Senior Patent Agent

Work Location Type : Hybrid

Req Number 324829

About Grainger

W.W. Grainger, Inc., is a leading broad line distributor with operations primarily in North America, Japan and the United Kingdom. At Grainger, We Keep the World Working® by serving more than 4.5 million customers worldwide with products and solutions delivered through innovative technology and deep customer relationships. Known for its commitment to service and award-winning culture, the Company had 2024 revenue of $17.2 billion across its two business models. In the High-Touch Solutions segment, Grainger offers approximately 2 million maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products and services, including technical support and inventory management. In the Endless Assortment segment, Zoro.com offers customers access to more than 14 million products, and MonotaRO.com offers more than 24 million products. For more information, visit www.grainger.com.

Compensation

The anticipated base pay compensation range for this position is $101,300.00 to $168,900.00.

Rewards and Benefits

With benefits starting on day one, our programs provide choice and flexibility to meet team members' individual needs, including :

Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans with coverage starting on day one of employment and 6 free sessions each year with a licensed therapist to support your emotional wellbeing.

18 paid time off (PTO) days annually for full-time employees (accrual prorated based on employment start date) and 6 company holidays per year.

6% company contribution to a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan each pay period, no employee contribution required.

Employee discounts, tuition reimbursement, student loan refinancing and free access to financial counseling, education, and tools.

Maternity support programs, nursing benefits, and up to 14 weeks paid leave for birth parents and up to 4 weeks paid leave for non-birth parents.

For additional information and details regarding Grainger’s benefits, please click on the link below :

The pay range provided above is not a guarantee of compensation. The range reflects the potential base pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual base pay compensation will depend, in part, on factors such as geographic work location and relevant experience and skills.

The anticipated compensation range described above is subject to change and the compensation ultimately paid may be higher or lower than the range described above.

Grainger reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion at any time, consistent with applicable law.

Position Details

The Patent Agent reports to the Associate General Counsel, GTG & Endless Assortment, and supports Grainger's intellectual property portfolio. This role is responsible for patent harvesting, reviewing the patent landscape, and analyzing intellectual property to support innovation and business strategy. The Patent Agent serves as a liaison between legal and Grainger's business teams to identify, evaluate, and manage patent-related opportunities and risks. Candidates with prior experience as USPTO Patent Examiners are strongly encouraged to apply. This position is located at either our Lake Forest, IL HQ or downtown Chicago office 3 days per week.

You Will

Conduct patent mining activities to identify invention disclosures and innovation opportunities within Grainger’s business units.

Conduct prior art database searches for patentability and freedom to operate analyses and competitive intelligence purposes.

Collaborate with inventors, engineers, and business stakeholders to assess patentability, strengthen Grainger’s IP portfolio, and align IP strategy with business goals.

Manage and maintain the patent portfolio, ensuring all deadlines are met. Protect and maintain any highly sensitive, confidential, privileged, financial, and / or proprietary information

Coordinate with affiliated legal resources (including outside counsel and in-house IP Paralegal) to grow internal patent knowledge. Support training and awareness initiatives to enhance innovation and patent culture across the company.

Maintain organized records of invention disclosures, prior art, and competitor patent activity.

Monitor and analyze patent trends in key technology areas relevant to Grainger’s business.

Assist with the preparation of reports and presentations to leadership regarding IP strategy, portfolio status, and competitor activity.

You Have

Bachelor's Degree science, engineering, or related field required

Master's Degree science, engineering, or related field preferred

3+ years patent analysis, patent research, or intellectual property support required

Experience as a USPTO Patent Examiner, Patent Agent, or equivalent IP role preferred.

Registered US patent agent or be eligible to sit for the USPTO required

Strong analytical and research skills, with proficiency in patent databases and IP management tools.

Ability to synthesize complex technical and legal information into clear, actionable insights.

Excellent organization, facilitation, and project management skills.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively partner with legal, technical, and business teams.

Familiarity with USPTO, EPO, and other global patent systems and procedures.

Experience working in a corporate IP or R&D environment preferred.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible work environment that includes both providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the application and hiring process as well as throughout the course of one’s employment, should you need a reasonable accommodation during the application and selection process, including, but not limited to use of our website, any part of the application, interview or hiring process, please advise us so that we can provide appropriate assistance.

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