Director

Job Description

JOB TITLE: Associate Director / Director Patent Managed Services (Client Teams)

LOCATION: Gurgaon/Bangalore

Overall Purpose Of Job

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Patent Services Professional to own end-to-end delivery, client satisfaction, and performance management for a large, complex IP managed services account/s . The role is responsible for managing teams and to provide seamless execution across patent docketing, paralegal support, IDF reviews, application drafting, prosecution support, managing partner law firms and billing/invoice review, while ensuring quality, SLA adherence, cost efficiency, client & organizational KPI's and continuous improvement.

This role acts as the single point of ownership for the client, translating commercial commitments into scalable, compliant, and high-quality IP operations.

The candidate's key strengths & competencies are as below:

• Strong client ownership mindset acts like the client's IP Ops leader
• Ability to manage complex, multi-service delivery models
• Excellent stakeholder management and executive communication skills
• Strong operational judgment and problem-solving ability
• Data-driven approach to performance, risk, and decision-making
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and scaling programs
• Ability to balance standardization with customization
• Understanding of operational metrics like utilization, productivity & quality
• People Management skills
• Ability to act as an SME for team members on subject matter queries and as an advisor to the client for patent portfolio-based discussions.
  
  

Requirements

• B.E./B.Tech./M.Tech. Computer Science Engineering, Electronics & Communication Engineering, or Electrical & Electronics Engineering
• Registered patent agent is a plus
• LL.B. (Hons.) from a reputed law school is a plus
• Six Sigma training/certification is a plus
• 1218+ years of experience in IP services, legal operations, or IP outsourcing specifically related to responding to office actions and drafting US patent applications
• Excellent understanding of US, EP & India patent laws
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with other professionals in the legal department and business teams
• Prior experience managing teams of 20+ FTEs across multiple IP service lines
• Ability to work efficiently under pressure and effectively manage competing priorities
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Ability to operate independently with minimal guidance and direction
• Ability to resolve ambiguities and provide legal guidance in uncertain situations
• Strategic thinking to drive efficiencies and provide business advice and solutions
• Detail-oriented with excellent judgment and analytical skills
• Ability to juggle multiple tasks - dynamic, and action-orientated, which meets deadlines and makes it happen
• Ability to work collaboratively with onsite and/or virtual global teams
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, Visio and related software programs
  
  

Key Responsibilities

• Delivery & Operations Management
• Own end-to-end delivery across:
• Patent docketing
• Paralegal support
• IDF reviews
• Patent drafting & prosecution support
• Invoice review and cost controls
• Ensure consistent adherence to SLAs, Client KPIs, quality benchmarks, and turnaround times
• Manage demand variability, workload balancing, and utilization
• Drive operational rigor through SOPs, playbooks, and standardized workflows
• Client Ownership & Stakeholder Management
• Serve as the primary delivery owner for a strategic IP managed services client
• Build trusted relationships with stakeholders (Partner Law Firms, Client finance teams, Client IT teams, ULX Account Management, finance, legal & sourcing teams)
• Own client governance: Steering Committee Meetings, QBRs & MBRs, SLA reviews, escalations, and roadmap discussions
• Proactively identify risks, demand shifts, and opportunities for expansion or optimization
• Team Leadership & Capability Building
• Lead multi-disciplinary teams including associates, senior associates, consultants, Senior & Principal consultants, managers, and specialists
• Develop people leaders and succession plans for critical roles
• Knowledge Management:
• Identify skill gaps
• Enable cross-skilling across drafting, prosecution, and admin services
• Embed quality and review mechanisms
• Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement
• Quality, Risk & Compliance Oversight
• Own quality outcomes across all services delivered to the account
• Ensure compliance with client-specific processes, law firm requirements, and jurisdictional norms
• Proactively manage operational risks and dependency risks
• Lead root-cause analysis for defects, escalations, and rework
• Financial & Commercial Accountability
• Own clients patent function budget performance including:
• Patent Renewal costs and savings through pruning exercises
• Partner law firm performance against budget
• Productivity improvement
• Transformation & Continuous Improvement
• Identify automation, AI, and process improvement opportunities
• Partner with T&T / Tech teams to pilot and scale efficiency initiatives
• Drive standardization without compromising client-specific requirements
• Track and report measurable efficiency, quality, and cost outcomes
• Performing other related activities as required
  

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