Leadership at USPTO

The USPTO Office of Human Resources, Enterprise Training Division has established a comprehensive agency-wide Leadership Development Program (LDP). Leadership development is an important component of the USPTO human capital management strategy because capable leaders can improve operations and take on new tasks and challenges more readily. 

The LDP is built on the foundation that "Leadership is Everybody's Business" and the USPTO is committed to educating and growing leaders throughout all levels of the organization. Regardless of your position or title, the Leadership Development Program (LDP) has a developmental opportunity that is right for you. You can determine which one is best based on your current role and your developmental interests and needs.

The LDP reflects the commitment of USPTO to develop leaders at five levels:

• Individual Leaders (non supervisory, permanent full-time or temporary career or career conditional employees, at any grade level)
• Aspiring Leaders (non supervisory, permanent full time non supervisory employees at the 7-15 grade level, including team leaders, interested in potentially becoming a supervisor)
• New Supervisors (anyone who has been a supervisor for less than three years and has not completed supervisory skills training. The term can also apply to management officials at their business unit’s discretion)
• Mid Level Leaders (supervisors and managers currently supervising others or management officials with three or more years of experience or supervisors and managers who currently supervise at least one layer of subordinate supervisors)
• Senior Leaders (supervisors with five or more years experience; or currently supervise two or more layers of subordinate supervisors; or currently oversee a major function or department of the agency)

In keeping with this approach to leadership development, the USPTO Leadership Assessment is being made available to all USPTO employees, regardless of occupation or career level. If you are a USPTO employee, you are a leader. USPTO is committed to the idea that everyone in the agency can – and should – be a leader. The Agency is taking steps to institutionalize this philosophy in all components of its LDP.

Proceed to the Helpful Hints section for some practical advice about using the Assessment Web site.