Lead IP Paralegal

This position's work location is fully remote with occasional time onsite as needed. The selected candidate may only work remotely from a New England state (ME, VT, NH, MA, CT, RI).

The Lead Intellectual Property Paralegal leads a team of IP Paralegals, working closely with IP attorneys, patent agents, and patent technology specialists to manage the Institute’s patent, trademark, and copyright portfolios. The role oversees the electronic IP database, docketing and deadline control, document execution, and day-to-day coordination with outside counsel. As a subject-matter expert on IP operations and projects, this position sets team goals, directs workload, and delivers training through regular meetings and coaching.

The role interfaces routinely with Institute faculty and staff, licensing partners, collaborating institutions, law firms, and IP-related vendors.

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations.

We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

• IP Portfolio Strategy and Counseling: Provides intellectual property counseling, strategic analysis, and lifecycle portfolio management across patents, trademarks, and copyrights in partnership with IP attorneys, patent agents, technology transfer professionals, and investigators. Supports Institute-wide objectives with daily to long-term impact, aligning prosecution and maintenance decisions with research, collaboration, and commercialization goals. Recommends procedural approaches and prioritization within established policies; escalates substantive legal/strategic determinations to senior IP counsel.
  
  Influences stakeholders across Legal, Belfer Office for Dana-Farber Innovations, research programs, and external partners.
• Prosecution Support and Outside Counsel Management: Coordinates day-to-day prosecution activities with law firms, collaborating institutions, and joint owners, including instructions, information flow, and conflict checks for new matters. Reviews and reconciles invoices, identifies issues, and recommends solutions; authorizes routine actions and fee approvals within delegated authority while escalating complex or high-risk matters to IP attorneys. Ensures high-quality work product by providing templates, proofing drafts, and aligning filings with internal policies and portfolio strategy.
  
  Maintains cross-functional communication to meet short- and medium-term prosecution milestones and budget targets.
• Docketing, Data Governance, and System Stewardship: Leads the integrity, completeness, and timeliness of IP data and deadlines in CPI, Inteum Minuet and related tools (e.g., USPTO portals), partnering with Legal Operations, IT, and vendors. Establishes standards and quality controls for docketing, data entry, audits, and system workflows; plans and executes tool enhancements and platform transitions. Makes operational decisions on docketing practices and corrections within policy;
  
  recommends systems/process improvements with measured impact on risk and efficiency. Interacts with outside vendors and internal teams to ensure compliance with statutory and contractual timelines.
• Document Execution and Records Management: Oversees preparation, routing, and execution of formal IP documents (e.g., powers of attorney, assignments, declarations), engaging investigators, departmental administrators, and external parties as needed. Ensures accuracy, chain-of-title integrity, and compliance with institutional policies and jurisdictional requirements; maintains original executed documents, trademark specimens, and related…