Intellectual Property Manager in London

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Manager to support the delivery of a large-scale technology and infrastructure programme. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading all Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) activities across the programme, ensuring contractual compliance, robust governance and effective management of all intellectual property, documentation and associated assets throughout the project lifecycle.

Working closely with Project Management, Change Management, Quality, Engineering and Service Delivery teams, you will ensure that all IPR obligations are met, documentation is maintained to the highest standard, and all contractual deliverables are produced in accordance with programme governance and industry best practice.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the identification, classification and management of Intellectual Property generated throughout the programme.
• Maintain ownership of all IPR artefacts and associated documentation in accordance with contractual obligations.
• Act as the primary point of contact for all IPR-related matters with the customer and internal stakeholders.
• Develop, maintain and continuously improve the IPR Management Plan, ensuring alignment with programme governance and change management processes.
• Coordinate the creation, review, approval and maintenance of IPR documentation throughout the full project and change lifecycle.
• Manage the programme’s IPR Repository, ensuring all documentation is complete, accurate, version-controlled and audit-ready.
• Maintain the IPR Register, ensuring all intellectual property assets are correctly classified, recorded and updated following approved changes.
• Oversee updates to configuration and asset structures, ensuring documentation accurately reflects approved programme changes.
• Lead IPR activities throughout planning, design, implementation, deployment and operational transition.
• Ensure all IPR deliverables are completed prior to project or change closure, maintaining accurate records and lessons learned documentation.
• Coordinate customer verification and audit activities, preparing supporting documentation and acting as the primary liaison during reviews.
• Oversee the Document Management System (DMS), ensuring compliance with document control procedures, metadata standards, security requirements and version management.
• Deliver awareness sessions and guidance to programme personnel on IPR obligations, document management and contractual compliance.
• Chair regular IPR governance meetings, providing updates on compliance, documentation status, risks, outstanding actions and improvement initiatives.
• Manage all exit and contract handover obligations relating to intellectual property, documentation and programme knowledge, ensuring completeness and compliance.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Law, Engineering, Information Management, Business, Computer Science or another relevant discipline.
• Relevant certification or professional training in Intellectual Property, Document Management, Records Management or Contract Administration.
• Minimum of seven years’ experience in Intellectual Property Rights, Document Control, Information Management or Contract Compliance, including at least three years in a senior or leadership role.
• Proven experience managing IPR repositories, registers, controlled documentation and governance processes within complex contractual environments.
• Strong understanding of change management processes and the relationship between change delivery and documentation control.
• Experience supporting large-scale technology, engineering, infrastructure or digital transformation programmes.
• Strong knowledge of Document Management Systems (DMS), version control principles and metadata management.
• Experience working with configuration management processes and structured asset or module hierarchies.
• Familiarity with IT service management principles such as ITIL is advantageous.

Key Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Exceptional organisational skills with meticulous attention to detail.
• Strong experience coordinating complex documentation and governance activities across multiple teams.
• Ability to capture undocumented knowledge through workshops, interviews and knowledge transfer sessions.
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining compliance with contractual deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a proactive approach to continuous improvement.
• Comfortable operating within highly regulated and governance-driven environments.

Desirable Experience

• Experience working within complex operational technology, engineering, transportation, infrastructure or public sector programmes.
• Knowledge of information governance, configuration management and document lifecycle management best practice.
• Experience supporting customer audits, contractual verification exercises or regulatory compliance activities.
• Familiarity with programme governance frameworks, quality management systems and operational handover processes.