Director of Patent Operations

This is the kind of opportunity people look back on as the defining chapter of their career.

You won’t step into a mature machine built by someone else. You’ll build the operation that protects hundreds of breakthrough inventions across human health, artificial intelligence, advanced wellness technologies, and future-defining scientific innovation.

You’ll feel the pride of helping transform bold ideas into protected discoveries that could influence millions of lives around the world. You’ll help accelerate the pace of invention itself. Entire categories of innovation may move faster because of the systems, standards, and leadership you create here.

This is not a maintenance role. It is a chance to build something rare.

You’ll lead one of the most ambitious in-house patent initiatives being assembled anywhere today — combining elite talent, AI-powered invention workflows, and extraordinary filing velocity to create a model the industry will eventually try to imitate.

Years from now, when others point to how modern patent operations changed, you’ll know you helped build one of the first systems that proved it was possible.

Your next 5 minutes could land you in our top 5% shortlist — click Apply to start your application (a short, simple step to put you in the running)

Director of Patent Operations

ROLE SNAPSHOT —

• Pay: $165,000.00 to $225,000.00
• Location/Schedule: Remote
• Purpose: Lead and scale a high-volume in-house patent operation filing 300+ patents annually across six advanced technology domains.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES —

• Manage a high-volume patent docket spanning 200+ pending applications and existing issued patents.
• Supervise six Patent Agents and one Patent Paralegal across multiple technology domains.
• Operate the end-to-end filing pipeline from inventor intake through prosecution and issuance.
• Own all docketing deadlines, conversions, filings, fee management, and portfolio status tracking.
• Coordinate AI-generated drafting workflows and route work across domain specialists.
• Monitor production quality and continuously improve operational throughput.
• Coordinate foreign filing strategy with local counsel on a jurisdiction-specific basis.
• Deliver concise operational reporting directly to executive leadership.

MUST-HAVE QUALIFICATIONS —

• Minimum 5 years of patent operations experience in a high-volume environment.
• Experience managing 100+ concurrent patent applications.
• Strong working knowledge of USPTO Patent Center filings.
• Advanced fluency with at least one major docketing platform such as CPI, Anaqua, FoundationIP, or IPfolio.
• Experience working with AI-augmented drafting or production workflows.
• Strong operational communication skills with a direct, deadline-driven reporting style.
• Demonstrated cost-discipline and production-oriented operational management.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS —

• Active USPTO Patent Bar registration.
• Experience directly managing four or more patent agents or equivalent technical staff.
• Experience in health-products, wellness, biotechnology, or regulated consumer industries.
• Familiarity with patent analytics platforms such as PatSnap, Innography, or AcclaimIP.
• Clear understanding of patent-agent prosecution authority versus attorney authority.

WHAT WE OFFER —

• Opportunity to build and lead a large-scale in-house patent operation.
• Direct partnership with founder and executive leadership.
• Exposure to advanced AI-enabled operational systems.
• High-impact leadership role across multiple emerging technology categories.
• Fast-moving, execution-focused environment with significant ownership.

Honest Challenge —

This is a high-accountability production environment with aggressive filing targets, daily operational cadence, and zero tolerance for missed deadlines. Success requires exceptional organization, comfort with AI-driven workflows, and the ability to operate with speed and precision under sustained volume.

READY TO JUMP IN?

Click Apply to start the short application (about 5 minutes).

Important: Completing the embedded application step is required to be considered.

The pay range for this position is $165,000.00 to $225,000.00. Please note that the quoted pay range for this job is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) experience, including industry or specific experience, education, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, and/or other applicable laws.

This position is benefits-eligible. Mercola provides competitive, affordable, and diverse benefit programs that support your total health – from a healthy body to a healthy mind. These benefits support you and your family in all aspects of life:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage
• Accident, Hospital Indemnity, and Critical Illness
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employer Paid Life and AD&D Insurance
• Optional Supplemental Life and AD&D Insurance
• Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Spending Accounts
• Dayforce Wallet – get paid as you earn
• Employee Discount
• Retirement Planning (401k with matching contribution)
• Pet Insurance
• Wellness Program Offerings
• Paid Time Off, accrued per pay period based on years of service, starting at 25 days annually. 
• 9 Paid Holidays per year, including 1 floating holiday.

The compensation and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.

The Company expects to accept applications for this position until June 7, 2026, but encourages interested applicants to apply as soon as possible. We will review this information, and one of our Talent Acquisition professionals will reach out if your background aligns with the position.

Our Commitment to Equal Opportunity and Inclusion

Mercola and its affiliates (“Mercola”) are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race (including hairstyle and texture), color, religion or belief (or lack thereof) (including religious grooming and dress practices), sex, nationality, national or ethnic origin, civil status, age, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, familial status, marital or registered civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, gender identity, gender reassignment, military or veteran status, or any other protected characteristic in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. If you need accommodation, please send an email to hr@mercola.com to let us know the nature of your request.