Supervisor, Trademark

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP is one of Canada’s leading business law firms. Advising many of Canada’s corporate leaders, as well as U.S. and international parties with extensive interest in Canada, our more than 1,000 firm members are based in offices in Toronto, Montréal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary and New York. Osler prides itself on attracting and maintaining some of the brightest talent in the legal field. Our lawyers, students, management and staff have created a unique firm culture which nurtures mentoring and the exchange of ideas. Osler is a dynamic and exciting place to begin a career or carve out a new path. We care about our staff and the working environment here proves it. We are currently recruiting a Supervisor, Trademarks, to join our Intellectual Property Department. The successful candidate will supervise the administrative Trademark Prosecution staff in the Intellectual Property Department in multiple locations and support the Trademark practitioners as required. Acts as a hands-on supervisor, with responsibility for direct task execution to support business needs. This role may be situated in either our Ottawa or Toronto office. Major Responsibilities Supervises the day-to-day operations of the Trademark Prosecution group, overseeing recruitment, training, performance management and providing ongoing guidance to ensure operational excellence Primary point of contact for Trademark Legal Practitioners and staff as it relates to training, best practices for workflow, troubleshooting system or process errors, bandwidth limitations and/or coverage to meet the business needs of our clients Completes regular checks/audits of database maintenance, and operational audits as necessary Prepares and maintains best practice training material required for Trademark staff Primary contact for preparation of client facing status reports run from our Inprotech system Organizes and leads regular meetings with team to discuss new procedures, process changes, technology changes, training needs and support Actively monitors volume of work, provides guidance and suggested solutions to Legal Practitioners and staff to ensuring that client service needs are met Fully knowledgeable in all tasks performed by staff in the group, and able to perform the tasks as necessary to support business needs Assists with onboarding of new Trademark staff members, including training of necessary software, and prosecution overview which is specific to Trademarks Coordinates backup coverage for vacation coverage, including approval process Creates and fosters a collaborative positive working relationship with the team which includes mentorship and continual growth mindset Ability to identify, communicate and provide suggestions to anticipate and adapt to changing operational needs as they relate to technology, training, staffing, and rule changes Performs other responsibilities as required to accommodate business needs Position Requirements Education and Experience College Diploma plus a minimum of five years related Canadian Trademark experience in a leading intellectual property law firm. Prior supervisory experience in a law firm or professional services organization would be an asset. An equivalent combination of education, training and experience will be considered. Knowledge and Skills Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy with numbers and text Computer knowledge including proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook) Knowledge of Inprotech software (or similar IP software such as: Anaqua, PATTSY, PATRICIA) Knowledge of Clarivate trademark search platforms (SAEGIS and SERION) Ability to identify, document and articulate workflow changes to streamline existing processes, and convey business need as necessary Strong organizational skills High social intelligence and ability to motivate and foster a positive team environment Ability to take initiative, work independently, and solve difficult problems Strong knowledge of Trademark prosecution practices in Canada, and the United States and knowledge of other foreign Trademark prosecution would be an asset We are currently working in a hybrid work arrangement, which includes a requirement to work primarily in the office and flexibility to work remotely up to 2 days per week. Accessibility and Accommodation We thank all applicants for their interest in Osler; however, only chosen applicants will be contacted. Osler is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, and we welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities and people with diverse backgrounds, identities, and cultures. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates in all phases of the selection process. Background and Reference Checks Please note that any offer of employment will be conditional upon background and reference checks, including a criminal record check, credit check, and employment and educational verifications. If you have the required background with the ability to prove exceptional customer service and wish to work in one of Canada’s leading law firms, please reply in confidence with a cover letter and résumé by the closing date. No agencies or phone calls/emails please.