Intellectual Property Manager - Virginia, Virtual Address

Work Flexibility: Remote or Hybrid or Onsite

Who we want:

Collaborative partners. People who build and leverage cross-functional relationships to bring together ideas, information, use cases, and industry analyses to develop best practices.

Dedicated achievers. People who thrive in a fast-paced environment and will stop at nothing to ensure a project is complete and meets regulations and expectations.

Meticulous documenters. Detail-oriented people who enjoy maintaining meticulous documentation of reports, metrics, proposals, and presentations.

What you will do:

The Intellectual Property (IP) Manager will provide support for Stryker's Spine Division, which has a diverse portfolio of products and technologies. You will manage the full patent lifecycle preliminary patentability assessments, invention disclosure forms and their review process, liaise with counsel on drafting patent applications and office action responses, and maintenance/annuity decisions. You will manage and collaborate with the R&D team through all phases of the new product development process. You will manage right-to-use activities and support third-party acquisition initiatives along with IP Counsel. You will participate in cross-divisional development projects and support R&D personnel in multiple sites globally. You will assist with managing metrics and reporting to leadership.

The IP Manager will participate in evaluation and continuous improvement of the IP Management organization’s systems and procedures to ensure effective and efficient operations. 

This is a remote role, and you must travel to VA once per quarter.

You will:

• Review invention disclosures, lead Invention Review Boards, and guide patenting decisions.

• Manage patent portfolios and strategies with business unit leadership.

• Work with outside counsel to prepare, file, and prosecute patent applications.

• Investigate development status, plans to commercialize inventions, novelty, etc., to support decisions to file corresponding international patents.

• Investigate patent utilization and commercial offensive and defensive value to help make decisions to maintain or abandon patents. 

• Initiate patentability, right-to-use, and state-of-the-art patent searches in support of new product development. 

• Engage with businesses to perform IP Assessments, including IP right-to-use activity for new product launches.

• Partner with Engineering and Marketing to learn and understand spinal anatomy, implants, procedures, and trends. 

• Support IP activities related to third-party licensing and acquisition projects. 

• Initiate and maintain market surveillance to drive strategic discussions.

What you will need:

• Bachelor’s Degree required.  Mechanical Engineering or Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering preferred. 

• 8+ years of experience required;

• 3+ years of experience in the medical device industry is highly desirable.

• 1+ years of USPTO patent prosecution process; experience in foreign patent prosecution processes is preferred.

• Experience performing IP searches preferred.

$112,800 - $239,900 salary plus bonus eligible + benefits. Actual minimum and maximum may vary based on location. Individual pay is based on skills, experience, and other relevant factors.

Travel Percentage: 10%

Stryker Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. Stryker is an EO employer – M/F/Veteran/Disability.

Stryker Corporation will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.