What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior IP Manager - U.S. Patent Prosecution position at Sterne Kessler?
Who are we?
Named for several years as a "great place" to work by The Washington Post and Washington Business Journal, Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C. is proud to be one of the most highly regarded intellectual property specialty law firms in the world. We recognize that it is the talent and dynamism of each individual at Sterne Kessler that makes that possible. With that in mind, we have cultivated an environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating with just the right touch of fun and exuberance. We offer a competitive compensation package with excellent benefits and are Metro-accessible in a prime downtown location with many nearby restaurants and shops.
What do we need?
We are looking for a Senior IP Manager who will play a key leadership role tasked with managing the operations of the U.S. Patent Prosecution Department. This position ensures compliance with USPTO rules and firm and client policies, promotes operational excellence, and fosters a high-performance culture. This job is largely responsible for ensuring (via Team Leaders and other department Managers) that all department employees follow established firm and client processes and policies in order to ensure customer satisfaction and quality work throughout the department. The Senior IP Manager is expected to make recommendations for improving the department's overall operations and apply best practices, new technology, and policy and procedure modifications in conjunction with the Director of Prosecution Support Services and the Patent Preparation and Prosecution Practice. This role has overall responsibility for hiring, training, promoting, and retaining department staff. This is a hybrid role that requires regular in-office presence.
How will you make an impact?
- Maintaining a comprehensive understanding of USPTO rules, firm policies, and client procedures to ensure department compliance.
- Setting clear expectations and holding Team Leaders accountable for managing team performance and adherence to standards.
- Providing coaching, feedback, and performance evaluations for direct reports, promoting professional growth and accountability.
- Overseeing Team Leaders to ensure timely, efficient, and cost-effective service delivery to internal and external clients.
- Developing and implementing strategies to achieve organizational goals, using KPIs to measure success and foster accountability.
- Collaborating with leadership to align department operations with firm objectives and client needs.
- Continuously improving processes to enhance service quality and operational efficiency, addressing issues proactively.
- Identifying and implementing best practices, new technologies, and procedural modifications.
- Advocating for a customer-first culture, ensuring exceptional service delivery through strong communication and relationship-building with stakeholders.
- Resolving client concerns promptly and effectively to maintain high satisfaction levels.
- Collaborating with prosecution management and talent teams to design and deliver training programs.
- Creating and maintaining procedural documentation, ensuring staff and timekeepers have access to clear and current guidelines.
- Assessing staffing needs and overseeing hiring, training, promotion, and retention processes for the department.
- Optimizing team utilization and resource allocation to support departmental goals.
- Tracking and reporting on key performance metrics to identify trends, assess department health, and inform decision-making.
- Preparing department budget forecasts, managing resource allocation, and ensuring fiscal responsibility.
- Managing vendor relationships to ensure the delivery of high-quality services, adherence to compliance standards, and alignment with agreed-upon pricing and contractual terms.
- Building strong internal and external stakeholder relationships, ensuring seamless communication and support for business needs.
What will you bring to the role?
- 5 years of progressive people management and 3 years of patent prosecution experience required.
- Bachelor's degree preferred.
- Be able to perform the duties and responsibilities listed above and will be highly motivated, responsive, customer-service oriented, and committed to creating and maintaining a collaborative and positive work environment.
- Drive high performance, implement structured changes, and effectively communicate across the firm.
- Possess strong people management skills and be a problem solver capable of anticipating needs and delivering appropriate solutions.
- Proficient in the use of computer equipment, including the firm’s software and database systems (e.g., Microsoft Office and the firm’s document management, docketing, and workflow software systems), the USPTO’s software, and other law resources and databases used in IP prosecution.
The good faith base salary range for this position is $150,000 to $200,000 per year. The actual salary rate offered to candidates within that range will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, years of relevant experience, education, and the candidate’s overall qualifications for the position as assessed by the Firm.
Sterne Kessler is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Salary : $150,000 - $200,000
