Job Title:
IP Legal Operations Specialist
Job Description:
Core Purpose
Serve as a senior operational resource supporting the Intellectual Property function by coordinating workflows, systems, data, reporting, vendors, and operational processes. This role partners with attorneys, inventors, technology teams, outside counsel, business stakeholders, and Legal Operations leadership to improve execution, data quality, visibility, and operational consistency across the function. The role acts as the primary operational point of contact for day-to-day IP operations while supporting broader Legal Operations initiatives. Based on the framework, this role aligns to a Professional/Technical L3 position focused on applying specialized expertise and independently resolving issues within established objectives.
Key Responsibilities
IP Portfolio Operations
Coordinate and support patent prosecution activities, including docket administration, filing workflows, deadline tracking, annuity management, and records maintenance.
Coordinate invention disclosure intake, review committee workflows, and outside counsel coordination activities.
Monitor prosecution workflows and independently resolve routine and moderately complex issues. Escalate material risks, delays, and issues requiring legal or leadership decisions.
Ensure timely and accurate completion of operational activities supporting the patent portfolio.
Own day-to-day administration and operational execution of patent portfolio processes, including docket management, filing workflows, prosecution coordination, deadline management, and annuity activities.
Maintain visibility into invention disclosures, prosecution status, deadlines, portfolio activity, and operational workload to identify risks and bottlenecks.
Coordinate invention disclosure intake, review committee activities, and outside counsel engagement process.
Operational Support and Process Improvement
Serve as process owner for IP operational workflows and documentation.
Analyze operational data and recommend enhancements to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Lead certain operational improvements and support adoption of new practices across the IP team.
Lead assigned workflows and contribute specialized IP operations expertise to broader Legal Operations initiatives.
Systems and Technology
Serve as the primary administrator and subject-matter resource for Anaqua and related IP operational systems.
Gather business requirements, recommend priorities, and implement approved system enhancements, reporting improvements, workflow updates, and user adoption efforts.
Identify opportunities to improve utilization of existing systems and technology tools and recommend new capabilities or integrations.
Identify automation and AI use cases, document requirements, coordinate pilots, and implement approved solutions within IP operations.
Metrics and Reporting
Own recurring operational reporting and product dashboards providing visibility into portfolio activity, workload, deadlines, cycle times, outside counsel performance, and operational performance.
Maintain accurate data within IP systems and reporting tools.
Develop and maintain reports used for resource planning, portfolio management, outside counsel oversight, and leadership updates.
Analyze data trends and provide actionable recommendations based on findings.
Vendor and Stakeholder Coordination
Serve as primary operational contact for outside counsel, foreign associates, vendors, and service providers.
Monitor service levels, responsiveness, quality, and adherence to established processes with internal and external stakeholders. Resolve routine performance issues and escalate material, commercial, or recurring concerns.
Maintain vendor reporting, support spend tracking and coordinate operational performance reviews.
Build productive working relationships with colleagues, business partners, and external providers across regions and time zones.
Partner with inventors, R&D teams,…