Patent Support Manager in Manchester

We’re hiring for a Patent Support Manager to join our team and play a key role in delivering exceptional client service and operational excellence within our patent formalities function. This role is critical in managing a high-performing team, supporting fee earners, and driving process improvements that enhance productivity and compliance.

Key Deliverables:

• Team Leadership: Provide day-to-day management, coaching, and regular 1:1s. Monitor performance and resource levels, ensuring training needs are met.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong relationships with key stakeholders to proactively improve client and fee earner experience.
• Operational Excellence: Ensure adherence to policies and processes, support audits, and implement improvements to workflows and standards.
• Process Improvement: Review and document patent support processes, identify opportunities for efficiency, and embed best practices.
• Collaboration: Work closely with regional managers and process teams to streamline operations and deliver outstanding client service.

About You

You’re an experienced leader with a strong understanding of patent support processes and a passion for delivering excellent client service. You can manage teams effectively, handle escalations, and drive continuous improvement. You’re highly organised, methodical in your approach to planning and problem-solving, and comfortable working collaboratively across departments. Your communication skills enable you to build strong relationships and influence positive change.

Qualifications/Experience

• Proven experience in team management and leadership.
• In-depth knowledge of patent support processes and procedures.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Ability to manage and resolve escalations effectively, ensuring timely solutions and maintaining client satisfaction.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to compliance, with experience in adhering to policies, standards, and audit requirements.
• CIPA Qualification.

About HGF:

HGF Limited is one of Europe’s largest intellectual property specialist firms offering a fully integrated IP solution, bringing over 200 Patent Attorneys, Trade Mark Attorneys and IP Solicitors together to provide a full-service IP solution. With 25 offices across the UK, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, France, Switzerland & Austria, HGF’s Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys provide specialist technical and legal advice to blue chip organisations and small to medium businesses across the world. Many of our clients are household names and the work HGF does allows them to protect and exploit their inventions, new products and branding.

Why move to HGF?

• HGF takes a transparent and merit-based approach to your career development and you will have the opportunity to shape your long-term progression.
• We’re a firm with a focus on DEI (Diversity, Equality and Inclusion), with a staff led DEI Focus Group, affinity networks and a DEI Board sponsor.
• As a business we have a dedicated Learning and Development team focused on career long development of your skills along with a digital learning platform covering a wide range of content.
• Benefits including our award winning enhanced parental leave policy, 27 days holiday, bonus scheme and flexible working.

HGF Values

• People: People matter. We treat people fairly, with respect and compassion. We foster a friendly, inclusive and enjoyable culture for everyone to prosper in. We invest in our people and offer appropriate coaching and training to assist with development and learning. We promote a healthy work-life balance. Progression is based on merit.
• Excellence: We strive to be the best. We pursue excellence in all our individual roles resulting in outstanding legal and technical advice for our clients. Our people are pragmatic, responsive and commercially minded. We do not presume but listen to understand so we can engage proactively and appropriately.
• Teamwork: We stand together. We work with our clients to protect their interests, and with each other as a mutually supporting firm. We value, appreciate and listen to others, regardless of role, recognising each individual’s particular blend of talent, skill and experience. We are individually and jointly accountable and take responsibility for our actions and decisions.
• Progressive: We innovate. We continually improve our services and processes through understanding, creativity, and investment. We evolve by taking opportunities and adopting new business procedures, unencumbered by historical structures or out-of-date attitudes. As a firm, we have an entrepreneurial spirit, and encourage new thinking in our people.