Associate Director, IP Docket Management

Job Description

Position Description :

The Office of General Counsel is seeking an Associate Director IP Docket Management to provide docketing and legal operations support to the Intellectual Property (IP) organization. Primary responsibilities are to oversee and manage the IP Docket & Maintenance team and ensure all patent prosecution activities are accurately and timely entered in the docketing system in accordance with U.S. and international patent law and procedure. This position has a flexible hybrid office schedule based in Rahway NJ.

Job responsibilities include but are not limited to :

Actively participate as member of the IP Docket & Maintenance team to accomplish established goals and meet all deadlines

Oversee patent annuities ensuring that all maintenance payments are made on time data verification checks are performed and discrepancies resolved

Oversee IP docketing system to ensure data integrity accuracy and compliance with rules and departmental procedure across worldwide jurisdictions

Work collaboratively with the IP Systems Administrator ensuring appropriate testing of country law updates system releases and enhancements

Serve as a point of contact and escalation point for the docketing team attorneys and staff

Immediately reports all risk management-related concerns to Senior Leadership

Responsible for the compilation of information for the Docket Manual and for accuracy completeness and maintenance of the Manual

Identify training needs and develop and conduct training sessions for docket team members on docketing procedures best practices and new processes

Actively engage with the patent practice committees to develop a deep understanding of the departments needs

Design and lead strategic and process improvement initiatives to drive team efficiency and effectiveness

Maintain up-to-date knowledge of IP industry rules and regulations

Review and triage acquired portfolios audit file histories and docket bibliographic details and accompanying deadline information in support of Business Development & Licensing activities

Design and generate general and / or specialized reports upon request

Leverage cross-functional relationships to influence the development and adoption of new processes / technologies to make a significant impact across the broader legal organization

Participate in industry / corporate legal operations roundtables user conferences and industry benchmarking studies to provide best practice recommendations to Senior Leadership

Position Qualifications :

Commute / Location :

This role is based at our Headquarters site in Rahway (NJ) with a Hybrid setup (combination of 3 days in-office & 2 days off-site / remote). This position cannot be fully remote.

Required Experience and Skills :

Bachelors degree required

Five (5) years of IP docketing experience (U.S. WIPO and foreign) in a law firm or corporate legal department

Three (3) years leading or supervising an IP docketing or paralegal team

Experience in legal operations including strategic planning project management financial management and technology implementation

Advanced proficiency of foreign and domestic patent legal concepts and practices including experience docketing foreign and domestic patent term extensions (PTE)

Advanced proficiency in utilizing foreign and domestic Patent and / or Trademark Office websites and other paid database platforms to conduct research and locate data

Advanced proficiency with evaluating patent file histories with strong ability to audit patent records to verify critical details

Working knowledge using and maintaining common IP docketing systems; including appropriate system policies procedures controls and U.S. / WIPO rules

Strong computer skills with an advanced proficiency with MS Office Suite (Outlook Word Excel and SharePoint) and Adobe Acrobat Pro

Strong project management skills including the ability to lead and oversee complex large-scale legal projects allocate resources delegate tasks monitor progress overseeing the work of staff and ensure that projects are completed within scope on time and within budget

Ability to maintain knowledge of trends developments legislative and USPTO / WIPO rulings impacting practice procedures. Strong change management leadership.

Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple competing tasks and demands and work under tight deadlines

Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment in the performance of responsibilities and the aptitude for effective and creative problem solving

Excellent communications and writing skills; ability to present complex ideas succinctly and clearly

High level of interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential situations with poise tact and diplomacy

Preferred Experience and Skills :

Experience supporting pharmaceutical or biotechnology patent prosecution

Experience with Thomson IP Manager (TIPMS) and / or First-to-File

Required Skills :

Administrative Support Work (Inactive) Business (Corporate) Law Business Development Business Management Client-Focused Database Management Systems (DBMS) Fast-Paced Environments Financial Management Intellectual Property Intellectual Property Law International Patents Interpersonal Relationships Legal Administration Patent Law Performance Evaluation Management Process Improvements Project Management Project Management Tools Service Optimization Software Proficiency Space Planning Strategic Planning Vendor Management Working Independently

Preferred Skills :

Data Integrity Problem Solving

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only :

Our company is committed to inclusion ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race color age religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin protected veteran status disability status or other applicable legally protected a federal contractor we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws visit :

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together talented and committed people with diverse experiences perspectives skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas broad experiences backgrounds and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one anothers thinking and approach problems collectively.

Learn more about your rights including under California Colorado and other US State Acts

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5 2023 employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week Monday - Thursday although the specific days may vary by site or organization with Friday designated as a remote-working day unless business critical tasks require an on-site Hybrid work model does not apply to and daily in-person attendance is required for field-based positions; facility-based manufacturing-based or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as remote.

The salary range for this role is

$126500.00 - $199100.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employees position within the salary range will be based on several factors including but not limited to relevant education qualifications certifications experience skills geographic location government requirements and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical dental vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family) retirement benefits including 401(k) paid holidays vacation and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at can apply for this role through (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

San Francisco Residents Only : We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only : We will consider for employment all qualified applicants including those with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws including the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully

Merck & Co. Inc. Rahway NJ USA also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC Rahway NJ USA does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place introductions are position specific. Please no phone calls or emails.

Employee Status : Regular

Relocation : No relocation

VISA Sponsorship : No

Travel Requirements :

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements :

Hybrid

Shift : 1st - Day

Valid Driving License :

No

Hazardous Material(s) :

n / a

Job Posting End Date :

12 / 8 / 2025

• A job posting is effective until 11 : 59 : 59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.

Required Experience :

Director

Key Skills

Portfolio Management,Wealth Management,Financial Services,Hybris,Microsoft Word,Banking,Cash Management,Data Management,Microsoft Powerpoint,Securities Law,Microsoft Excel,Internet Of Things

Employment Type : Full-Time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1

Monthly Salary Salary : 126500 - 199100