Intellectual Property Administrator (Part-time Contract, Flexible Hours)

At 2U, we are all in on purpose. We are motivated by our mission – to eliminate the back row in education – and connected by our shared passion to deliver world-class digital education at scale. As the parent company of edX, the world’s leading online learning platform, 2U powers more than 4,000 online higher education offerings – from free courses to full degrees. Together with more than 230 colleges, universities, and corporate partners, we are helping to unlock human potential.

What We’re Looking For:

The Intellectual Property Administrator is (inter alia) responsible for evaluating the legal basis of third-party content that has been included in GetSmarter’s course materials, with a primary focus on maintenance, iteration and support of asset clearance on pre-existing courses. This role supports the Intellectual Property Operations Manager with the copyright asset clearance process and, where required, determines whether licenses may be required for third party content. The IP Administrator is further tasked with supporting iterative IP maintenance work on internal resources (e.g. assistance with annual updates to copyright notices, maintaining Restricted/Permissible links database), and assisting with the administration of DMCA takedown requests and associated resource updates for partners. 

This role is positioned as an initial IP point of contact for production teams and vendors, and serves a support and maintenance function within the IP team.

Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To:

Support the Copyright Asset Clearance Process 

• Evaluate and determine the legal basis of third-party assets utilized in course material and, where necessary, generate copyright permission requests to copyright holders and maintain a record of these. 
• Track and record assessment outcomes in 2U’s collection of Master Asset Trackers (etc.), and communicate restrictions and limitations with 2U teams and vendors where necessary. 
• Where necessary, identify copyright holders and liaise with publishers, authors and proprietors of third party content regarding copyright permissions and licenses.
• Escalate required licensing to IP Operations Manager to negotiate, onboard, operationalize and integrate new licenses into the license management portfolio and its associated tech resources.
• Follow up on outstanding permissions issues and requests and, where necessary, work with 2U teams and vendors (e.g. LearningMate) to remove unlicensed or prohibited content from course material.
• Support the maintenance, upkeep and functioning of 2U’s asset tracking resources, assisting to fix issues and addressing general tracking queries - escalating to the IP Operations Manager where needed.

Supporting with Intellectual Property Maintenance Tasks 

• Support annual audit and update of GetSmarter’s collection of digital copyright notices, in collaboration with production teams and vendors. 
• Where needed, support work associated with IP offboarding/repurposing of existing courses, e.g. course cancellations, EE-OC conversions or partnership dissolutions. 
• Support management of licensor content repositories (e.g. SMR), liaising and working with publishers and production teams and vendors to resolve general procurement issues, in collaboration with the IP Operations Manager.

Functioning as a Copyright Liaison for the 2U Production Teams and Vendors 

• Support in addressing ad-hoc IP queries received from production teams and vendors, escalating to IP Operations Manager wherever appropriate.

Role Development and Growth Within the IP Team 

• Continued future professional development:
• Enroll & complete HarvardX CopyrightX course to enhance base-level knowledge and understanding of IP and digital copyright in particular - offered through the University of Cape Town.
• Enroll & complete Advanced Intellectual Property Management (DL450E) course through the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
• Enroll & complete Advanced Copyright for Business course through Copyright Clearance Center (CCC). 
• Become familiar with broader license Management modalities, functioning and logic (e.g. CCC digital licensing + HBSP course pack workflow), and support where needed.
• Develop an entry-level understanding of how 2U’s license management resources are integrated with Tableau for the purposes of managing the licensing portfolio, and visualizing the financial outflows associated therewith. 
• Gain general understanding of tech workflow associated with maintenance and support of the IP team’s systems and tech resources (e.g. JIRA ticketing workflow, logging IP’s data support tasks).

Things That Should Be In Your Background:

• Currently enrolled and working towards completion of an LLB (Bachelor of Laws) (or completed), specializing in Intellectual Property law majors is favourable. 
• Conscientiousness.
• Attention to detail.
• Great interpretive skills.
• Great communicator.
• Ability to work with a diverse array of people and personalities.
• Ability to work independently, under frequent and irregular deadlines.
• Fast and continued learner.

Benefits & Culture

Our global employee base is a diverse collection of innovators, dreamers, and doers working together to transform lives through higher education. We believe that every employee can advance our shared purpose, and that life at 2U should be fun and meaningful. If you’re excited by the opportunity to provide over 40 million learners and counting with access to world-class online higher education, then join us – and do work that makes a difference. #NoBackRow

We offer comprehensive benefits (unique per country) and excellent work/life balance.
Full-time, ZA benefits include: 

• 2 complimentary Getsmarter short courses per year
• Subsidised medical aid with Discovery Health Medical Scheme
• 4% 2U contribution towards Discovery Life Pension Fund and Group Risk Benefit
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Generous leave policy including time off to volunteer for non-profit organization, study leave, sports leave and a company-wide festive season break

2U Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At 2U, we are committed to building and sustaining a culture of belonging, respect, and inclusion. We are proud of the steps we’ve taken to bring together an employee base that embodies diverse walks of life, ideas, genders, ages, races, cultures, sexual orientations, abilities and other unique qualities. We strive to offer a workplace where every employee feels empowered by what makes us different, as well as by how we are alike. 

2U is committed to providing reasonable accommodations during our recruitment process. If you need assistance or accommodations, please reach out to us at: recruitingaccommodations@2u.com. 

About 2U

For more than a decade, 2U has been the digital transformation partner of choice to great non-profit colleges and universities delivering high-quality online education at scale. As the parent company of edX, a leading global online learning platform, 2U provides over 45 million learners with access to world-class education in partnership with more than 230 colleges, universities, and corporations. Our people and technology are powering more than 4,000 digital education offerings — from free courses to full degrees — and helping unlock human potential. To learn more: visit 2U.com.

About edX

edX is the education movement for restless learners and a leading global online learning platform from 2U. Together with the majority of the world’s top-ranked universities and industry-leading companies, we bring our community of over 45 million learners world-class education to support them at every stage of their lives and careers, from free courses to full degrees. And we're not stopping there — we're relentlessly pursuing our vision of a world where every learner can access education to unlock their potential, without the barriers of cost or location. Learn more at edX.org.

Learn more at https://2u.com/careers/
#NoBackRow

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this position, and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

2U is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against applicants or employees and ensures equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of their race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, age, marital status, disability, citizenship, military or veterans’ status, or any other classifications protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. 2U’s equal opportunity policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruiting, hiring, training, promotion, job benefits and pay. 

2U is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from South African citizens who are members of designated groups who may contribute to Employment Equity within the workplace and the further diversification of ideas. In this regard, the relevant laws and principles associated with Employment Equity will be considered when appointing potential candidates. We are required by law to verify your ability to work lawfully in South Africa. 2U requires that you submit a copy of either your identity document or your passport and any applicable work permit if you are a foreign national, along with an updated curriculum vitae.