Intellectual Property (IP) Specialist

Ascend Learning, LLC•Burlington, OR

3d•Remote

About The Position

Ascend Learning, a leading healthcare and learning technology company, is the connection between a powerful portfolio of brands serving students, educators, and employers with outcomes-based, data-driven solutions across the lifecycle of learning. From testing to certification, Ascend Learning products are used by physicians, emergency medical professionals, nurses, allied health professionals, certified personal trainers, financial advisors, skilled trades professionals and insurance brokers. We are seeking an Intellectual Property (IP) Specialist to join our highly collaborative and dynamic team. As a member of the Rights Department, you will use your strong project management skills to manage copyright clearance for third-party content, research and compile image choices for product selection, and employ creative problem-solving to generate innovative solutions for representing concepts in an educational environment. Much of your day will be spent meeting with your Content Strategy and Production counterparts about current and upcoming projects, analyzing content, tracking project progress, coordinating tasks with outside vendors, corresponding directly with authors and SMEs, and negotiating rights with copyright holders. The IP Specialist manages multiple projects concurrently, prioritizing effectively, utilizing vendors and freelancers to complete specific permission and media research tasks, and provides expertise and insight in all areas of copyright while simultaneously employing creative problem-solving to generate innovative solutions for representing concepts in an educational environment.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required. Bachelor's degree in Library Science, Liberal Arts, or an arts-related field, or equivalent work experience preferred.
3+ years of experience in risk analysis and interpretation of IP
Strong understanding of content acquisition, clearance processes, corporate copyright policies and strategy, including knowledge of fair use and public domain parameters
Microsoft Office proficiency with an emphasis on Excel. Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite/Cloud and database software. FileMaker and Smartsheet experience are desirable
Strong understanding of copyright law preferred

Responsibilities

Develop and implement comprehensive licensing plans and strategies for product lists, enhancing content selection and acquisition
Provide proactive guidance to Production and Content Development teams regarding content acquisition activities, ensuring alignment with strategic goals
Collaborate with authors, content managers, art/media creators and product teams to guide them toward low risk, low cost, enriching content choices during the creation process
Lead multiple projects and partnerships simultaneously, ensuring that project goals, schedules, and budgets are consistently met while maintaining Ascend Learning's legal compliance
Assign Rights Vendors to review content, license elements, and provide accurate data entry services with adherence to legal requirements, budgets and schedules, facilitating smooth project execution
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to troubleshoot issues, expedite processes, and drive process improvements
Review rights contracts to ensure compliance with rights profiles and prepare necessary rights and copyright clearances
Stay informed on current Copyright Law and industry trends to ensure compliance and strategic advantage
Demonstrate creative problem-solving abilities and implement innovative solutions to overcome challenges
Troubleshoot independently, with the discernment to elevate issues to management when necessary
Train and mentor junior employees and other departments on Rights & Permissions processes and initiatives, serving as a knowledgeable delegate for the team
Conduct post-analysis to identify issues and develop recommendations for process improvements and future content choices