Senior Research Contract Specialist, Intellectual Property

Our team members are the heart of what makes us better.

At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning. It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community.

The Senior Research Contract Specialist, Intellectual Property-Technology Transfer will provide administrative and contract specialist support to the Legal Department, the HMH Research Institute (“HMHRI”) (including the Office of Innovation and Commercialization (“OIC”) and Intellectual Property Committee (“IPC”) to secure, protect and defend HHM’s investment in intellectual property assets including the development, improvement and management of work-flows that will assist in the creation and maintenance of documents pertaining to HMH intellectual property assets.   

A day in the life of a Senior Research Contract Specialist,  Intellectual Property- Technology Transfer at Hackensack Meridian Health includes:

• Implement and manage the administrative workflow and document management for HMH intellectual property assets. 
• Assist in the development, implementation, improvement and management of tools supporting Legal and HMHRI used to develop and protect HMH intellectual property assets.
• Manage documents pertaining to intellectual property assets including IP participation Agreements, Exemption Agreements, Transfer agreements, Invention Disclosure forms, research manuscripts, patent documents, asset distribution documents and invention distributions.  This job function includes coordinating among the Legal Department, Research Office of Contracts Administration, OIC, and the IPC, and assisting in communication and education of team members regarding the intellectual property asset protection and commercialization process. 
• Provide professional consultation, advice, and direction to all levels of HMH staff and collaborators regarding contracting issues such that HMH contracts best meet legal sufficiency, risk management and financial requirements for the HMH research objectives.  Review and negotiate basic research and commercialization related agreements such as license agreements, NDAs, MTAs and other ancillary agreements in accordance with HMH guidelines and industry best practices under the supervision of attorneys in the Legal Department.
• Conduct initial intellectual property analysis and notifies the Office of Commercialization and Technology Ventures of any potential intellectual property for further analysis. 
• Provide administrative support for the IPC including the preparation of meeting packets.
• Other duties and/or projects as assigned.  

Education, Knowledge and Skills Required: 

• Bachelor’s level degree preferably in business and/or science or engineering OR five or more years of relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience OR minimum of 5 years legal/paralegal experience OR J.D. Degree
• Demonstrated experience with document and agreement management, in particular managing document and contract workflow and managing to the contract requirements.
• Strong knowledge of legal principles and practices, legal research techniques, legal terminology, and legal communication principles and practices relevant to intellectual property, technology, and research in the academic health and medical technology setting.
• Proficient in the understanding of contract and patent terminology related to compliance and reporting obligations.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment to meet tight deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal & collaborative skills with a focus on excellent customer service. Ability to establish & maintain positive relationships, communicate & comprehend instructions effectively to/from a diverse group of stakeholders.
• Ability to exercise discretion & confidentiality, address and resolve any issues in relation to licensing agreements and other documents related to IP assets.
• Demonstrated experience with gathering, organizing and analyzing data with high level of accuracy and attention to detail.