Intellectual Property Strategy Manager

IP Strategy Manager will develop, implement, & manage patent strategy for selected businesses via collaboration w/R&D, Business, & Legal teams to support the commercial needs of Cook. Collaborative activities include: disclosure & application reviews, prosecution & filing decisions, portfolio analyses, monitoring competitive IP landscapes, & may include support of related activities such as evaluation of licensing opportunities, infringement analyses, & litigation.

This is a hybrid role that includes occasional on-site work, open to candidates based in the following locations: P48, CRI, Cook Spencer, Cook Winston-Salem, Cook Advanced Technologies, Cook Ireland, William Cook Europe-Denmark. 

• Within selected therapies/specialties, lead the development of global intellectual property strategies & support the management of Cook's portfolio of patents, trade secrets, & technical know-how while balancing costs.
• Coordinate regular cross-functional decision-making for routine IP management via both monthly IP Committee meetings as well as e-mail, including input on agenda content, provision of succinct analyses, summaries, & recommendations, & communication with IP counsel.
• Collaborate with engineers in harvesting new inventions: brainstorm, identify inventions, & provide input upon the preparation of disclosures.
• Review disclosures and engage patent committees, legal teams, and product development members in making strategic decisions on IP coverage.
• Review summaries of prior art searches and work with Legal to evaluate the patentability of inventions.
• Utilize IP Management System software to maintain IP coverage information for products & up to date IP summaries for R&D projects.
• Lead & participate in initiatives to increase quantity/quality of Cook's IP.
• In collaboration w/R&D, Business, & Legal teams: develop, communicate, update, & otherwise maintain IP strategies for selected product/technology areas.
• Conduct competitive intelligence programs by monitoring IP filings, product announcements, & technical literature for input into IP strategies.
• Conduct and/or obtain relevant IP landscape information, Prepare IP portfolio overviews & identify significant gaps as well as unwanted IP that may be considered for out-licensing or divestiture.
• Support patent Infringement investigations, as required.
• Train employees on invention disclosures & IP protection.
• Maintain high level of awareness & application of relevant industry standards.

Education and/or Work Experience Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, or Biomedical Engineering or related scientific or legal discipline
• Five years’ experience developing and/or managing products or Intellectual Property in any competitive environment

Preferred

• Experience developing and/or managing products in a Medical Device R&D environment, including direct experience with related Intellectual Property

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Required

• Ability to review and analyze technically complex documents, including scientific papers, patents, and technical specifications.
• Excellent analytical, interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.