Introducing our Operations team! See our vacancies
The team
With 18 staff members the Operations team is a large team at BOIP. Let’s also say straightaway that it is a unique team as well. You get to help shape the future of an entrepreneur or a creation. You are also the first to know when a new brand or product is coming on to the market. To point things in the right direction, you first undergo training internally to learn the ins and outs of trademark and design laws. You learn from experienced colleagues who have a great deal of expertise. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Read on!
Work
What does the Operations department (known as OPS internally) do? In short, this department is responsible for the core tasks at BOIP, which includes processing Benelux trademark and design applications, examining those applications against statutory requirements and processing amendments to those trademarks and designs.
Alongside that work though everyone also has their own individual set of duties. That might be processing opposition and cancellation procedures, or trademark applications for St. Maarten and the BES islands. Depending on your interests, your education or your background, you take on (just one or several of) these sub-tasks.
There is also other work, such as responding to reactions after provisional refusal decisions have been issued. That is a quite a practical challenge, as the legal aspects of intellectual property really come into their own.
Further, the department is also responsible for many of the applications our customers use, and you can actively contribute to projects that are aimed at their improvement.
Contact with customers is also an important part of your work. Your soft skills will be put to good use here. You are in contact with customers who are fighting for the value of their business and the validity of their trademark. Someone's business is often their life, and you have to have respect when you are dealing with that. It’s a good challenge!
The department
The Operations department is divided into different sub-teams: the cancellation team, the opposition team and the statements of defence team. Everyone is part of one of these specific teams.
A team meeting is held every Thursday morning. At this meeting everyone is brought up to speed on current matters and, if necessary, you take on tasks from other colleagues who have a too heavy workload.
BOIP as a 'Great Place to Work’
You have probably already read it somewhere: BOIP is a 'Great Place to Work’. If you would like to hear what our Operations department thinks, the first thing they say is that the working conditions are good, and the number of holiday is great. You can also ask for your days off relatively short in advance. That gives a big sense of freedom.
In addition, you get a lot of opportunity for self-development and you can join projects you feel you will enjoy. You can also progress internally to another department. Did you know you also have French lessons with us? We feel it is important for you to also speak this language. Alongside that you can continue your personal development in IP and other areas, for example by following the weekly webinars from the EUIPO – the European Union Intellectual Property Office.
A typical working day
Let’s take Wednesday as an example of a regular working day. On Wednesday mornings we have a really nice meeting: the CoL (Committee of Lawyers). Trademark applications which have given rise to questions are discussed here with the legal staff colleagues. For example, for this meeting you yourself provided a trademark application that you are unsure about. You process the feedback from the CoL after the meeting and then you pick up your other tasks again.
In the meantime, you can enjoy a fresh and delicious lunch in the canteen. After lunch you check the trademark applications, or you start writing a statement of defence. Perhaps you are still involved in an interesting project group and you have another meeting about it scheduled for today. You divide up your own tasks for the remainder of the afternoon. You have a good view on your targets and you make sure you are going to meet them this week.
MC OK!
Finally, we have a nice quote from the department for you: MC OK! MC OK? Yes! It means the trademarks committee has given its approval after a trademark application has been examined on absolute grounds. So, if you are coming to work with us you’ll be seeing that more often! Sounds really (MC) OK, right?