Intellectual Property Administrator

What you’ll do:

We are currently seeking an Intellectual Property Administrator. This position can be based at our Beachwood, OH or Moon Twp, PA locations with hybrid work available.
Position Overview:
The IP Administrator provides comprehensive paralegal, administrative, analytical, and operational support for Eaton’s global intellectual property portfolio. The role administers patent matters throughout their lifecycle, maintains accurate and timely records in Eaton’s intellectual property management systems, manages docketing and procedural deadlines, and coordinates activities among IP counsel, inventors, business stakeholders, outside counsel, foreign associates, and service providers. The position also supports portfolio reporting, data quality, outside-counsel management, acquisitions and divestitures, and continuous improvement of IP processes, controls, and technology.
The IP Paralegal / IP Administrator provides global patent portfolio administration, paralegal support, data stewardship, reporting, and process-improvement services for Eaton’s Intellectual Property Team. The role supports the full patent lifecycle, maintains accurate and timely records in Eaton’s intellectual property management systems, coordinates with attorneys, inventors, outside counsel, and service providers, and helps protect Eaton’s intellectual property rights across multiple jurisdictions.

Job Responsibilities:

• Support patent annuity and maintenance fee administration, including coordination with internal stakeholders and external service providers, review of portfolio data, and timely implementation of approved maintenance decisions.
• Administer inventor award processes, including tracking award eligibility and status, recording required information, coordinating payment-related activities, and responding to routine inventor inquiries.
• Support ownership, entity, and portfolio changes arising from restructurings, legal entity changes, acquisitions, divestitures, and other transactions. Coordinate record updates, assignments, ownership documentation, matter transfers, and required recordals under attorney direction.
• Assist with IP due diligence and transaction integration or separation activities, including portfolio reports, record creation, ownership-chain documentation, matter transfers, data cleanup, and transition to Eaton’s preferred outside counsel and service providers.
• Support IP committee and classification administration, including committee access, matter assignments, classification updates, and implementation of authorized changes in Anaqua.
• Develop and maintain work instructions, templates, process maps, checklists, controls, and training materials for patent administration and related IP processes.
• Identify and implement opportunities for automation, standardization, analytics, and workflow improvement that improve data reliability, strengthen controls, reduce administrative risk, and increase operational efficiency.
• Participate in global IP and Law Function projects and provide advanced administrative, paralegal, analytical, and project-management support as assigned.
• Handle confidential and privileged information appropriately and comply with Eaton’s ethics, information governance, cybersecurity, records management, and applicable legal requirements.

Qualifications:

Required (Basic) Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution required.
• Minimum two (2) years of patent administration, intellectual property paralegal, patent prosecution support, docketing, or IP portfolio-management experience required.
• No relocation is available for this position. Candidates must reside within a 50 mile radius of Beachwood OH or Moon Twp, PA to be considered. (Active Duty Military service members are exempt from this geographical limitation).
• Must be able to work in the United States without corporate sponsorship now and within the future.
Preferred Qualifications:
• A paralegal certificate or intellectual property credential is preferred.
• Experience supporting a multinational patent portfolio and coordinating with outside counsel is preferred.
• 5-7 years of patent administration, intellectual property paralegal, patent prosecution support, docketing, or IP portfolio-management experience is preferred.

Skills:

• Working knowledge of patent prosecution procedures, formalities, deadlines, maintenance requirements, and patent systems, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office, European Patent Office, and World Intellectual Property Organization.
• Hands-on experience with Anaqua or a comparable IP management system.
• Strong skills in docketing, database administration, records management, reporting, and data analysis.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel; working proficiency in Power BI, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, and document-management tools.
• Strong written and spoken English; additional language skills are beneficial.
• Up to 10% travel required.
• High attention to detail and sound judgment.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and time-sensitive deadlines, work independently, collaborate across cultures and time zones, identify and escalate risk, improve processes, and maintain confidentiality.
• Proactive, service-oriented, adaptable, and committed to high standards of business ethics.