Sr. IP Specialist

Matthews International; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Matthews International is seeking a Sr. Intellectual Property Specialist to support the legal team by streamlining workflows, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

You will draft and negotiate agreements, manage litigation matters, research IP issues, and advise on IP and regulatory topics. The role involves coordinating with outside counsel, supporting innovation programs, and advancing knowledge-management systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Legal Studies or related field.
• Foundational IP law knowledge (coursework or practical).
• Experience with trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, or patent processes preferred.
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management across multiple audiences.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of agreements with practical legal guidance.
• Drive improvements in legal operations via workflows, templates, matter tracking, and AI-enabled automation.
• Develop and maintain standard agreements, guidelines, policies, training materials, playbooks, and self-service resources.
• Support legal operations functions including billing, budgeting, invoice review, knowledge management, and document organization.
• Support the company’s IP portfolio by managing trademarks, IP filings, maintenance, research, and coordination with outside counsel.
• Contribute to invention disclosure intake and IP asset management to protect company IP.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify legal risks early and deliver business-aligned solutions.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Skills

IP knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Communication

Legal research

Education

Bachelor's degree in Legal Studies

Engineering

Computer Science

Business

Tools

Microsoft Office

Contract management systems

Legal tech platforms

AI-enabled workflows

Job description

The Sr. Intellectual Property (IP) Specialist supports the legal team by streamlining workflows, enhancing operational efficiency, and ensuring compliance across the business. Provides legal support through drafting and negotiating agreements, managing litigation matters, conducting research, and advising on IP, commercial, and regulatory matters. Drives improvements in legal operations by optimizing tools, templates, processes, and knowledge‑management systems. Plays a key role in managing the company’s intellectual property portfolio, coordinating with outside counsel, and supporting innovation programs.

The degree/ education listed represents the minimum educational requirement; candidates with related fields of study or equivalent experience are encouraged to apply.

This role works a hybrid schedule of 3 days in office, 2 remotely. Candidates should be located in the Pittsburgh area and be able to commute to our North Shore office location 3 days a week.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of agreements while providing practical legal guidance, research, and litigation and compliance support across business and product development activities.
• Drive continuous improvement in legal operations by optimizing workflows, tools, templates, matter tracking, legal technology, and AI‑enabled automation.
• Develop and maintain standard agreements, guidelines, policies, training materials, playbooks, and self‑service resources to promote consistency and best practices.
• Support legal operations functions including billing, budgeting, invoice review, knowledge management, and document organization in partnership with legal, finance, and external counsel.
• Support the company’s intellectual property portfolio by managing trademarks, IP filings, maintenance, research, competitive analyses, and coordination with outside counsel.
• Contribute to internal innovation programs by supporting invention disclosure intake, IP asset management, and ensuring proper use and protection of company IP across teams.
• Collaborate with cross functional teams to identify legal risks early and deliver practical, business aligned solutions that support innovation and operational goals.
• Additional duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS / REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies, Paralegal Studies, Engineering, Computer Science, Business or a related field.
• Foundational knowledge of intellectual property law (coursework or practical experience)
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills across legal, business, finance, technology, and executive audiences.
• Demonstrated success to lead complex projects, manage competing priorities, and drive execution in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong data analytical, organizational, and problem-solving capabilities, translating data into actionable business and operational insights.
• Exposure to legal operations, legal technology tools, or process improvement initiatives; preferred
• Experience with trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, or patent processes; preferred.
• Proficiency with productivity, collaboration tools, legal technology platforms, including AI implementation, contract management systems and/or Microsoft Office suite; preferred.
• Project management skills or certification, MBA or other relevant advanced credentials; preferred.
• Capable of organizing multiple varied assignments through practical prioritization.
• Comfortable communicating and, at times, directing senior level managers

PHYSICAL ASPECTS / WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Regularly required to stand; walk; sit; talk, hear and see.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.