Intellectual Property & Legal Manager

Dover Corporation•Duluth, GA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Intellectual Property & Legal Manager supports Dover Food Retail’s Legal and Compliance function, with primary responsibility for coordinating, administering, and strategically supporting DFR’s intellectual property program. The position combines hands-on management of the intellectual property portfolio with support for IP strategy, inventors and business stakeholders, outside counsel, and key IP processes and initiatives. The role also provides broader legal and compliance support under the direction of DFR Legal. This includes contract administration, legal matter management, document and records management, litigation and claims support, compliance initiatives, and other legal projects. The position operates at both strategic and tactical levels, independently managing detailed processes and deadlines while working across Legal, Engineering, Product Management, Marketing, Finance, HR, and other business groups. The manager administers invention disclosures, IP committee processes, portfolio records, patent renewal and maintenance workflows, deadlines, expenses, and the IP incentive and inventor recognition program. The role also supports invention evaluation, patent and other IP searches, prosecution and filing strategies, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, competitive analysis, infringement matters, transaction due diligence, IP policies, and training. Additional duties include supporting routine agreements and contracts, legal matter intake and records, litigation and claims information gathering, legal holds and preservation activities, outside counsel administration, and Legal and Compliance projects. The position serves as a central coordinator among internal stakeholders and external counsel, manages multiple concurrent matters, maintains accurate and confidential records, and identifies opportunities to improve processes and workflows. The role is located in Conyers, Georgia.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Applied Sciences, Business, Legal Studies, or a related field.
4 to 6 years of relevant experience involving IP administration, legal operations, patent portfolio management, legal support, contracts, or related responsibilities.
Strong analytical, organizational, project-management, and critical-thinking skills.
Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and independently follow matters through completion.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong attention to detail and demonstrated recordkeeping and documentation discipline.
Ability to communicate effectively about technical and legal matters with stakeholders at different organizational levels.
Experience managing critical and time-sensitive documents, deadlines, and correspondence.
Experience working with attorneys, engineers, technical personnel, business stakeholders, or outside counsel.
Ability to manage detailed administrative processes and contribute to strategic initiatives.
Ability to take ownership of matters and proactively drive them toward completion.
Organizational discipline to manage IP deadlines, records, approvals, and recurring processes.
Sound judgment about when matters should be elevated to Legal Counsel.
Comfort shifting priorities between IP responsibilities and other Legal and Compliance matters according to business needs.

Nice To Haves

Paralegal certification or related legal training.
Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Engineering, Applied Sciences, or another technical discipline.
Registered Patent Agent in good standing before the USPTO.
Experience administering a corporate patent or intellectual property portfolio.
Experience with IP management and docketing systems such as IPFolio, FoundationIP, or comparable platforms.
Experience coordinating with patent counsel, IP service providers, inventors, Engineering, Product Management, Finance, HR, and Legal.
Experience with contracts, litigation or claims administration, legal holds, compliance programs, or corporate legal operations.
Experience in HVAC/R, refrigeration, manufacturing, engineering, or another technology-driven industrial environment.

Responsibilities

Administer the invention disclosure process, review submissions for completeness, maintain records and tracking numbers, gather supporting information, and prepare matters for review by the IP Approval Committee.
Coordinate periodic and ad hoc IP Approval Committee meetings, including scheduling, preparing materials, coordinating inventor presentations, gathering stakeholder input, documenting decisions, and communicating follow-up.
Maintain accurate and timely records of DFR’s intellectual property portfolio, including disclosures, applications, patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, renewal decisions, approvals, and related records.
Administer patent renewal and maintenance processes, including reports, DOA documentation, supporting materials, approvals, and renewal or abandonment instructions.
Coordinate with outside patent counsel and third-party IP service providers on filings, renewals, annuity payments, abandonments, portfolio records, and related matters.
Maintain the DFR patent library and applicable SharePoint, IP management system, and Legal repository records.
Maintain decision logs, approval records, payment documentation, patent files, and other IP documentation.
Monitor IP deadlines and notify stakeholders in advance of required decisions or actions.
Track IP expenses and support Legal and Finance with outside counsel spending, budget preparation, invoice administration, cost reporting, and related financial analysis.
Administer DFR’s IP incentive and inventor recognition processes; maintain eligibility information, prepare award documentation, coordinate approvals and processing, and track approved and processed awards.
Work with Legal, Engineering, Product Management, Marketing, and other stakeholders to evaluate inventions and innovations and support decisions about pursuing IP protection.
Assist inventors in preparing invention disclosures and gathering technical and business information.
Coordinate patentability, freedom-to-operate, right-to-use, and state-of-the-art patent searches with Legal and outside counsel.
Liaise with outside counsel on preparation, filing, prosecution, maintenance, and management of patent applications and related IP matters.
Support evaluation of patent continuation and international filing strategies based on business priorities and IP considerations.
Support the trademark and copyright portfolio, including clearance, filings, maintenance, and enforcement coordination with Marketing and outside counsel.
Support identification, documentation, and protection of trade secrets and other confidential IP.
Support competitive IP analysis, patent marking, and monitoring of potentially conflicting patent and trademark activity.
Assist Legal with preliminary IP infringement matters, including information gathering, document preservation, and outside counsel coordination.
Support IP due diligence for licensing, acquisitions, divestitures, technology arrangements, and other transactions.
Assist in developing, documenting, and implementing IP policies, processes, procedures, and training.
Support administration and coordination of non-disclosure agreements, IP agreements, joint development agreements, IP assignments, and other routine agreements as assigned.
Assist with intake, tracking, document collection, routing, execution, and recordkeeping for contracts and other legal matters.
Coordinate with Legal, Engineering, and business stakeholders on agreements involving confidential information, IP rights, technology development, and third-party collaboration.
Maintain Legal Department matter files, contract records, trackers, repositories, deadlines, and related documentation as assigned.
Assist Legal Counsel with gathering and organizing documents and information for litigation, claims, investigations, subpoenas, audits, regulatory matters, and other legal requests.
Support legal holds, preservation activities, document collection, and related matter management under Legal Counsel’s direction.
Assist with outside counsel administration, including matter coordination, information requests, invoices, budgets, and supporting documentation.
Provide project management and administrative support for Legal and Compliance initiatives.
Assist with reports, presentations, correspondence, policies, training materials, and other Legal and Compliance materials.
Serve as a central point of coordination among DFR Legal, inventors, Engineering, Product Management, Marketing, Finance, HR, outside counsel, and other stakeholders for assigned IP matters.
Manage multiple matters and projects simultaneously, including recurring IP processes, time-sensitive deadlines, and ad hoc Legal and Compliance requests.
Maintain strong document-control practices and accurate, complete, accessible records.
Facilitate communication between outside counsel and internal stakeholders while supporting efficient use of outside legal resources.
Support and facilitate DFR IP Committee meetings and associated follow-up.
Develop and maintain effective working relationships across DFR, Dover legal resources, and outside counsel.
Identify opportunities to improve IP and Legal Department processes through standardization, technology, and improved workflow management.
Exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality regarding privileged, proprietary, employee, litigation, and other sensitive information.
Perform other legal, compliance, IP, and administrative duties as assigned by DFR Legal.