Associate Director, Patent Operations

Buchanan Legal Professional Services; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 225,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

A global law firm is seeking a Director of Patent Operations to lead their Patent Practice Group. You will be responsible for executing operational strategies, managing patent operations teams, and driving process optimization. With over 10 years of experience in patent prosecution operations, this senior leadership role requires exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills. This position is hybrid and can be based in various locations including San Francisco.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in patent prosecution operations, with 5-7+ years in senior leadership.
• Deep expertise in U.S. and foreign patent processes.
• Strong leadership skills managing multi-office teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute the operational strategy for the Patent Practice Group.
• Drive workflow optimization and scalable process design.
• Oversee patent operations teams and establish firmwide standards.

Skills

Operational strategy execution

Patent prosecution operations

Leadership and team management

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA or advanced degree

Job description

Director, Patent Operations

A prestigious, innovation-driven global law firm is seeking a Director, Patent Operations to lead the strategic and operational vision for its high-performing Patent Practice Group. This is a senior leadership role responsible for driving operational excellence, scaling global workflows, and partnering with firm leadership to shape the long-term infrastructure of a world-class IP practice. This role will be hybrid and can sit in Boston, DC, NYC, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Santa Monica, or Seattle.

Base pay range

$225,000 - $280,000 per year.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and execute the operational strategy for the Patent Practice Group across all U.S. offices.
• Drive multi-year planning, workflow optimization, and scalable process design (including Patricia and 3rd-party tools).
• Oversee all patent operations teams—docketing, international filings, and legal support (13 total direct reports).
• Establish and enforce firmwide operational standards, metrics, and best practices.
• Lead major change initiatives involving technology implementation, restructuring, and process redesign.
• Partner with Finance, IT, HR, Risk, and IP leadership to ensure seamless operational integration.
• Manage patent technology platforms and key vendor relationships.
• Deliver executive-level reporting using KPIs and operational data to inform strategy and performance.
• Serve as a thought leader on industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in patent prosecution operations, with 5-7+ years in senior leadership.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or certifications (MBA, PMP, Lean Six Sigma) preferred.
• Deep expertise in U.S. and foreign patent processes, prosecution workflows, and docketing systems.
• Proven experience scaling and transforming operations for large, global IP teams.
• Strong leadership skills with success managing managers and multi-office teams.
• Exceptional communication, analytical, and stakeholder management capabilities.

Seniority Level

Director

Employment Type

Full-time

Job Function

Legal and Management

Industries

Law Practice and Legal Services