Job Description

Position Summary:

The Chief Enforcement Director, IP Protection & Security will report to the Senior Vice President & General Counsel and will have at least 10 years of experience in intellectual property enforcement and will be proficient in intellectual property policy matters, cybersecurity policy issues, personnel management, and budgeting. The ideal candidate will possess some combination of private sector, trade association, practice, in-house and/or government and/or /NGO experience. Because this role requires outreach to internal and external stakeholders, strong interpersonal skills are paramount for any successful candidate.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Manage Overall IP Protection & Security Program

• Identify and establish global IP protection and security priorities on a year-to-year basis in coordination with ESA members.
• Develop budgets and action plans for programs and initiatives aimed at achieving IP protection and security goals; manage all program-related expenditures.
• Provide regular reports and updates to the ESA Senior Vice President & General Counsel on the progress of the program.

Manage Member Company Communication and Feedback

• Ensure effective communication between the ESA and its members concerning the development and execution of IP protection and security initiatives.
• Schedule and convene weekly working group calls with member companies to discuss and seek feedback on IP protection initiatives; prepare agendas and briefing materials, as needed.
• Convene in-person, member-company meetings, including arranging for venue and logistics for such meetings and preparing agendas and meeting materials; prepare and distribute meeting minutes and action items, as needed.

Manage ESA’s Foreign Enforcement Programs

• Manage operation of foreign enforcement efforts, including overseeing retention, management, and evaluation of vendors and law firms.
• Prepare and distribute reports to member companies on progress of foreign enforcement program activities.

Manage Online and Other Enforcement Programs

• Manage online monitoring and enforcement programs, whether performed by ESA staff or outside vendors.
• Negotiate and manage services contracts with vendors; conduct periodic evaluations of services provided by vendors.
• Review IP enforcement-focused legal work performed by ESA staff and outside counsel.
• Oversee law enforcement training activities.
• Prepare and support law enforcement referrals to state and federal authorities for cases involving substantial illegal activity.
• Coordinate and/or participate in multi-stakeholder enforcement initiatives.

Manage Cybersecurity Program

• Manage ESA’s Information Sharing and Analysis Center for the video game industry, including by overseeing general governance issues, the organization and convening of meetings and the recruitment of new members.
• Obtain and implement legal advice for information-sharing practices, including antitrust, organizational governance, and engagement with vendors and outside counsel, as needed.
• Provide internal advice to ESA on cybersecurity policies and practices.
• Lead ESA member company discussions on cybersecurity issues.
• Represent ESA in multi-stakeholder cybersecurity initiatives.

Policy Management

• Work with ESA member companies to identify policy priorities and objectives pertaining to IP enforcement and cybersecurity issues.
• Track key legislation and policy initiatives pertaining to IP enforcement and cybersecurity matters; advise ESA member companies on related policy and enforcement developments.
• Coordinate with ESA legal staff and government relations team to identify opportunities to engage with key policymakers on strategic priorities.
• Pursue policy objectives by meeting with legislators, regulators, and their staff members; filing comments on proposed rules.
• Develop and maintain relationships with other industry groups to facilitate collaboration on issues of common concerns.

Staff Management

• Supervise and manage work of six to seven staff members.
• Provide guidance and direction to IP Protection & Security staff on specific matters as well as on overall career development opportunities.
• Conduct formal review of staff on an annual basis.

General Responsibilities

• Provide written submissions and updates on the IP Protection & Security program for reports to the ESA Board and the ESA Annual Report.
• Attend and represent ESA at meetings with law enforcement officials.
• Participate in briefings for ESA’s lobbying consultants and with Congressional staff.
• Work with communications team on responses to press requests on IP enforcement and cybersecurity matters.
• Attend and represent ESA in multi-stakeholder meetings related to IP enforcement and cybersecurity matters.
• Manage outside counsel on a variety of IP enforcement and cybersecurity matters.

Skills & Abilities

Required :

• Excellent communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated leadership skills.
• A proactive, collaborative work ethic.
• Strong networking and relationship-building skills.
• Experience investigating illegal activities that take place online.
• Working knowledge of the legal remedies that can be used to combat online intellectual property infringement.
• Negotiation, conflict resolution, and project management experience.
• Personnel management and budgeting experience.

Preferred :

• Enthusiasm regarding the intersection between technology and entertainment law, with a specific interest in the video game industry.
• Participation in and/or leading multi-stakeholder coalitions.
• Working knowledge of the legal issues and/or external pressures that influence corporate decision making.

Minimum Education and Experience

• 10+ years of intellectual property enforcement experience.
• Ideal candidate will possess a postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degree desirable, but not required.
• Ideal candidate will possess some combination of private sector, trade association, government and/or NGO experience. 

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