Sun IP delivers IP management services to law firms and corporates worldwide, including foreign filing, translations, renewals, and IPMS and IP administration services. We work through a general network of local agents, translation agencies, and linguists, and have translated over one billion words. Position Overview Reporting to the COO, this role will lead and build out a new department with two goals: a vendor network that delivers the right quality at the right cost and works to Sun IP processes, and accurate, consistent country rules for every service we deliver, above all deadlines and official fees. The role leads an existing team and will hire as the department grows. Key Responsibilities

Cost: Benchmark vendor cost and performance using data and AI-assisted analysis, run RFPs, and consolidate work with high-performing vendors to increase buying power Quality: Score vendors regularly on quality, price, and responsiveness, drive corrective action, and offboard vendors who fall short Vetting: Set qualification standards for each vendor type: prosecution expertise for filing agents, subject-matter and language expertise for translators, and payment and deadline controls for renewal agents Process conformance: Define service standards for each service line and hold every vendor to them Negotiation and relationships: Negotiate agreements, rates, and terms, and build long-term partnerships with key vendors Onboarding: Run one onboarding process for all vendors, covering agreements, platform training, and vendor records Own the rules for every country and service line,



and serve as the company’s authoritative source, resolving conflicting guidance from agents Keep one consistent, verified rules record per country: deadlines and official fees first, then formalities and documentation requirements Hold vendors to SLAs for advance notice of rule and fee changes, monitor official sources, and communicate changes to teams and clients before they take effect Extend these rules into prosecution lifecycle docketing rules for our IPMS platform, working with Product and Engineering on the rules engine Lead and develop the existing team, and build out the department’s structure and hiring plan as it grows Drive adoption of AI and automation across the department’s workflows

Qualifications

6+ years of hands-on IP operations experience, such as a senior paralegal, formalities or docketing specialist, or operations lead, including 3+ years leading teams Practical experience with foreign filing, PCT national phase entries and EP validations, and/or renewals across multiple jurisdictions Proven experience selecting, negotiating with, and managing foreign IP agents; linguistic vendor experience a plus Strong command of country-level deadlines and official fees Experience with docketing rules or IP management systems strongly preferred Exposure to AI tools in operations, and openness to using AI day to day, preferred Strong negotiator and communicator, comfortable working remotely across time zones This is a hands-on operations role; a law degree is not required

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📌 Senior Manager, Vendor Network & Jurisdictional Rules (Madrid)
🏢 Sun IP
📍 Madrid