Patent Operations, Senior Associate Paralegal

At Amgen, if you feel like you’re part of something bigger, it’s because you are. Our shared mission—to serve patients living with serious illnesses—drives all that we do.

Since 1980, we’ve helped pioneer the world of biotech in our fight against the world’s toughest diseases. With our focus on four therapeutic areas –Oncology, Inflammation, General Medicine, and Rare Disease– we reach millions of patients each year. Amgen is advancing a broad and deep pipeline of medicines to treat cancer, heart disease, inflammatory conditions, rare diseases, and obesity and obesity-related conditions. As a member of the Amgen team, you’ll help make a lasting impact on the lives of patients as we research, manufacture, and deliver innovative medicines to help people live longer, fuller happier lives.

Our award-winning culture is collaborative, innovative, and science based. If you have a passion for challenges and the opportunities that lay within them, you’ll thrive as part of the Amgen team. Join us and transform the lives of patients while transforming your career.

Let’s do this. Let’s change the world. In this vital role you will provide paralegal and docketing support to the Patent Law group by maintaining accurate U.S. and foreign patent records and coordinating patent prosecution activities. You will work closely with patent attorneys, agents, Patent Coordinators, outside counsel, foreign filing providers, and other Patent Operations colleagues to keep matters and deadlines on track. This role may be based in Thousand Oaks, California; Cambridge, Massachusetts; or South San Francisco, California. Remote candidates may also be considered.

• →Open new patent matters in the IP Management System (IPMS), entering and verifying filing dates, application data, parties, and other required docket information from approved intake materials.
• →Review correspondence from U.S. and foreign patent offices, outside counsel, and service providers; docket prosecution events, filing dates, and related tasks in IPMS.
• →Monitor attorney dockets and assigned tasks, follow up on upcoming or overdue actions, and promptly escalate approaching deadlines, missing instructions, conflicting information, and other issues requiring attention.
• →Keep task comments and matter notes current by documenting actions taken, outstanding instructions, responsible contacts, and required follow-up.
• →Coordinate attorney or agent instructions for PCT national phase entry and other foreign filing decisions, escalating when instructions or required documents are at risk of missing a deadline.
• →Prepare and send foreign filing instructions and supporting documents to the designated filing provider or outside counsel; track acknowledgments and filing confirmations; and update IPMS.
• →Generate recurring and ad hoc IPMS reports, review the results for completeness, and provide docket and portfolio information to attorneys and Patent Operations colleagues.
• →Conduct docket and data-quality reviews, identify missing, inconsistent, or outdated information, and coordinate corrections with the appropriate team members.
• →Coordinate patent annuities, maintenance fees, invention disclosure intake, and other portfolio administration activities in accordance with established procedures and attorney or committee instructions.
• →Safeguard confidential information, maintain complete electronic records, provide backup support to colleagues, and contribute to process improvements and other Patent Operations initiatives.

We are all different, yet we all use our unique contributions to serve patients. The legal professional we seek is a detail-oriented professional with these qualifications:

Master’s degree

OR

Bachelor’s degree and 2 years of intellectual property docketing experience

OR

Associate’s degree and 6 years of intellectual property docketing experience

OR 

High school diploma / GED and 8 years of intellectual property docketing experience

• Associate’s or bachelor’s degree or completion of an ABA-approved legal assistant or paralegal program.
• Four or more years of intellectual property experience in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry.
• Experience supporting U.S. and foreign patent prosecution, including PCT national phase entries, Paris Convention filings, and foreign filing formalities.
• Proficiency in ANAQUA or a comparable intellectual property management and docketing system, including experience generating docket and portfolio reports.
• Experience reviewing patent office and outside counsel correspondence and coordinating filing instructions with attorneys, agents, and foreign counsel.
• Strong written and verbal communication, organizational, and follow-up skills, with sound judgment in identifying discrepancies and escalating issues.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, maintain accuracy under deadline pressure, and collaborate effectively across teams.

As we work to develop treatments that take care of others, we also work to care for your professional and personal growth and well-being. From our competitive benefits to our collaborative culture, we’ll support your journey every step of the way.

The expected annual salary range for this role in the U.S. (excluding Puerto Rico) is posted. Actual salary will vary based on several factors including but not limited to, relevant skills, experience, and qualifications.

In addition to the base salary, Amgen offers a Total Rewards Plan, based on eligibility, comprising of health and welfare plans for staff and eligible dependents, financial plans with opportunities to save towards retirement or other goals, work/life balance, and career development opportunities that may include:

• A comprehensive employee benefits package, including a Retirement and Savings Plan with generous company contributions, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts
• A discretionary annual bonus program, or for field sales representatives, a sales-based incentive plan
• Stock-based long-term incentives
• Award-winning time-off plans
• Flexible work models where possible. Refer to the Work Location Type in the job posting to see if this applies.

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Amgen does not have an application deadline for this position; we will continue accepting applications until we receive a sufficient number or select a candidate for the position.

Sponsorship for this role is not guaranteed.

As an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people around the world, Amgen fosters an inclusive environment of diverse, ethical, committed and highly accomplished people who respect each other and live the Amgen values to continue advancing science to serve patients. Together, we compete in the fight against serious disease.

Amgen is an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. Amgen is an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider you without regard to your race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.