Patent Docket Specialist

Job Description

The Office of General Counsel is seeking an experienced Patent Docket Specialist to provide operational support to the Intellectual Property (IP) organization. Primary responsibility is to ensure all patent prosecution activities are accurately and timely entered into the docketing system in accordance with U.S. and international patent law and procedure.

This position has a flexible hybrid office schedule based in Rahway, NJ. 

A successful candidate should possess strong oral and written communication skills, be self-motivated and excel in a team environment. The candidate should also have a demonstrated capacity to manage and prioritize multiple tasks efficiently in a high-volume environment to timely meet all deadlines.

Job responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Review, interpret, and monitor all incoming communications from U.S., PCT and International Patent Offices as well as internal docketing email and correspondence

• Accurately create and maintain patent and disclosure case records within the docketing system

• Accurately enter prosecution deadlines into docketing system in accordance with established procedures

• Electronically file relevant case-related documentation into document management system in accordance with established procedures

• Review amended patent rules and docketing procedure to ensure all prosecution requirements are met

• Detect and correct data and record management inconsistencies utilizing U.S. and international Patent and Trademark Office databases when appropriate

• Monitor all due dates to ensure deadlines are timely met, analyze internal correspondence to ensure appropriate docket removal

• Generate dockets and assist attorneys, paralegals, and other support staff in the preparation of reports from the docketing system

• Assist in managing patent acquisition, divesture and legal entity change projects

• Assist in operational excellence initiatives making appropriate recommendations for work processes as needed

 

Position Qualifications:

Commute/Location:

This role is based at our Headquarters site in Rahway (NJ), with a Hybrid setup (combination of 3 days in-office & 2 days off-site/remote). This position cannot be 100% remote.

 

Education Minimum Requirement:

High School degree or equivalent required

Associate degree, or Paralegal certificate preferred

 

Required Experience and Skills:

• Minimum of three (3) years of patent docketing experience in a law firm or in-house legal department

• Substantive knowledge of US and foreign patent prosecution principles, strategies, and technology

• Experience working with global IP portfolios

• Advanced Proficiency with docketing systems and U.S. and international Patent and Trademark Office databases including USPTO’s Private PAIR & EPAS

• Advanced Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel)

• Extraordinary accuracy and attention to detail in analysis and communications

• Ability to speak and write clearly and succinctly including on complex legal issues, and ability to craft effective communications that emphasize key points and ideas 

• Effective time management to meet deadlines including project management skills, prioritization, consistent delivery of commitments, and ability to organize information and build upon ideas of others

• Autonomy on routine tasks as well as projects of greater complexity, and ability to recognize need for and seek further direction of attorney

• Discrete in handling sensitive and confidential information, and a high level of integrity  

• Clear motivation and focus on achieving measurable, tangible results

• Strong interpersonal skills, collaborates well with others, skilled at interacting with all levels of personnel with professionalism

• Resilient and change-agile, able to work in a fast-paced environment with a high volume of work

• Willingness to adopt change

 

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Specific experience supporting pharmaceutical or biotechnology patent prosecution

• Prior experience with Clarivate's The IP Management System (TIPMS) or IPManager and/or First-to-File

#MSJR

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Adaptability, Case Documentation, Cite Checking, Confidentiality, Contract Administration, Data Management, Document Management, In House Recruitment, International Patents, IP Address Management (IPAM), Legal Acumen, Legal Documents Preparation, Legal Research, Legal Technology, Litigation Preparation, Meeting Deadlines, Motivation Management, Notary Services, Operational Excellence, Patent Databases, Patent Law, Patent Prosecution, Prioritization, Project Management {+ 2 more}

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement​

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

The salary range for this role is

$87,300.00 - $137,400.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits.  Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

You can apply for this role through https://jobs.merck.com/us/en (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

1st - Day

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

05/4/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.