IP US Patent Manager

Hybrid Schedule Philosophy

As part of the Cooley culture, we recognize and appreciate the value of being together, in person, to build comradery with others in the office and to be a contributing member of the Cooley office. However, we also appreciate the benefits and flexibility that come from remote working. As such, the default assumption for employees and partners is a hybrid schedule: some in-office presence and some work from home days. Employees on a hybrid work schedule must work from their regular state of residence during hybrid remote days and are expected to be within a commutable distance of a Cooley office. (Department director or manager will provide direction on your schedule and any in-office expectations).
Position summary

The IP US Patent Manager is responsible for providing support to practitioners in the Patent Prosecution and Counseling practice group, including client management support, focusing on efficiency, process improvement, risk management, quality control, workflow and other processes impacting client service provided by the US Filing Specialist (USFS) team. This position will also partner with other client service management to provide support of internal client service, and in the creation and maintenance of client service metrics. Oversee daily administrative operations of the USFS team.
Specific duties and responsibilities

Specific duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
Position responsibilities: Supervisory and management: Provide leadership, mentorship, and operational oversight for the USFS team and the various functional areas within the team's structure
Actively manage USFS caseloads, client assignments, workload, and capacity in coordination with Supervisors and Leads; rebalance assignments and address coverage or workload concerns as needed to support deadlines, quality, and client service
Manage the day-to-day performance of USFS Supervisors and Leads, setting clear expectations and priorities, address routine team needs, and support consistent execution across the US patent filing team
Delegate appropriate responsibilities to Supervisors and Leads and follow up on assignments, service needs, deadlines, and performance expectations to ensure work is completed accurately, timely, and consistently
Develop metrics and accountability measures to drive USFS team performance, efficiency, and accuracy
Review, develop, and recommend service offerings to maximize utilization of the USFS team at a cost-effective price point
Engage in communication with patent practitioners to ensure client service is effective and consistently meets or exceeds expectations
Lead the development of structured USFS training and development in in collaboration with supervisors and leads, provide coaching and feedback, support skill development, and create opportunities for USFS team members to build proficiency and take on increased responsibility
Identify and coordinate staffing needs and other resources for USFS team special projects
Ensure effective coverage is provided to practitioners and client teams in all cases
Ensure accurate and timely entry of billable and non-billable time and review IntApp entries prior to month-end closing
Manage realization rate of collection for billed services to identify challenges early and make adjustments to maintain profitability
Enter billable time and fixed fees, as appropriate
Client service management

Propose and implement annual business plan
Lead and support timely and successful completion of IP Client Service projects and initiatives
Collaborate with client service managers to proactively identify issues, compliance, risks, and team priorities and propose appropriate courses of action
Collaborate with other client service managers to facilitate short and long-term client assignment and/or reassignments
Reinforce quality and procedural standards with Supervisors and Leads, review recurring or material issues, ensure appropriate corrective action and training are completed, and elevate significant risk or service concerns to the Director as appropriate
Work collaboratively with client service managers to conduct quality control reviews of client facing specialist team members to ensure accuracy, consistency and adherence to the rules of 37 C.F.R., Best Practices and other procedural guidelines
Provide support and resources required for the day-to-day and long term success of the Quality Control function and program, including close collaboration with the IP Quality Control Manager and leads
Collaborate with client service managers to ensure optimal service during client assignment transitions and to monitor client service specialist pairings with practitioners to create highly efficient and balanced teams
Identify practical opportunities to improve US patent filing workflows through automation, AI, and available technology; collaborate with the IP Technology and Automation manager on initiatives and participate in testing and implementation; gather feedback from Supervisors, Leads, and Specialists; and support training and adoption of approved solutions.
Collaborate with IP Senior Practice Support Manager (US) to identify and support opportunities for IP Practice Support Assistant and Patent Formalities team development and utilization
Local office IP support

Serve as local office IP Services manager resource overseeing daily operations to ensure group-wide services are effective
Provide business professional and timekeeper engagement in local office events and culture
Foster collaborative relationships with practitioners and business professionals, serving as a key point of contact for IP Services support and solutions
Communicate local issues to the appropriate member(s) of the IP leadership to ensure consistent and effective team management
Troubleshoot issues impacting IP team members in the same office to effectively support practitioner and client needs
Skills and experience

Required: After orientation at Cooley LLP, exhibit proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, iManage and other firm applications
Ability to work extended and/or weekend hours, as required
Ability to travel, as required
5+ years' experience in an IP-related role
Project management experience
Preferred

Bachelor's Degree
Supervisory experience in a professional services or law firm environment, with proven ability to manage, coach and motivate
Previous law firm experience
Experience researching IP statuses and histories in PTO databases, including USPTO systems (PatentCenter), WIPO Patentscope, navigation and general knowledge of international patent sites (i.e., USPTO Global Dossier, EPO Patent Register, CIPO, etc.)
Possess working knowledge and keep abreast of rules according to USPTO procedures, 37 C.F.R., the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) rules
Competencies

Entrepreneurial by nature
Excellent attention to detail
Exceptional interpersonal communication skills with ability to facilitate and solve problems
Ability to organize, prioritize and coordinate multiple activities often under tight timelines
Ability to drive projects to completion and achieve goals
Strong judgment
Team-player with collaborative spirit
Unwavering ability to handle and maintain confidentiality regarding firm information, projects, client data (if applicable)
High level of professionalism at all times
Demonstrated ability to lead through influence and develop talent (if applicable)
Proactive, analytical mindset
Effective presentation skills
Cooley offers a competitive compensation and excellent benefits package and is committed to fair and equitable employment practices. EOE. The expected annual pay range for this position with a full-time schedule is $130,000 - $195,000. Please note that final offer amount will be dependent on geographic location, applicable experience and skillset of the candidate. If JDESC includes senior level: Senior level candidates may be considered for this position and would be eligible for a higher salary range based on experience. We offer a full range of elective benefits including medical, health savings account (with applicable medical plan), dental, vision, health and/or dependent care flexible spending accounts, pre-tax commuter benefits, life insurance, AD&D, long-term care coverage, backup care for children and/or adults and other parental support benefits. In addition to elective benefit options, benefited employees receive firm-paid life insurance, AD&D, LTD, short term medical benefits as well as 21 days of Paid Time Off ("PTO") and 10 paid holidays each year. We provide generous parental leave and fertility benefits. New employees will attend a detailed benefit orientation to learn more about our many benefits and resources.

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