Intellectual Property Development Specialist

Holland & Hart LLP•Boulder, CO

1d•$69,375 - $115,625•Onsite

About The Position

The Intellectual Property Development Specialist provides advanced administrative, technical, and strategic support for patent prosecution and portfolio management within the firm's electronics-focused practice. This role combines patent administration expertise with automation development capabilities to create practical workflow solutions that enhance efficiency and support patent attorneys. The Intellectual Property Development Specialist serves as a key contributor to practice group technology strategy and requires strong organizational skills, technical proficiency, deep knowledge of IP processes, and the ability to mentor junior team members.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university required
Five (5) + years in IP administration or patent/trademark support within a law firm or corporate IP department required
One (1) + year automation development experience required
Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite of products (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are requirements; Visio is a plus) and Adobe Acrobat
Familiarity with USPTO and WIPO filing systems (EFS-Web, TEAS)
Knowledge of IP portfolio management best practices
Understanding of patent prosecution strategy
Automation development and coding proficiency
Ability to quickly learn and comprehend complex concepts and processes
Makes independent decisions on complex matters with minimal supervision within established guidelines
Manages multiple complex projects simultaneously
Thinks critically to understand how each task fits into a broader workflow
Identifies and implements process improvement opportunities, measuring impact and reporting results to leadership
Demonstrated exceptional attention to detail and proofreading skills
Possesses a strong work ethic and prefers to keep busy
Demonstrated ability to lead projects and influence stakeholders without direct authority

Nice To Haves

Paralegal or patent prosecution experience is not required
Visio is a plus

Responsibilities

Supports and advises patent attorneys in docket and practice management, including providing strategic recommendations for workflow improvements, client deadline tracking, auditing, report generation, and special requests
Manages a range of duties related to internal electronic file systems, including quality control, process optimization, document repository, and matter tracking
Performs electronic filings at the USPTO, PCT, and with foreign associates
Reviews formalities of filed patent documents to ensure proper form (Filing Receipts, Declarations, Recordings, Information Disclosure Statements, allowed patents ready to issue, etc.)
Manages new client intake and opening of matters
Acts as a lead liaison with developers, AI task force, and end-users, driving adoption and implementation of new technologies
Leads efforts to inform, set, and implement AI and technology strategy for the practice group, including evaluating emerging technologies and making recommendations to leadership
Serves as the primary subject matter expert (SME) and go-to technical resource for cross-functional teams, providing timely, authoritative guidance and resolving complex inquiries to accelerate project delivery and team efficiency
Designs and creates automated and other practical workflow solutions to support patent attorneys, with responsibility for end-to-end project management
Develops automation solutions for administrative and practitioner tasks
Writes clear, maintainable, performant code
Leads discovery sessions with team members to identify areas for automation implementation and prioritize development initiatives
Partners with IT department leadership to effectively implement, maintain, and scale automation solutions across the practice group
Thinks clearly and creatively to solve technical problems and workflow challenges
Continuously seeks to maximize the efficient use of technology available and strives to make tasks easier and more efficient
Performs various tasks associated with the preparation and prosecution of patent applications
Generates templates for patent applications and responses to various Office Actions (including but not limited to: Filing Receipt, Notice to File Missing Parts, Response to Office Action, Notice of Publication, Notice of Allowance, Issue Notification, and Letters Patent) as they relate to correspondence/filing with USPTO, PCT, and foreign associates
Prepares additional templates for various legal documents (Declaration, Powers of Attorney, Assignments)
Drafts non-substantive IP documents (cover letters, transmittals, reporting letters)
Manages new client onboarding for patent matters
Addresses user feedback and issues in a timely manner
Works autonomously to mentor, train and assist new hires and existing team members with automated processes and best practices
Develops and delivers training sessions that build capability and drive adoption of new processes and tools
Performs various patent support and administrative tasks as needed