Intellectual Property Manager
About The Position
The Intellectual Property Manager supports Stryker’s Medical Division—Sage, which has a diverse portfolio of products and technologies. The role manages the full patent lifecycle, from invention identification and intake through preliminary patentability assessment, patent application development and prosecution support, and patent maintenance or annuity decisions. The manager works with Research & Development (R&D) teams throughout new product development and partners with patent counsel and external legal partners on patent matters. The position coordinates intellectual property risk assessments, including freedom-to-operate analyses for new product launches, and supports IP activities related to third-party acquisitions and other initiatives. It also contributes to cross-divisional development projects and supports R&D personnel at multiple global sites. The manager oversees portfolio metrics and reporting to 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 intellectual property 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, engineering teams, patent counsel, or external legal partners to evaluate inventions, support patent filings, and manage intellectual property matters.
- Experience managing multiple intellectual property matters, patent portfolios, or technology development projects simultaneously.
Nice To Haves
- At least 3 years of experience in the medical device, medical technology (MedTech), healthcare technology, or related regulated product development industry.
- Experience managing complex patent portfolios, including invention intake, patent application development, prosecution support, portfolio maintenance, and patent 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 intellectual property 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 intellectual property priorities.
- Registration to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as a Patent Agent or Patent Attorney.
- Experience using patent management systems, patent search databases, portfolio reporting tools, or intellectual property 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 in partnership 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 intellectual property strategy.
- Evaluate invention commercialization plans, patent utilization, and potential offensive and defensive value to inform international filing, maintenance, and abandonment decisions.
- Coordinate intellectual property 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 R&D and IP leadership with actionable insights.
- Collaborate with R&D teams throughout new product development and support R&D personnel at multiple sites globally.
- Participate in cross-divisional development projects.
- Present portfolio status and achievement updates to IP and R&D leadership.
- Evaluate and continuously improve the IP Management organization’s systems and practices.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
