Manager - Trademark

Cognizant; Bengaluru; Hybrid; INR 1,800,000 - 3,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognizant seeks a Manager - Trademark to lead the global trademark portfolio, including clearance, filing, prosecution, maintenance, renewals, and cost optimization. You will collaborate with legal, marketing, and business stakeholders to advance protection strategies and brand integrity.

You will coach a team of IP professionals, drive governance, and balance legal risk with business priorities in a hybrid work environment that values collaboration and continuous learning.

Qualifications

• Law degree from an accredited institution.
• Significant experience managing domestic and international trademark portfolios.
• Strong knowledge of trademark clearance, prosecution, maintenance, enforcement, and brand protection programs.
• Experience reviewing and negotiating intellectual property, licensing, co-branding, marketing, and commercial agreements.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing legal professionals and external counsel.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and strategic advisory skills.
• Ability to balance legal risk, business priorities, and cost considerations in a dynamic global environment.
• A strong sense of ownership, desire to create meaningful outcomes, and passion for work that serves a greater good for customers, communities, or global challenges.
• The embodiment of Cognizant’s Values of: Work as One, Dare to Innovate, Raise the Bar, Do The Right Thing, and Own It.

Responsibilities

• Lead the management of Cognizant’s global trademark portfolio, including trademark clearance, filing, prosecution, maintenance, renewals, portfolio rationalization, and cost optimization.
• Develop and execute trademark protection strategies that support business expansion, acquisitions, product launches, and branding initiatives.
• Manage global enforcement and brand protection activities, including infringement matters, cease-and-desist actions, oppositions, cancellations, domain name disputes, and online enforcement programs.
• Review and negotiate trademark-related provisions in intellectual property agreements, commercial contracts, sponsorship agreements, marketing arrangements, and strategic partnerships.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of trademark and intellectual property professionals while driving governance, operational excellence, and stakeholder collaboration.

Skills

Trademark portfolio management

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Contract review

Education

Law degree

Job description

About Cognizant Corporate

Cognizant Corporate is a global community united by a shared purpose: to make a meaningful impact. We are committed to excellence and driven by outcomes that matter. Collaboration is at the heart of how we work, and our forward-thinking mindset fuels continuous learning, innovation, and growth. At Cognizant, careers transcend titles. We empower our people to think strategically, inspire others, and lead with purpose, always guided by our core values. Join us in shaping the future of business. Could you be the one to make a difference?

About the Role

As a Manager - Trademark, you will drive impactful contributions and focus on outcomes. You will be a key member of the Legal team, collaborating with marketing, branding, commercial legal teams, business stakeholders, external counsel, and trademark professionals. You will have the autonomy to lead, innovate, and improve workflows while upholding our commitment to quality and continuous learning.

In this Role, You Will:

1. Lead the management of Cognizant’s global trademark portfolio, including trademark clearance, filing, prosecution, maintenance, renewals, portfolio rationalization, and cost optimization.
2. Develop and execute trademark protection strategies that support business expansion, acquisitions, product launches, and branding initiatives.
3. Manage global enforcement and brand protection activities, including infringement matters, cease-and-desist actions, oppositions, cancellations, domain name disputes, and online enforcement programs.
4. Review and negotiate trademark-related provisions in intellectual property agreements, commercial contracts, sponsorship agreements, marketing arrangements, and strategic partnerships.
5. Lead, coach, and develop a team of trademark and intellectual property professionals while driving governance, operational excellence, and stakeholder collaboration.

What You Must Have to Be Considered

• Law degree from an accredited institution.
• Significant experience managing domestic and international trademark portfolios.
• Strong knowledge of trademark clearance, prosecution, maintenance, enforcement, and brand protection programs.
• Experience reviewing and negotiating intellectual property, licensing, co-branding, marketing, and commercial agreements.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing legal professionals and external counsel.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and strategic advisory skills.
• Ability to balance legal risk, business priorities, and cost considerations in a dynamic global environment.
• A strong sense of ownership, desire to create meaningful outcomes, and passion for work that serves a greater good for customers, communities, or global challenges.
• The embodiment of Cognizant’s Values of: Work as One, Dare to Innovate, Raise the Bar, Do The Right Thing, and Own It.

These Will Help You Succeed

• Experience managing global trademark portfolios across multiple jurisdictions.
• Familiarity with domain name disputes, online brand protection, and watch-service programs.
• Experience supporting technology, consulting, or professional services organizations.
• Strong project management and process improvement capabilities.
• Experience developing trademark policies, governance frameworks, and operational standards.

Work Model

We believe hybrid work is the way forward as we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role’s business requirements, this is a hybrid position requiring attendance in a Cognizant or client office as determined by business needs. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance through our various wellbeing programs. The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting and may change based on business and client requirements.

Work Authorization

Must be legally authorized to work in the country without the need for employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future.