ABOUT THE ROLE  

We are seeking a Senior Intellectual Property/Legal Advisor to join our team on a full‑time or part-time basis (24 – 40 hours per week) supporting researcher‑led inventions and helping guide ideas from academic discovery to real‑world impact. 

The Intellectual Property Senior/Legal Advisor is a trusted member of the Wellington UniVentures team, responsible for assisting stakeholders in identifying and managing their Intellectual Property (IP). The role works with the Wellington UniVentures IP/Legal Team to provide sound advice on IP protection for researcher-led inventions and identify any related risks. This role involves a combination of legal expertise, technical knowledge, and strategic thinking and helps navigate researchers and commercial managers through the process of managing IP across a range of complex University commercialisation projects. The role will work closely with all people across the Wellington UniVentures team, external academic stakeholders across the University faculties and research institutes, and legal experts within IP law firms.

Key responsibilities:

• Commercialisation and Advisory Support   

  • Providing advice, education and training to academics, Wellington UniVentures  team, and start-ups.   

  • Contributing to the development of business cases, IP Strategies and IP planning.   

  • Contributing to commercialisation projects around IP with the Commercialisation Managers.   

  • Assisting with applications to secure pre-seed funding and research grant applications. 

  • Supporting the delivery of contracts, including providing sound legal advice on IP related risks and obligations in commercial and licensing agreements.   

  Management of broader IP activities: 

  • Assisting with deadline management including prosecution and renewal deadlines for patents, trademarks and designs.    

  • Assisting and coordinating IP novelty searching, analysis, and assessment of the IP landscape to inform strategy and decision‑making.  

  • Providing IP strategy advice and contributing to strategic IP planning and portfolio management.  

  • Managing relationships with external IP counsel, patent attorneys, and IP teams at academic collaborator institutions.  

  • Facilitating and managing IP filings for patents, designs, and trademarks, including formalities, prosecution, renewals, and portfolio oversight.  

  • Preparing and managing IP documentation, including deeds of assignment and ownership transfers.  

  • Generating reports and preparing schedules for key stakeholders.  

  • Managing IP‑related invoicing, including costs from external counsel and recharging to licensees and start‑ups.  

  • Management of Foundation IP docketing system including system administration, updating deadlines, assisting with prior art management. 

ABOUT YOU

• Proven Australasian IP experience and technical background or expertise in a specific field such as mechanical engineering, engineering, computer science or physical sciences

• Experience in patent prosecution or managing patent prosecution including drafting patent applications and responding to office actions is highly desirable

• Qualification as a registered Trans-Tasman Patent Attorney or equivalent overseas experience is highly desirable

• Strong analytical, writing, and communication skills

• Demonstrated experience working within a team, where everyone contributes equally

• Demonstrated experience in a role that requires a high level of attention to detail

• Exceptional time management and organisational skills, with the ability to work under tight timeframes and busy workloads

• Demonstrated ability to maintain effective relationships with stakeholders, both internally and externally

• Demonstrated ability to use technology to work effectively and efficiently, e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook, IP systems such as Foundation IP

• Ability to manage effective relationships with external consultants and contractors

ABOUT US

Wellington UniVentures is a subsidiary company of Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington and is responsible for creating new for-profit and social enterprises from University research. Wellington UniVentures works with University innovators to shape their research into initiatives that create impact by connecting them with partners, industry and investors to enable the growth and development of their idea or invention.

Applications Close: 12.00pm Wednesday 4th November 2026. 

We will assess applications on an ongoing basis and may close the recruitment process early should a suitable candidate be identified. 

Should you require additional information, please contact [email protected]