IP Administrator, Paralegal

Sun Belle LLC

. Administer the company’s global portfolio of plant variety rights, plant breeders’ rights, patents, trademarks, domain names, and related intellectual property matters .

Posted 9/25/2026full-timeStellenbosch • South AfricaMid-LevelSeniorWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Administer the company’s global portfolio of plant variety rights, plant breeders’ rights, patents, trademarks, domain names, and related intellectual property matters
Maintain accurate intellectual property management system records, including applications, registrations, ownership, status, deadlines, official documents, correspondence, and supporting evidence
Monitor filing, prosecution, renewal, maintenance, opposition, response, and statutory deadlines
Coordinate filings, applications, recordals, renewals, assignments, and ownership or address changes with external counsel and intellectual property agents
Verify filing instructions, applicant and breeder information, priority details, specifications, denominations, goods and services, specimens, powers of attorney, declarations, and supporting documents
Track testing, examination, novelty, priority, denomination, DUS, deposit, and commercialization information for proprietary varieties
Support office-action, examination-report, information-request, objection, and other prosecution responses under counsel direction
Maintain variety parentage, breeder and applicant details, commercialization dates, ownership documentation, assignments, and territorial protection records
Support trademark clearance, application, prosecution, registration, renewal, recordal, and maintenance activities
Collect trademark specimens and evidence of use; monitor renewal and declaration-of-use requirements
Assist with trademark watches, oppositions, office actions, coexistence matters, brand-use questions, and online or marketplace enforcement
Maintain trademark schedules and ownership records for licenses, agreements, audits, enforcement, and reporting
Provide regional administrative support to the department
Prepare schedules, chain-of-title records, powers of attorney, assignments, declarations, authorizations, and legalization or notarization packages
Conduct preliminary legal and factual research and prepare matter summaries, chronologies, portfolio reports, and status updates
Support intellectual property due diligence, audits, acquisitions, divestitures, licensing transactions, disputes, and enforcement matters
Assist with document holds, evidence preservation, investigation files, oppositions, cancellations, infringement actions, and other proceedings
Review external counsel and agent invoices and maintain cost and budget records
Coordinate courier services for intellectual property documents and maintain confidentiality and tracking records
Manage hardcopy files of signed documents and ensure records are complete, current, and accessible

Requirements

What you’ll need

Diploma in law, paralegal qualification or certificate, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
At least three years of experience in legal administration or paralegal work, in a similar environment
Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office and document-management tools
Experience preparing reports and working with structured portfolio data
Experience with plant variety rights, plant breeders’ rights, plant patents, utility patents, trademarks, or agricultural intellectual property preferred
Experience working with stakeholders in the Department of Agriculture preferred
Ability to manage a high volume of time-sensitive matters accurately and independently
Strong attention to detail and disciplined follow-through
Ability to work additional hours when required

Benefits

Comp & perks

Hybrid work schedule
Initially in-office 4 days per week for the first 3 to 4 months, then 2 days per week in office
Typical working hours of 8am–5pm
Opportunity to work with a global leader in premium fresh fruit variety breeding, development, and licensing