Foreign Patent Specialist

Make a meaningful difference to patients around the world. Our Legal team works to protect our patients, team members, and innovations with the utmost diligence and care. You’ll have the opportunity to work with a dedicated team and build lasting partnerships with stakeholders across our global organization. Your legal knowledge and contributions will help us ensure that we are supporting the needs and interests of the patients we serve.

The Foreign Patent Specialist role will be to support Edward’s Intellectual Property Law Team. The successful candidate must effectively handle various responsibilities and manage multiple tasks and assignments in the IP practice area. The role will be a part of a fast-paced and dynamic legal team of lawyers, legal specialists, and support staff who work closely together to advance Edward’s interests.

Work Schedule: Given the collaborative and complex nature of this work, this role is in person full time in Irvine, California.

How you’ll make an impact:

• Prepare routine legal documents and correspondence within the Law Department

• Respond to routine inquiries from internal Law Team Staff and Edwards’ Clients

• Respond to legal requests from outside entities (e.g., government agencies, vendors, outside counsel)

• Effectively manage attorney calendars and meeting planning for in-person and virtual Teams meetings

• Assist attorneys with tracking and meeting deadlines

• Arrange travel and process expense reports

• Other Incidental Duties

•  Work closely with IP Attorneys, Inventors, Engineers, and cross-functional teams in the company to assist with all Edwards’ patent portfolio management:

• Support all aspects of filing and prosecuting U.S. patent applications and docketing.
• Prepare assignments, declarations, and information disclosure statements.
• Be responsible for drafting responses to Office actions, and assisting with the evaluation of invention disclosures
• Assist in tracking and meeting deadlines for attorneys from the company’s IP management system
• Research, review, verify, and route correspondence, reports and legal documents
• Respond to routine patent inquiries from internal inventors

What you'll need (Required):

• H.S. Diploma or equivalent and a minimum of 2 years of experience

What else we look for (Preferred):

• A combination of experience at a large law firm and in-house experience at a medical technology or other company is highly desirable.
• The ability to build relationships as a trusted partner with all levels of corporate clients, maintain strong working relationships, exhibit meticulous attention to detail, and produce an accurate and high-quality work product are essential requirements for this position.
• Demonstrated ability to build instill trust and handle highly confidential and sensitive information.
• Substantial knowledge of filing patent applications and related patent prosecution documents including USPTO forms, filing process, and basic deadlines for patent matters
• Substantial understanding of preparation and filing of PCT applications along with National Phase entry Validations
• Substantial understanding of US National Phase and all formalities related to international applications, including reporting letters, and correspondence with the foreign associates.
• Substantial understanding of preparation and handling of Declarations, Power of Attorneys, Assignments, Formal Drawings, Information Disclosure Statements, Preliminary Amendments, and Missing Parts/Requirements
• Good computer skills including MS Office Suite, with intermediate skills in Word and Excel and legal software
• Good written and verbal communication skills and interpersonal relationship skills
• Substantial knowledge and understanding of Edwards policies, procedures, and guidelines
• Good written and verbal communications skills
• Good problem-solving skills
• Some exposure to the different legal practice areas
• Good understanding of the Law Departments technology
• Basic understanding of preparation of creating and preparing communications
• Basic understanding of different types of Legal Documents
• Ability to manage confidential information with discretion
• Strict attention to detail
• Ability to interact professionally with all organizational levels
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Adhere to all EHS rules and requirements and take adequate control measures in preventing injuries to themselves and others as well as to the protection of environment and prevention of pollution under their span of influence/control
• Teamwork:
  • Adapts behavior to maximize team goals
  • Meets deadlines and delivers on commitments
  • Strong work ethic
  • Demonstrates a customer service focus
  • Ability to work in a highly collaborative team environment a must
• Communication:
  • Excellent oral and written skills
  • Communicates in an open and candid manner
  • Asks for assistance and clarification when needed
  • Pro-actively keeps supervisor informed of projects
  • Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills
  • Exercises independent judgment where appropriate and effectively communicates same
  • Strong organizational and communication skills and a working knowledge of computer applications, including IP patent portfolio management tools and iManage, are a plus.

Aligning our overall business objectives with performance, we offer competitive salaries, performance-based incentives, and a wide variety of benefits programs to address the diverse individual needs of our employees and their families.

For California, the base pay range for this position is $70,000 to $95,000 (highly experienced).

The pay for the successful candidate will depend on various factors (e.g., qualifications, education, prior experience). Applications will be accepted while this position is posted on our Careers website.  

Edwards is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer including protected Veterans and individuals with disabilities.

COVID Vaccination Requirement

Edwards is committed to protecting our vulnerable patients and the healthcare providers who are treating them. As such, all patient-facing and in-hospital positions require COVID-19 vaccination. If hired into a covered role, as a condition of employment, you will be required to submit proof that you have been vaccinated for COVID-19, unless you request and are granted a medical or religious accommodation for exemption from the vaccination requirement. This vaccination requirement does not apply in locations where it is prohibited by law to impose vaccination.