PRODUCT MANAGER, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (IPMS)

UC OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

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Department Overview

The University of California's Digital Innovation & Technology (UC DigIT) department powers the digital ecosystem that supports UC's academic, research, and administrative mission. As the systemwide digital engine, UC DigIT transforms complex enterprise systems, infrastructure, and security services into inclusive and human-centered solutions designed to meet challenges at UC scale.

Position Summary

The IT Product Manager, Intellectual Property (IP), is responsible for the business relationships, product strategy and technology roadmap for systemwide intellectual property management system (IPMS). This role collaborates closely with UCOP ITE, Location Tech Transfer Offices, and UCOP DIT stakeholders to ensure business needs are met while driving innovation, automation, and operational efficiency. The Product Manager leads roadmap development based on Wellspring Evolve product road map, identifies functional business requirements, and collaborates with cross-functional teams to enhance IP operations and IPMS services. The IT Product Manager reports to the Director of Product, Project, and Service Management and provides leadership to the Business Systems Analysts (BSAs), guiding priorities and outcomes, while empowering the team to build strong relationships across business and IT domains.

Key Responsibilities

25% Product Strategy & Roadmap: Define and maintain the technology strategy and roadmap for intellectual property management systems including Wellspring Evolve. Align system capabilities with business goals, compliance requirements, and industry best practices. Collaborate with UCOP ITE, Location Tech Transfer Offices and UCOP DIT to drive continuous process improvements and automation.

25% Stakeholder Engagement: Act as a liaison between Tech Transfer Offices and Wellspring Saas supplier, and DIT teams to prioritize initiatives based on business impact, operational efficiency, and compliance needs. Advocate for IPMS users and administrators, ensuring seamless user experiences and optimal system performance. Work closely with IT architects and developers to define solution designs. Collaborate with campus locations, systemwide IP offices to ensure alignment with UC system-wide IP policies.

20% Leadership & Business Analysis: Direct the business analysts to gather and document functional business requirements and align solution delivery with product and business objectives. Facilitate cross-functional collaboration to gather input, resolve conflicts, and build consensus on product direction and priorities. Manage business analysts and work closely with business leaders and IT professionals to develop technical requirements, anticipate service needs, streamline/automate processes, assess service quality, and improve service offerings.

10% Change & Vendor Management: Work closely with business leaders and IT professionals to deliver effective change management efforts, including stakeholder training and communication. Ensure milestones and deliverables are met by coordinating with internal and external teams. Work with third-party vendors and suppliers to implement best-in-class solutions.

10% IPMS Support: Define and maintain roadmap for the ongoing maintenance, enhancements, and support of intellectual property management systems including Wellspring Evolve. Provide support to engineering teams for troubleshooting data discrepancies. Ensure compliance with UC system-wide IP policies and regulations. Identify opportunities to automate IP processes.

10% Documentation & Reporting: Maintain product documentation, user guides, and business process workflows for IPMS. Generate reports on system performance, adoption, and user feedback. Provide periodic updates to executive leadership on budget system enhancements and financial technology initiatives.

Experience

Required Qualifications

• Min 8 years of relevant experience, inclusive of at least 5 years of experience as a product manager, senior business analyst, program manager, or similar role focused on enterprise software products.

Skills and Abilities

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience providing product management leadership for enterprise software products or platforms, particularly systems of record used by professional service teams such as legal, compliance, finance, or R&D organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to work closely with cross-functional stakeholders including legal, business, and technical teams to identify user needs, translate them into product requirements, and prioritize work that delivers measurable business value.
• Experience managing product backlogs and roadmaps, defining product requirements, and partnering with engineering teams to deliver enhancements and capabilities in an agile or iterative development environment.
• Experience working with products that manage sensitive or regulated data, with an understanding of security, privacy, governance, and auditability considerations in enterprise systems.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with demonstrated experience communicating effectively with senior executives.
• Demonstrated experience as a people manager, including direct supervision of staff, performance management, and day-to-day operational oversight.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as product manager for solutions which include enterprise systems such as Wellspring Evolve a Saas application.
• Experience working in higher education or large enterprise environments.
• Experience supporting or managing intellectual property management platforms (e.g., patent, trademark, or IP portfolio management systems).
• Familiarity with intellectual property lifecycle processes, including patent or trademark filings, portfolio management, licensing, maintenance activities, or collaboration with legal and R&D teams involved in innovation management.

Education

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in IT, business administration or a related field

Licenses and Certifications

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Product Manager (CPM) or SAFe Agile Product Manager (APM)
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Change Management Certification

Job Title Product Development Professional 4

Job Code 000620

Salary Grade Grade 25

Payscale: $160,000 - $185,000