Senior Manager, Legal General
About The Position
Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is a leading home appliance company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home. As the only major U.S.-based manufacturer of kitchen and laundry appliances, the company is driving meaningful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator. In 2025, the company reported approximately $16 billion in annual net sales - close to 90% of which were in the Americas - 41,000 employees, and 35 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com. This role in summary Whirlpool is currently looking for a qualified candidate for the role of Senior Manager-Level Patent Counsel. This role will be based in Benton Harbor, MI. This position will be responsible for implementing the legal strategy and providing legal advice to ensure that Whirlpool’s current and future innovations are protected. This position reports through the law department to the Legal Director, Patents & Intellectual Property Litigation. At Whirlpool, the Patent Counsel role is expected to bring leadership and expertise in the area of patents, trade secrets, and innovation protection to Whirlpool’s business units, the law department, and in administrative and judicial proceedings. You will help ensure Whirlpool’s unique and compelling innovations are a core driver of Whirlpool’s success in product leadership and improving life at home.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school
- Active Bar admission in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction
- 8+ years of legal experience as a licensed attorney specializing in Intellectual Property, including Patent or trade secret litigation, IP transactions and patent monetization, Global patent portfolio strategy and management
Nice To Haves
- Ability to prioritize and manage a large volume of concurrent projects
- Strong analytical, organization, communication, and project management skills
- Preferably admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Responsibilities
- Developing and executing intellectual property protection strategies related to assigned Whirlpool innovation and technology areas.
- Advising on patent strategy, and managing the filing, prosecution, and maintenance of Whirlpool’s global patent portfolio
- Negotiating intellectual property-related contracts, including M&A, confidentiality, development, and license agreements, and assisting in negotiation of more general commercial agreements, including procurement and service agreements
- Investigating and pursuing opportunities to enforce Whirlpool’s intellectual property and monetize its intellectual property assets
- Establishing product clearance plans and reviewing and advising on freedom-to-operate risks.
- Providing intellectual property advice and training to the engineering and business teams.
- Developing and improving the processes and systems that enable the patent function within the law department to efficiently deliver a sophisticated intellectual property strategy
Benefits
- Generous benefits package
- Whirlpool employee discount
- Fitness & educational reimbursement programs
- Always On Flexibility
- Two-Week Work from Anywhere
- Sabbatical - Four weeks paid leave after every five years of service.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
