IP Legal Specialist

About the role

Founded in 1920, Eastman is a global specialty materials company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With the purpose of enhancing the quality of life in a material way, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. The company employs approximately 13,000 people around the world and serves customers in more than 100 countries.

Help protect the ideas and technologies that shape Eastman’s future. As an IP Legal Specialist, you will support Eastman’s global patent portfolio by coordinating filings, managing critical deadlines, maintaining accurate portfolio information, and improving IP processes. This role is ideal for a detail-oriented problem solver who takes ownership, enjoys learning, and thrives in a collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Support patent filings: prepare and maintain U.S. and international patent applications and related documents.
• Manage deadlines: monitor docketed tasks, filing requirements, and follow-up activities.
• Ensure accuracy: review documents, filing data, fees, and records before and after submission.
• Maintain portfolio information: keep Anaqua records, electronic files, and prosecution histories current and complete.
• Coordinate across teams: work with internal teams, outside counsel, service providers, and patent offices to move matters forward.
• Solve problems and improve processes: identify issues, manage priorities, escalate appropriately, and support more efficient ways of working.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience managing detailed, deadline-driven work.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and Teams.
• Strong communication, proofreading, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to learn specialized legal and filing systems, manage multiple priorities, and meet critical deadlines.
• Ability to handle confidential information and work independently and collaboratively.
• Eastman will not accept applicants who require visa sponsorship, including those whose status is F-1 visa OPT who subsequently would require ongoing visa sponsorship.

Qualifications

• Associate degree, paralegal certificate, vocational training, or comparable relevant experience.
• Experience supporting U.S. or international patent prosecution.
• Experience with IP management or legal docketing software.
• Familiarity with USPTO Patent Center or other government electronic filing systems.
• Experience proofreading complex legal documents, maintaining accurate records, and managing critical deadlines.

Skills

• Attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Curiosity and willingness to learn.
• Ownership, sound judgment, and follow-through.
• Adaptability and a collaborative, service-oriented approach.

Benefits

Your total rewards go far beyond a competitive salary. When you join Eastman, you gain access to an exceptional suite of programs designed to protect your health, grow your wealth, and fuel your career.

• Compensation & Incentives: Base pay plus performance-based incentive opportunities that let you share in our success.
• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, prescription-drug, and dental coverage—paired with a Health Savings Account option to help you save tax-free dollars for care today or in the future. A robust menu of voluntary benefits—including vision, optional life, critical-illness protection, and more—so you can tailor coverage to fit your life. Holistic wellness support: financial-planning tools, family-building assistance (adoption, pregnancy, and fertility resources), parental leave, and confidential Employee Assistance Program counseling.
• Retirement & Financial Strategies: 401(k) with a company match—plus an additional annual retirement contribution from Eastman to accelerate your long-term savings.
• Time Away: Eleven paid holidays, one personal day, paid time off, and paid vacation to recharge, celebrate, or handle life’s moments.
• Growth & Development: Access to mentorship, learning resources, and leadership programs that empower you to thrive in your current role and chart the next steps in your career.