Intellectual Property Manager

Join Stryker's Medical Division and help protect the innovations that advance healthcare. As an Intellectual Property Manager, you will provide support for Stryker's Medical Division
- Sage, which has a diverse portfolio of products and technologies.

You will be responsible for managing the full patent lifecycle including invention identification/intake, preliminary patentability assessments, liaising with patent counsel on drafting patent applications and office action responses, and maintenance/annuity decisions; this role will also collaborate with Research & Development (R&D) teams through all phases of the new product development process.

This role will coordinate new product IP risk assessments and support IP Counsel on third-party acquisition initiatives, as well as participate in cross-divisional development projects and support R&D personnel at multiple sites globally. The IP Manager will assist with managing portfolio metrics and presenting status and achievement updates to IP and R&D leadership. You will participate in evaluating and continuously improving the IP Management organization's systems and practices to ensure effective and efficient operations.

Work arrangement: (Preferred) Hybrid position based in Cary, Illinois, with an expectation of working onsite 2-3 days per week and flexibility to work from home on other days based on business needs.  Fully remote candidates will be considered in time zones within 1 hour of Central time.

** What you will do*
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** Manage
* * the full patent lifecycle, including invention intake, preliminary patentability assessments, patent application development, prosecution support, and maintenance and annuity decisions.

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** Lead
* * invention review boards, evaluate new inventions, and guide patent filing decisions in partnership with R&D stakeholders and IP counsel.

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** Develop
* * patent portfolio strategies and manage related IP budgets in alignment with product development and business priorities.

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** Coordinate
* * with outside counsel to prepare, file, and prosecute U.S. and international patent applications and responses to patent office actions.

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** Conduct
* * patentability, prior-art, state-of-the-art, and competitive patent analyses to support product development and intellectual property strategy.

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** Evaluate
* * invention commercialization plans, patent utilization, and potential offensive and defensive value to inform international filing, maintenance, and abandonment decisions.

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** Coordinate
* * intellectual property risk assessments, including freedom-to-operate analyses for new product launches, and support IP activities related to acquisitions, licensing, patent monetization, assertions, and defenses.

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** Improve
* * IP processes, systems, portfolio metrics, stakeholder reporting, and training to increase efficiency and provide R&D and IP leadership with actionable insights.

** What you will need*
* ** Required Qualifications*
* + Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

+ Minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience in engineering, intellectual property (IP), patent management, patent prosecution, or related technical and IP functions, including demonstrated experience managing intellectual property activities.

+ Demonstrated experience in patent portfolio management, including invention disclosures, patentability assessments, patent searches, prior-art analysis, and competitive landscape and monitoring.

+ Experience collaborating with Research & Development (R&D), engineering teams, patent counsel, or external legal partners to evaluate inventions, support patent filings, and manage intellectual property matters.

+ Experience…