Senior Paralegal - Intellectual Property

Avient is seeking a Senior Paralegal, Intellectual Property to perform a range of activities in support of the company’s legal and intellectual property (IP) global operations including:

• providing paralegal support for global patent and trademark activities; and

• assisting with confidentiality agreements (NDAs / CDAs) and similar contracts for Avient’s businesses worldwide.  

Working with minimal direct supervision both independently and collaboratively with other team members, internal stakeholders, and external service providers, this position requires a self-confident and knowledgeable IP legal professional who is well-organized, responsive, flexible, resourceful, and enthusiastic. Ideal candidates will have strong experience with both patents and trademarks, and at least some experience (or willingness to learn) assisting with confidentiality agreements and similar contracts.

This position is based at Avient’s global headquarters located in Avon Lake, Ohio.

Essential Functions

• Supports global patent and trademark activities in coordination with Avient’s in-house IP attorneys, outside counsel, and/or external service providers 

• Assists with confidentiality agreements and similar contracts in coordination with other legal team members; activities may include preparing new agreements based on approved templates, responding to inquiries about status and applicability of prior agreements, reviewing proposed agreements and making proposed revisions, and coordinating with counterparties to obtain signatures, etc.

• Manages incoming correspondence from USPTO, WIPO, law firms / local agents worldwide, external service providers, internal stakeholders, etc., and determines appropriate actions

• Dockets deadlines for patent and/or trademark activities worldwide using Avient’s IP database and docketing system (IPfolio)

• Creates and updates records in relevant databases and systems (e.g., IPfolio, SharePoint, network folders, etc.)

• Prepares forms and other documents (e.g., powers of attorney, assignments, application data sheets, PCT requests, information disclosure statements, etc.)

• Coordinates with IP attorneys to take appropriate actions by deadlines

• Corresponds with law firms / local agents worldwide to provide instructions, etc.

• Manages internal processes including invention record submissions, patent filing and country selection decisions, patent maintenance decisions, trademark renewal decisions, etc.

• Communicates with internal stakeholders to request input or decisions, obtain signatures, provide matter updates, etc.

• Manages payment of patent annuities and trademark renewals through external service providers 

• Administers Avient’s USPTO deposit account

• Helps to create vendor profiles, process invoices, and track costs using vendor payment platforms such as Coupa, etc.

• Other duties as assigned 

Our purpose at Avient Corporation is to be an innovator of materials solutions that help our customers succeed, while enabling a sustainable world.

Innovation goes far beyond materials science; it’s powered by the passion, creativity, and diverse expertise of 9,000 professionals worldwide. Whether you’re a finance wizard, a tech enthusiast, an operational powerhouse, an HR changemaker, or a trailblazer in materials development, you’ll find your place at Avient.

Join our global team and help shape the future with sustainable solutions that transform possibilities into realities. Your unique perspective could be the key to our next breakthrough!

We believe that all of our global employees are leaders and that the six most important behaviors for driving our strategy and culture are the same no matter if an employee is a leader of self, a leader of others, or a leader of the business.

By playing to win, acting customer centric, driving innovation and profitable growth, collaborating seamlessly across Avient, and motivating and inspiring and developing others and yourself you will accelerate your ability to achieve Avient’s strategic goals, to meet our customer needs, and to accomplish your career goals.

At Avient, we believe a wide variety of thoughts, ideas and backgrounds gives us the creativity to be successful in a rapidly changing world.  In support of this, we stress equality of opportunity for all qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws. Decisions on hiring, promotion, development, compensation or advancement are based solely on a person’s qualifications, abilities, experience and performance.

Avient is an equal opportunity employer. We maintain a policy of non-discrimination in providing equal employment to all qualified employees and candidates regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran’s status, or other legally protected classification in accordance with applicable federal, state and local law. If you need an accommodation because of a disability to complete an online application, please contact the Avient HR Team by emailing, [email protected].