Intellectual Property Manager

Intellectual Property Manager

The Intellectual Property Manager reports to the Director of Intellectual Property in the Books Division of the University of Chicago Press. The IP Manager provides support for the acquisition and publication of new content in the Books and Journals Divisions, assists the Director of Intellectual Property with audio rights strategy and licensing, and oversees the work of the Copyright and Permissions Coordinator, which includes the processing of permissions requests for re-use of the Press's books and journals content and registering copyright for all Press publications. These activities enhance the global presence and impact of the Press and its authors and make key contributions to the Press's income. The position is based on the University of Chicago's Hyde Park campus and location in the Chicago area will be required.

Responsibilities include drafting and issuing all original book publication and series contracts as well as amendments, cancellations, subsidy agreements, and specialized contributor agreements; assisting the International Rights Manager with the acquisition of translation rights, including process tracking and submitting advance payment requests; assisting the Paperbacks Editor with the management of backlist reprint title renewals, including process tracking, data management, and reviewing renewal agreements proposed by licensors; maintaining and updating contracts and permissions templates and boilerplate language on an ongoing basis in accordance with evolving trends in intellectual property and industry best practices; maintaining contracts, rights, and permissions data in Press databases; maintaining the digital archive of legal documents related to Press books content; acting as a liaison to other Press departments to help facilitate the publishing process, especially consulting on 3rd party permissions issues, serial licensing agreements, and use of materials from Books Division titles for publicity, marketing, and design/production purposes; serving as a liaison to publishers, agents, authors, and the general public regarding Press IP; analyzing publication agreements and assessing rights held by the Press in order to make independent decisions regarding future use or re-use of Press IP; providing training and guidance to Publishers, Managing Editors, and other journals staff on questions pertaining to 3rd party permissions issues; maintaining a digital archive of legal documents related to journal acquisitions and licensing agreements; training and supervising the Permissions & Copyright Coordinator and student assistants, overseeing the Coordinator's work evaluating and granting permissions requests and filing for copyright registration, ensuring compliance with Press policies and governmental requirements, and providing guidance to enhance decision-making accuracy and efficiency; analyzing permissions activity to help determine updates to fee structures and identify opportunities to increase process efficiency; ensuring that best-practice documentation used by the Coordinator and student assistants is kept up to date as legal and organizational factors change; devising improvements to departmental workflows and implementing technology solutions to improve efficiency on an ongoing basis including representing the IP dept in interdepartmental groups dedicated to on-going development projects, and attending meetings with IT department when necessary; contributing to setting the Press's intellectual property policies and ensuring that procedures are implemented in regard to publication agreements, licensing agreements, 3rd party permissions, and re-use of Press content; working closely with the IP Director on audio rights licensing and managing relationships with a portfolio of audio publishers for Press Books titles, including fielding inquiries and offers, negotiating terms, and developing template agreements; communicating and coordinating with stakeholders to effectuate audiobook licensing, approvals, advance/file fee payment, and production; developing and/or maintaining audio strategy spreadsheets for tracking front- and backlist audiobook production options and workflows; checking typeset proofs before author review. Reviews typeset proofs or revised written copy returned by authors and approves or rejects changes. Enters author changes as appropriate and checks typeset pages; coordinating all stages of manuscript editing and proof review up to the time the book is bound and edit and approve catalog and jacket materials with guidance from others; performing other related work as needed.

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field and knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline. Preferred qualifications include a Bachelor's degree, graduate work, two years of experience in publishing or a related field, one year of supervisory experience, and technical knowledge or skills in Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, and knowledge of database, word processing, and spreadsheet software. Preferred competencies include excellent verbal and written communication skills, interpersonal skills, customer service skills, attention to detail, strong organizational skills, analytical skills, decision-making skills, problem-solving skills, creativity, supervisory experience, ability to respond quickly and appropriately to emails and queries, maintaining confidentiality, working as part of a team, working independently with a high degree of initiative, working on multiple projects simultaneously, setting priorities, and meeting deadlines, handling large number of documents and projects with high accuracy and attention to detail, managing stressful situations, representing organization positively to internal and external clients, ability to train others, familiarity with scholarly content and communications, and familiarity with contracts and copyright law.

Working conditions include some domestic travel, extended periods of time at a computer, and the ability to lift boxes of books.