The University of Tennessee Research Foundation is the technology transfer organization for the University of Tennessee. Through offices in Knoxville and Memphis, UTRF manages the commercialization of inventions and discoveries developed across the UT system. UTRF’s technology transfer objective is to identify and protect UT intellectual property that represents potential products and services, and to find private sector partners to bring those new products and services to market. UTRF also uses its status as an independent non-profit corporation to support special projects that help the University of Tennessee fulfill its research and economic development missions.
Job Functions/Responsibilities
Patent Coordinator:
Perform specialized duties to assist in managing the UTRF-Knoxville intellectual property portfolio of patents, copyrights, and trademarks. The Coordinator will use discretion when handling sensitive and confidential information and will strive to handle intellectual property matters in a timely and cost-effective manner. This position reports to the Vice President of the Knoxville Technology Transfer Office (MCO) and is a pay grade MR08.
- Responsible for reviewing Assignments, Declarations, Power of Attorney and other legal documents for accuracy and completeness and for handling related functions including: appropriate signature; ensuring original copies are recorded; and retaining/filing copies in database.
- Facilitate communications between the Technology Managers, patent attorneys, University researchers, and inventors, which requires knowledge about, the applicable patent policies and applicable University and departmental policies and procedures to effectively address/resolve issues in a timely manner.
- Responsible for disclosing new innovation disclosures to sponsoring agencies, providing timely notification of election or declinations of inventions; recording patent term adjustment; and editing patent expiration date in database.
- Responsible for notifying, and communicating with, federal sponsors electronically (via iEdison) and/or in writing to non-iEdison agencies, and maintain iEdison Federal Reporting System for federally sponsored inventions.
Responsible for initiating and processing paperwork/docketing information in compliance with patenting procedural requirements.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree Preferred
- Three+ years of experience in a professional environment
- Excellent organizational and multi-tasking skills to prioritize work to meet stringent deadlines and handle urgent matters while staying on task with other assigned duties and responsibilities.
- Ability to gain a comprehensive knowledge about the overall organizational structure and operations administered by UTRF, including knowledge about applicable University and departmental regulations and guidelines related to patent, copyright and trademark issues.
- Preferred knowledge about patent prosecution.
- Ability to learn new software and use the software to its full potential.
- Preferred prior legal office experience.
- Computer skills to perform duties and responsibilities including Microsoft Office, and a Browser.
- Excellent grammar and proofreading skills, with strong emphasis on accuracy and application of business writing techniques, to compose business documents/forms that have a professional presentation.
- Ability to work independently, to exercise good judgment and discretion in the performance of all work assignments while handling information/records containing confidential and sensitive data.
- Self-motivated to acquire continued knowledge about the patent prosecution process that can be incorporated into specialized skills to effectively assist with patent, copyright and trademark issues.
Due to export control restrictions the successful candidate must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien with a green card.
In order to receive full consideration, candidates must apply with cover letter, resume, and references.
Primary Location
Knoxville, Tennessee
Organization
UT Research Foundation
Schedule
Regular Full-Time