Returning to STEM as a Technical Assistant
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About this Role
We know life offers lots of challenges that can impact work and at the IPO, we don't 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, you'll 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
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.
Benefits:
- A very generous pension scheme with 27.1% employer contributions.
- 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
- 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
