Manager, IP Research

The Opportunity

This position works out of our Abbott Park: Lake County IL (other locations: Santa Clara, CA, Alameda, CA, Chicago, IL, Plymouth, MN, or St. Paul, MN.)

As Manager, IP Research, you will lead a team of IP researchers, supporting Abbott businesses by managing legal risks. As part of the Abbott Research Center (ARC), Abbott’s corporate library, you will work closely with other ARC functions as well as the Legal IP department on IP projects that require searching, discovering, and analyzing data from clinical, biomedical, and patent literature sources. You will collaborate with other IP researchers to develop and implement patent search strategies to identify relevant third-party patents. You will organize and communicate search results through visualizations, presentations, and deliverables that drive strategy and decision-making to support Abbott's innovation and business goals.

What You’ll Do

• Lead a team and collaborate with other IP researchers in assessing third-party patents with respect to Abbott products by conducting Freedom to Operate (FTO) and patentability searches as well as other IP research projects for Abbott business units.

• Determine team priorities, define what work should be accomplished, and decide how work should be accomplished.

• Collaborate with the IP legal department to develop search strategies, organize results, and communicate analyses to IP attorneys and other relevant stakeholders.

• Provide patent support for Abbott businesses, including assessing and landscaping technologies and patent portfolios.

• Work with cross-functional teams to assess threats to Abbott products.

• Monitor key competitors using secondary research databases, resources, and technologies for legal projects.

• Collaborate with ARC information teams to compile, analyze, and present research deliverables to support decision-making across Abbott’s business.

• Consult on multifaceted projects to determine information needs, provide information solutions, and apply appropriate data science methodologies and strategies to solve problems.

• Integrate the latest IP tools, including AI technologies where appropriate, into IP workflows to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of IP research, data management, knowledge sharing, and insights generation.

• Apply sound judgment to assess issues holistically, anticipate changes in law and business objectives, and adapt strategies proactively.

• Build strong, influential relationships across a global, matrixed organization to align stakeholders and support desired outcomes.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in science or engineering.

• Registered Patent Agent with the USPTO.

• Experience searching patent and/or scientific literature in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, healthcare, or related fields.

• Experience managing people and leading teams.

• Minimum 4 years of relevant industry experience.

• Minimum 4 years of experience assessing competitor products and intellectual property.

• Minimum 4 years of experience analyzing competitive intelligence and developing IP strategy.

• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment and provide practical, business‑aligned, risk‑balanced recommendations.

• Strong collaboration skills with the ability to integrate information from multiple sources in a complex, global, matrixed environment.

• Ability to anticipate emerging risks, industry shifts, and business needs and adjust approaches proactively.

• Proven influencing skills to engage stakeholders and drive alignment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in-house within a highly matrixed environment.

• Medical device or broader healthcare industry experience, including digital/software solutions.

• Ability to understand applicable FDA regulations and company operating procedures, processes, and policies.

• Proven leadership and mentoring abilities with success in cross‑functional collaboration.

• Experience evaluating data sources, technologies, or tools to improve research, insights, and decision-making.