Senior Patent Agent

W.W. Grainger, Inc.•Lake Forest, IL

39d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Patent Agent reports to the Associate General Counsel, GTG & Endless Assortment, and supports Grainger's intellectual property portfolio. This role is responsible for patent harvesting, reviewing the patent landscape, and analyzing intellectual property to support innovation and business strategy. The Patent Agent serves as a liaison between legal and Grainger's business teams to identify, evaluate, and manage patent-related opportunities and risks. Candidates with prior experience as USPTO Patent Examiners are strongly encouraged to apply. This position is located at either our Lake Forest, IL HQ or downtown Chicago office 3 days per week.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree science, engineering, or related field required
3+ years patent analysis, patent research, or intellectual property support required
Registered US patent agent or be eligible to sit for the USPTO required
Strong analytical and research skills, with proficiency in patent databases and IP management tools.
Ability to synthesize complex technical and legal information into clear, actionable insights.
Excellent organization, facilitation, and project management skills.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively partner with legal, technical, and business teams.
Familiarity with USPTO, EPO, and other global patent systems and procedures.

Nice To Haves

Master's Degree science, engineering, or related field preferred
Experience as a USPTO Patent Examiner, Patent Agent, or equivalent IP role preferred.
Experience working in a corporate IP or R&D environment preferred.

Responsibilities

Conduct patent mining activities to identify invention disclosures and innovation opportunities within Grainger's business units.
Conduct prior art database searches for patentability and freedom to operate analyses and competitive intelligence purposes.
Collaborate with inventors, engineers, and business stakeholders to assess patentability, strengthen Grainger's IP portfolio, and align IP strategy with business goals.
Manage and maintain the patent portfolio, ensuring all deadlines are met. Protect and maintain any highly sensitive, confidential, privileged, financial, and/or proprietary information
Coordinate with affiliated legal resources (including outside counsel and in-house IP Paralegal) to grow internal patent knowledge. Support training and awareness initiatives to enhance innovation and patent culture across the company.
Maintain organized records of invention disclosures, prior art, and competitor patent activity.
Monitor and analyze patent trends in key technology areas relevant to Grainger's business.
Assist with the preparation of reports and presentations to leadership regarding IP strategy, portfolio status, and competitor activity.

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans with coverage starting on day one of employment and 6 free sessions each year with a licensed therapist to support your emotional wellbeing.
18 paid time off (PTO) days annually for full-time employees (accrual prorated based on employment start date) and 6 company holidays per year.
6% company contribution to a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan each pay period, no employee contribution required.
Employee discounts, tuition reimbursement, student loan refinancing and free access to financial counseling, education, and tools.
Maternity support programs, nursing benefits, and up to 14 weeks paid leave for birth parents and up to 4 weeks paid leave for non-birth parents.

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