Director, Intellectual Property

Stryker•Portage, MI

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Work Flexibility: Hybrid Essential Duties & Responsibilities Provide leadership, mentoring, development, and priorities to IP staff under direct supervision to ensure customer groups are supported in all matters involving intellectual property management. Review invention disclosures and guide patenting decisions. Work with outside counsel in preparation, filing and prosecution of patent applications. Investigate product development status and commercialization plans to develop patent filing strategies. Lead and supervise the IP support of new product development by with right to use analysis. Investigate patent utilization, commercial offensive and defensive value to help make patent annuity/maintenance fee decisions Lead patentability, right to use and state of the art patent analyses. Lead and/or support third party business development M&A due diligence and integration as needed. Initiate/Lead continuous improvement of the IP department's systems and procedures to ensure effective/ efficient operations. Support IP litigation team with aspects of patent assertions and defenses as needed. Work location and travel This position is posted as hybrid. Any location in proximity to Kalamazoo, MI office is preferred. Travel percentage up to 25% Stryker Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. Stryker is an EO employer – M/F/Veteran/Disability. Stryker Corporation will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. Stryker is one of the world’s leading medical technology companies and, together with its customers, is driven to make healthcare better. We offer innovative products and services in Orthopaedics, Medical and Surgical, and Neurotechnology and Spine that help improve patient and hospital outcomes. We are proud to be named one of the World’s Best Workplaces! For more information, visit: www.stryker.com Work Flexibility Remote – Role allows you to work the majority to 100% of time from an alternate workplace. These roles could have travel expectations, and you must work within the country of the job requisition location. Field-based – You can expect to regularly work a majority to 100% of time at customer facilities and has a set territory or expectation to travel within a set boundary. Almost all sales roles would likely be qualified as field-based. Onsite – Role is 100% located at a Stryker facility. Some ad hoc flexibility may be available depending on role, level, and job requirements. Manufacturing roles and any role that requires physical presence at the office would qualify under this category. Hybrid – You can expect to regularly work in both an alternate workplace and a Stryker facility. Roles that are partially remote or co-located would qualify as hybrid, and the expectation to be onsite would be defined and agreed upon by your manager/supervisor.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree required in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering/Science, or equivalent technical degree.
10+ years experience managing intellectual property matters.
5+ years of experience in the medical device, medtech, or related industry that is highly regulated.
Experience and demonstrated expertise leading and managing all aspects of intellectual property including invention disclosures, IP harvesting, patent landscape, patent prosecution & preparation, right-to-use studies, and IP training.
Demonstrated ability to work with the business to develop and execute on strategies aligned with the business initiatives.
Demonstrated ability to lead process improvements across a range of responsibilities.
Demonstrated leadership skills, ability to think strategically, communicate effectively, and influence others within and external to the Global Intellectual Property department.
Exceptional responsibility, accountability, initiative, and demonstrated ability to make difficult decisions.
Demonstrated ability to work independently, collaboratively, and inclusively.
Demonstrates and drives a commitment to integrity and accountability.
Maintains highly sensitive and confidential information.

Nice To Haves

5+ years of experience managing direct reports preferred.
Registration before the USPTO is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership, mentoring, development, and priorities to IP staff under direct supervision to ensure customer groups are supported in all matters involving intellectual property management.
Review invention disclosures and guide patenting decisions.
Work with outside counsel in preparation, filing and prosecution of patent applications.
Investigate product development status and commercialization plans to develop patent filing strategies.
Lead and supervise the IP support of new product development by with right to use analysis.
Investigate patent utilization, commercial offensive and defensive value to help make patent annuity/maintenance fee decisions
Lead patentability, right to use and state of the art patent analyses.
Lead and/or support third party business development M&A due diligence and integration as needed.
Initiate/Lead continuous improvement of the IP department's systems and procedures to ensure effective/ efficient operations.
Support IP litigation team with aspects of patent assertions and defenses as needed.