Intellectual Property Manager

Stryker•Cary, IL

About The Position

The Intellectual Property Manager will support Stryker’s Medical Division—Sage and its diverse portfolio of products and technologies. The role manages the full patent lifecycle, from invention identification and intake through patentability assessment, application development and prosecution support, and patent maintenance or annuity decisions. The manager works closely with Research & Development (R&D) teams throughout new product development and collaborates with patent counsel and outside counsel on patent matters. The position coordinates intellectual property risk assessments for new products and supports IP Counsel on third-party acquisitions and other IP activities. It also supports cross-divisional development projects and R&D personnel at multiple global sites. The manager tracks portfolio metrics, shares status and achievement updates with IP and R&D leadership, and helps evaluate and improve the IP Management organization’s systems and practices. The preferred arrangement is hybrid, based in Cary, Illinois, with onsite work expected 2–3 days per week and flexibility to work from home on other days based on business needs. Fully remote candidates may be considered if they are in a time zone within one hour of Central time. Travel is 10%.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience in engineering, intellectual property, patent management, patent prosecution, or related technical and IP functions, including demonstrated experience managing IP activities.
Demonstrated experience in patent portfolio management, including invention disclosures, patentability assessments, patent searches, prior-art analysis, and competitive landscape and monitoring.
Experience collaborating with R&D or engineering teams, patent counsel, or external legal partners to evaluate inventions, support patent filings, and manage IP matters.
Experience managing multiple IP matters, patent portfolios, or technology development projects simultaneously.

Nice To Haves

At least 3 years of experience in medical devices, MedTech, healthcare technology, or related regulated product development.
Experience managing complex patent portfolios, including invention intake, application development, prosecution support, portfolio maintenance, and filing strategies.
Knowledge of U.S. and international patent filing and prosecution procedures, including USPTO processes, office action responses, and international patent protection strategies.
Experience conducting or coordinating freedom-to-operate assessments, patent landscape analyses, competitive patent intelligence, and IP risk assessments.
Experience partnering with R&D and product development teams to identify patentable innovations, evaluate technical inventions, and support new product development.
Experience developing patent portfolio strategies, evaluating patent value, and supporting patent maintenance, abandonment, licensing, or acquisition decisions.
Experience managing high-volume patent portfolios, multiple concurrent product development projects, and competing IP priorities.
Registration to practice before the USPTO as a Patent Agent or Patent Attorney.
Experience using patent management systems, patent search databases, portfolio reporting tools, or IP analytics to monitor portfolio performance and improve operational efficiency.

Responsibilities

Manage the full patent lifecycle, including invention intake, preliminary patentability assessments, patent application development, prosecution support, and maintenance and annuity decisions.
Lead invention review boards, evaluate new inventions, and guide patent filing decisions with R&D stakeholders and IP counsel.
Develop patent portfolio strategies and manage related IP budgets in alignment with product development and business priorities.
Coordinate with outside counsel to prepare, file, and prosecute U.S. and international patent applications and responses to patent office actions.
Conduct patentability, prior-art, state-of-the-art, and competitive patent analyses to support product development and IP strategy.
Evaluate invention commercialization plans, patent utilization, and potential offensive and defensive value to inform international filing, maintenance, and abandonment decisions.
Coordinate IP risk assessments, including freedom-to-operate analyses for new product launches.
Support IP activities related to acquisitions, licensing, patent monetization, assertions, and defenses.
Improve IP processes, systems, portfolio metrics, stakeholder reporting, and training to increase efficiency and provide actionable insights to R&D and IP leadership.
Support R&D personnel at multiple sites globally and participate in cross-divisional development projects.
Assist with portfolio metrics and present status and achievement updates to IP and R&D leadership.
Participate in evaluating and continuously improving the IP Management organization’s systems and practices.