At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our employees around the world work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. We give our best effort to our work, and we put people first. We’re looking for people who are determined to make life better for people around the world.
Throughout the Intellectual Property (IP) Department we believe people are fundamental to success and our ability to deliver the best IP for Lilly. This is underpinned by the performance and capabilities of our employees, including those within the IP Operations (Patent and Trademarks Support) group.
We are adding this position to our team to respond to competitive growth and increased complexity and volume across Lilly’s world-class IP assets. We are seeking a highly knowledgeable and proactive Legal Operations team member. You will play a lead role in supporting legal operations and intellectual property (IP) functions. Are you ready to bring your deep technical expertise, attention to detail, and ability to collaborate with internal and external collaborators to Lilly? Apply today and become a crucial part of our success!
This individual will provide legal administrative expertise by ensuring that key aspects of global patent application filing, prosecution, and maintenance processes are accomplished in an accurate, timely, and appropriate manner. These must be consistent with international legal treaties and jurisdictional statutory requirements and Lilly’s global patent procurement policies and procedures. This position requires an understanding and awareness of the global patent landscape (United States, EP, PCT and National phase filings and/or trademark practices).
The position requires a commitment to data integrity, attention to detail, troubleshooting, problem-solving, strong reading comprehension and proofreading skills, proven prioritization, organization, and typing/writing/verbal communication skills. This role requires the ability to self-manage and establish/meet timelines, and provide oversight for vendor-provided services. Applicants must demonstrate customer service orientation, strong relationship skills, flexibility, and a productive demeanor, must be able to work effectively under pressure and deadlines, and adapt to frequent changes in priorities.
If you are a dedicated professional with the expertise and skills required to excel in this role, we encourage you to apply and be part of our dynamic legal operations team at Lilly.
Responsibilities:
Reporting to the Sr. Director of IP Operations responsibilities include:
- This role will lead, collaborate, and be the expert for the document processing for all IP patents. This includes coaching and supporting business partners through the process both in the US and outside the US, inclusive of proactively managing, anticipating, and acting upon actions related to patent and/or TM dockets for all aspects of the lifecycle.
- Proactively engage with professionals across the spectrum (attorneys, agents, vendors, and paraprofessionals) to ensure seamless execution of document processing, inclusive of continuous improve and development of departmental standard processes related to formalities and form utilization handling in all operational jurisdictions.
- Maintain and manage official government forms in all key systems, where applicable.
- Anticipate and research complex fact patterns, lead troubleshooting investigations, problem-solve, and produce reliable work product within own or across work groups.
- Lead small projects or guide more complex project activities, including task list development, resource coordination, and ensuring effective implementation.
- Supervise and manage the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) deposit account by initiating funding based on a predetermined schedule and ensuring funding levels do not drop below predetermined amounts.
- Independently engage with other resources as needed to fulfill responsibilities effectively.
- Foster open integration with peers and assigned business units, actively communicate or call out barriers, and understand the unique goals, needs, and challenges of the unit and its attorneys.
- Exhibit sound judgment in managing priorities, seamlessly integrating with team members, and supporting team priorities.
- The role will need an expertise in the following areas:
- Mail System Expertise: Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of Lilly’s mail system, encompassing a range of technical aspects.
- Mail Processing: Efficiently process all incoming mail for legal operations and IP operations.
- Filing Room Management: Familiarity with filing room processes and ensuring their smooth operation.
- Government Form Handling: Proactively engage with internal remote professionals to support the processing of official government forms.
- Employ highly effective organizational skills and engage in clear verbal and written interactions with legal colleagues, inventors, business clients, international law firms, vendors, and other external parties.
Basic Requirements:
- B.A. or B.S. degree with at least 3 years of relevant work experience
or
- High school diploma or equivalent and 10+ years of applicable experience supporting legal operations
- Qualified candidates must be legally authorized to be employed in the United States. Lilly does not anticipate providing sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B or TN status) for this employment position.
Additional Preferences:
- Experience as an IP paralegal or other front-line IP support role, including experience with most aspects of patent support.
- Paralegal certificate from ABA approved program.
- Proficient and experienced with Outlook, Internet Explorer, MSOffice programs, legal software, or docketing programs (e.g. Anaqua).
- Experience in the pharmaceutical or healthcare industry.
- Experience working effectively across a large portfolio in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities is critical.
- Experience with docketing standard methodologies and protection of Intellectual Property rights.
- Experience coordinating execution of formality documents, such as assignments and powers of attorney, including obtaining required signatures, notarization, apostille, and/or legalization.
- Excellent oral and written communication, facilitation, and project/customer management skills.
- Experience with electronic research tools and patent prosecution filing systems, including experience electronically filing US, PCT and/or foreign patent applications, office action responses, inventor declarations and assignments and/or the equivalent in trademark practice.
- Must project a professional demeanor, effectively represent the IP Operations team, exhibit sound reasoning, and maintain confidentiality.
Additional Information:
- Lilly currently anticipates that the base salary for this position could range from between $57,750 – $127,600 and will depend, in part, on the successful candidate’s qualifications for the role, including education and experience. Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities).Of course, the compensation described above is subject to change and could be higher or lower than the range described above. Further, Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly’s compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.
- Position located at Lilly Corporate Center or Remote
- Travel 0-10%
Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly USA, LLC and our wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively “Lilly”) are committed to help individuals with disabilities to participate in the workforce and ensure equal opportunity to compete for jobs. If you require an accommodation to submit a resume for positions at Lilly, please email Lilly Human Resources ( Lilly_Recruiting_Compliance@lists.lilly.com ) for further assistance. Please note This email address is intended for use only to request an accommodation as part of the application process. Any other correspondence will not receive a response.
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Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and help our company develop talented individuals for future leadership roles. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia Network, African American Network, Chinese Culture Network, Early Career Professionals, Japanese International Leadership Network (JILN), Lilly India Network, Organization of Latinos at Lilly, PRIDE (LGBTQ + Allies), Veterans Leadership Network, Women’s Network, Working and Living with Disabilities. Learn more about all of our groups.
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