Director - Intellectual Property

UnitedLex India Pvt Ltd (erstwhile iRunway India Pvt Ltd) is hiring for a leadership role in the Intellectual Property team -

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 KPIs 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 candidates key strengths & competencies are as below:

Strong client ownership mindset acts like the clients 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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