlist. This will be based on the evidence provided in the Experience Success Profile element detailed below.
Experience
The panel will be assessing applicants against a CV and Personal statement:
CV
When completing your CV please ensure you list your background in STEM covering your job history and any relevant qualifications. Please ensure you include your career break.
Personal Statement
When completing your 250-word Personal Statement, please provide an answer to the following question:
‘Why do you want to get back into STEM and what do you want to achieve from this opportunity?’
Interviews
If invited to interview Behaviour and Experience based questioning will be used.
Please note : candidates that proceed to the interview stage will be required to complete a practical exercise to assess technical knowledge. Details will be provided in the invite to interview information..
Specific information regarding the Success Profile elements that will be assessed at interview will be contained within the interview invitation.
Interviews for this role will be carried out virtually via Microsoft Teams (video).
IMPORTANT: CVs sent direct to the IPO will not be accepted.
Please complete the online application form.
Incomplete and/or late submissions will not be accepted or considered.
Should you have any queries or require any assistance in this matter, please contact the IPO Recruitment team at Recruitment@ipo.gov.uk prior to the closing of the post.
In line with Government guidance, successfully appointed candidates will need to provide documents for our Right to Work checks. Information on this will be sent within the invite to interview text.
Diversity Statement
The IPO is an inclusive employer where diversity is respected and differences valued. Our positive approach to diversity allows us to select the most suitable applicants free from bias on factors such as age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, religion, and many more protected characteristics.
If you require an adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process, then please let the recruitment team know via ; recruitment@ipo.gov.uk
Candidates to note
Please select the arrows below to drop down each heading for further information, alternatively you can contact recruitment@ipo.gov.uk;
Information on Fraud data base and childcare vouchers
Any move to the Intellectual Property Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
From 8 June 2020, The Intellectual Property Office is to provide a Fair Processing Notice to all new applicants after they have been successful at interview.
As one aspect of pre-employment screening, personal details (name, National Insurance Number and date of birth) will be checked against the Civil Service Resourcing Extract Internal Fraud database. Anyone included on the Internal Fraud Database will be refused employment unless they can demonstrate exceptional circumstances. The Intellectual Property Office will, on behalf of the vacancy holder, inform applicants when they are refused employment because of their inclusion in the Internal Fraud database.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Terms & Conditions
Please note that IPO has updated its terms and conditions of employment as part of Civil Service Reform. It is the candidates responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful on application.
Please see the attached Terms and Conditions document.
Voluntary Moves: If your pay (excluding allowances) is above the IPO maximum for the grade it will be capped at the IPO maximum for the grade when you transfer.
OGD loan or permanent transfers
Please note that due to the childcare changes introduced by HMRC in October 2018, employees going on loan/transferring to another government department that were in receipt of childcare vouchers in their previous department will not be able to continue receiving these post transfer.
For more information on the childcare schemes offered by IPO, please contact HRandPayrollteam@ipo.gov.uk
If moving internally on lateral transfer you will remain on your current base salary. Please note: All allowances are specific of individual roles and may not be transferable.
Pension information
Further information Civil Service pension schemes can be found here: https://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : IPO Recruitment Team
- Email : Recruitment@ipo.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : Recruitment@ipo.gov.uk
Further information
The Civil Service recruits by merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commissions Recruitment Principles.
Complaints Procedure:
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, please contact;
Penny Phillpotts
Intellectual Property Office,
Concept House,
Cardiff Road,
Newport,
NP10 8QQ.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitment/complaints/
