IP Operations Director

At S&W, we help our clients thrive by simplifying the complex, illuminating new paths, and shaping solutions that make a difference. As one of the UK’s top 10 fastest-growing accountancy firms, we have been a trusted partner since 1881—helping businesses and individuals meet challenges and seize opportunities across generations.

Built on expertise and driven by ambition, we provide a comprehensive range of services, including tax and accountancy, advisory and assurance, corporate finance, and restructuring. We are defined by our purpose—to help navigate challenges, unlock potential, and achieve the extraordinary.

S&W acquired ClearViewIP in September 2025 to complement the existing advisory services that S&W currently offers its clients including corporate finance, valuations, transaction services and forensic services, along with business tax, audit, consulting and business outsourcing services. 

The ClearViewIP team comprises experienced IP professionals, with decades of experience in managing, protecting and commercialising innovation and ensuring best practice IP approaches are deployed to help clients win in the market.

The IP Operations Director will grow, lead and manage the nascent India based IP research team. This team will be focused on delivering high-quality intellectual property research and analysis services that drive client success and business growth. This role is responsible for overseeing the delivery of advanced IP research solutions – including Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) analyses, licensing & commercialization support, technology & patent landscapes, and competitive intelligence – while ensuring operational excellence and innovation. The Director will leverage their deep operational & research expertise to optimize service delivery and enhance the firm’s offerings. Acting as a strategic partner to the client teams, the Operations Director will foster long-term relationships with the global team and clients, identify new business opportunities with their internal client teams, and contribute to demonstrable revenue growth through exceptional leadership and the delivery of client-focused solutions.

AI is at the forefront of this team and it’s essential that the leader and their team have an AI first mindset. Experience in using and assisting the internal development of AI/ML tools and emerging technologies, including Large Language Models (LLMs), to improve efficiency, consistency & quality are an essential requirement.

This demanding role will allow exposure to a wide variety of global clients, sectors and types of work, which will be highly rewarding to an individual who enjoys working on diverse projects and the dynamic of working as part of a rapidly growing global team.This is a player manager role & the Director is expected to also be billable on client work, like their entire team.

Key Responsibilities

Client Service/Client Work

•Provide excellent client service at all times and ensure that the customer experience is a priority across your team and that services provided are in line with the group’s Conduct Risk framework.

•Strive to achieve the Exceptional Advisor competencies and status.

•Manage client relationships.

•Ensure efficient, high quality pro-active and timely execution of advice and services for your clients.

•Ensure your clients’ requirements are serviced by you and members of your team of appropriate seniority, experience and technical ability and with the capacity to do the work to the highest standard.

•Act for your clients in a professional manner that provides a role model for your team and department.

• Globally collaborative and actively working with a partnership mindset with the global S&W and ClearViewIP teams.
• Living & actively promoting a “one team” mindset ensuring global integration & partnering across all teams & internal stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel globally and support global client needs (on the client time zone) as required.

Resource Management:

• Oversee your teams resource allocation, including staffing, WIP, and project management

• Collaborate with global project leaders to ensure effective utilisation of resources across ClearViewIP

• Implement and ensure compliance across your team of the S&W systems for tracking and reporting key performance indicators

• Identify the need for additional resources and lead recruitment initiatives as required.

Growing the business

•Promote and build ClearViewIP reputation internally and externally.

•Promote cross-selling within ClearViewIP and the wider S&W group.

•Build and cultivate relationships with clients and potential clients of the group.

•Identify and pursue key targets in partnership with the client teams within S&W and ClearViewIP.

•AI first mindset. You and your team will need to deploy AI and RPA extensively

• Ensure compliance and usage of the AI workbench across your team and support with further developments & deployments.

Quality control, compliance and risk management

•Ensure compliance with the group’s internal procedures so as not to expose the group to unacceptable levels of risk.

•Ensure compliance with the group’s compliance manual and relevant operating procedures and manuals for your business line.

•Maintain personal technical competence.

•Report complaints and potential PI issues for your team/direct reports in line with the group’s complaints procedures.

Financial Management

•Monitor and manage chargeable hours, utilisation, recoveries, WIP, billing and lock up for you and your team, ensuring where possible lock up is kept to a minimum and clients are billed regularly.

•Monitor and manage time recording for you and your direct reports and ensure prompt submission of time sheets.

•Hold regular financial performance reviews with your direct reports in respect of your client portfolio.

•Inform the HoD promptly of all WIP and bad debt provisions or any other material issues affecting the financial performance of the department.

•Ensure compliance with the Delegated Authority Limits and any other relevant policies in respect of WIP and debtor management.

Staff Management & Development

•Act as an effective leader in accordance with the Exceptional Leader profile and competencies and working collaboratively with the global research & operations team.

•Responsible for the day to day management of direct reports.

•Conduct annual development reviews (ADRs) for your direct reports.

•Act as mentor and help to develop talent in line with the talent programme.

•Ensure that your own high standards of technical and professional competence are maintained and are developed for other members of your team/direct reports.

•Ensure that you help to develop strong management and leadership skills in your direct reports.

•Ensure your direct reports are developed in accordance with their ADRs and talent development plans.

•In conjunction with your HoD, manage, counsel and develop your direct reports with a view to maximising their work potential (in terms of their skills, knowledge and experience, management style and client

Financial Job Dimensions

A director should be responsible for a client portfolio of at least £500,000 per annum.

A director would be expected to keep tight control of debtors and demonstrate a commercial approach in connection with outstanding fees.

 

In Addition to the above, the following tasks will be required to support the efficient running of the India operations;

Company Operations Responsibilities:

Operational Leadership:

• Develop and implement operational strategies aligned with the company's business goals

• Lead and mentor the operations team to support business processes effectively

Process Improvement:

• Identify opportunities for process optimisation and look to implement best practices with AI where appropriate

• Streamline workflows to enhance productivity and quality of service delivery with RPA & AI where appropriate

• Monitor and assess operational performance metrics

IT & 3rd Party Tools

• Oversee and manage the company’s tool usage relationships and contracts with 3rd party tools providers

• Manage the ongoing integration of 3rd party tools and datasets into internal data workflows working with the AI & Product Director

Strategic Planning:

• Work closely with the leadership team to contribute to the development and execution of the company's business plan and strategy.

 

Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• 15+ Years of IP Industry Experience

Extensive background in intellectual property consulting, with over 15 years of expertise in delivering strategic IP solutions across diverse sectors.

• Client-Facing Leadership

Skilled in managing high-value client relationships, acting as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders and decision-makers.

• Long-Term Relationship Management

Proven ability to cultivate and maintain enduring partnerships with internal teams & clients, ensuring sustained engagement and repeat business.

• Business Development & Growth

Demonstrated success in identifying opportunities, expanding service offerings, and driving revenue growth through strategic business development initiatives.

• Expertise in IP Research & Services

Deep experience in delivering comprehensive IP research services, including Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) analyses, prior art searches, invalidity searches, claim charting, patent landscapes, competitive intelligence, and portfolio assessments.
• Advanced Knowledge of AI/ML in IP

Extensive understanding and hands-on experience of AI and machine learning applications for patent analytics and analyses, enabling optimization of service delivery and development of innovative IP solutions.
• Familiarity with Large Language Models (LLMs)

Hands-on experience with multiple LLM platforms (e.g., Claude and ChatGPT-based systems), leveraging them for enhanced patent information processing and client deliverables.
• Proven Track Record in Business Building

History of successfully establishing new service lines, expanding client portfolios, and positioning the organization as a leader in IP consulting.
• Demonstrable Revenue Growth

Consistent achievement of measurable revenue increases through strategic planning, operational excellence, and client-centric approaches.
• Experience of International working

Understanding of working as part of a global team and working with international clients. Willingness to travel & work on clients time zones as required.

Key Competencies

Customer focus –core to your role is to provide an excellent service to clients.

Judgement – the firm relies on your judgement in the services supplied to clients. This has to be delivered as per the client’s needs, technically excellent, commercial and on time.

Technical expertise – strong technical leadership and maintaining your technical competence is critical to ensuring clients receive an excellent service.

Networking – you are skilled at developing and growing relationships in the wider market and leveraging these to create opportunities for the business.

Communication – you communicate both verbally and in writing in an engaging and purposeful manner.

Leadership – you will help drive and lead a culture of continuous development, be able to identify future talent and act as mentor and sponsor.

 

Professional Qualifications and Education

•Educated to degree level or equivalent.

•Excellent English both speaking & written

•A relevant qualification (such as qualifications in IP) is desirable, although not essential.