Patent Operations, Senior Associate Paralegal

Overview

This role provides paralegal and docketing support to the Patent Law group by maintaining accurate U.S. and foreign patent records and coordinating patent prosecution activities. You will work closely with patent attorneys, agents, Patent Coordinators, outside counsel, foreign filing providers, and other Patent Operations colleagues to keep matters and deadlines on track.

Responsibilities

• Open new patent matters in the IP Management System (IPMS), entering and verifying filing dates, application data, parties, and other required docket information from approved intake materials.
• Review correspondence from U.S. and foreign patent offices, outside counsel, and service providers; docket prosecution events, filing dates, and related tasks in IPMS.
• Monitor attorney dockets and assigned tasks, follow up on upcoming or overdue actions, and promptly escalate approaching deadlines, missing instructions, conflicting information, and other issues requiring attention.
• Keep task comments and matter notes current by documenting actions taken, outstanding instructions, responsible contacts, and required follow-up.
• Coordinate attorney or agent instructions for PCT national phase entry and other foreign filing decisions, escalating when instructions or required documents are at risk of missing a deadline.
• Prepare and send foreign filing instructions and supporting documents to the designated filing provider or outside counsel; track acknowledgments and filing confirmations; and update IPMS.
• Generate recurring and ad hoc IPMS reports, review results for completeness, and provide docket and portfolio information to attorneys and Patent Operations colleagues.
• Conduct docket and data-quality reviews, identify missing, inconsistent, or outdated information, and coordinate corrections with the appropriate team members.
• Coordinate patent annuities, maintenance fees, invention disclosure intake, and other portfolio administration activities in accordance with established procedures and attorney or committee instructions.
• Safeguard confidential information, maintain complete electronic records, provide backup support to colleagues, and contribute to process improvements and other Patent Operations initiatives.

Requirements

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree
  OR
• Bachelor’s degree and 2 years of intellectual property docketing experience
  OR
• Associate’s degree and 6 years of intellectual property docketing experience
  OR
• High school diploma / GED and 8 years of intellectual property docketing experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate’s or bachelor’s degree or completion of an ABA-approved legal assistant or paralegal program.
• Four or more years of intellectual property experience in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry.
• Experience supporting U.S. and foreign patent prosecution, including PCT national phase entries, Paris Convention filings, and foreign filing formalities.
• Proficiency in ANAQUA or a comparable intellectual property management and docketing system, including experience generating docket and portfolio reports.
• Experience reviewing patent office and outside counsel correspondence and coordinating filing instructions with attorneys, agents, and foreign counsel.
• Strong written and verbal communication, organizational, and follow-up skills, with sound judgment in identifying discrepancies and escalating issues.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, maintain accuracy under deadline pressure, and collaborate effectively across teams.

Compensation & Benefits

• Expected annual salary range for this role in the U.S. (excluding Puerto Rico): $104,606.10 USD - $141,525.90 USD.
• Total Rewards Plan (based on eligibility), which may include:
  • Health and welfare plans for staff and eligible dependents
  • Financial plans with opportunities to save toward retirement or other goals
  • Work/life balance and career development opportunities
  • Retirement and Savings Plan with generous company contributions
  • Group medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • Life and disability insurance
  • Flexible spending accounts
  • Discretionary annual bonus program, or for field sales representatives, a sales-based incentive plan
  • Stock-based long-term incentives
  • Award-winning time-off plans
  • Flexible work models where possible (based on the Work Location Type in the job posting)

Location

This role may be based in Thousand Oaks, California; Cambridge, Massachusetts; or South San Francisco, California. Remote candidates may also be considered.

Additional Information

• No application deadline; applications will continue until a sufficient number are received or a candidate is selected.
• Sponsorship for this role is not guaranteed.
• Reasonable accommodation is available for individuals with disabilities during the job application or interview process, and to perform essential job functions.