Intellectual Property Controller at Springer Nature Group

Key Responsibilities

• As an Intellectual Property Controller, you will support our publishing teams by managing key compliance processes, researching third‑party rights, and helping safeguard the integrity of our content. You’ll work across plagiarism checks, permissions clearance, risk assessment, and record‑keeping, contributing to high‑quality educational materials used across Southern Africa.

Key responsibilities include: 

• IP Rights Management: Conduct plagiarism checks, manage third‑party content workflows, complete risk assessments, and communicate recommendations.
• Permissions Project Management: Assess materials for rights requirements, set up and maintain project folders, and engage with copyright holders for clearance. 
• Collaboration & Communication: Support publishers with copyright guidance and negotiate effectively with external rights holders. 
• Administrative Support: Track and archive IP documentation, oversee invoicing, and help improve internal processes.
• Reporting & Records: Maintain contract records, generate permissions reports, and analyse trends to support strategic decisions.

Requirements:

Qualification

• Undergraduate degree in arts or social sciences subjects (e.g. English, history, linguistics and philosophy), Publishing, or a related field 
• Project management training or qualification advantageous 

Experience

• At least 1 year working experience, ideally in publishing, editorial/permissions, library studies, or research/administrative roles 
• Project management experience with the ability to prioritise tasks and manage multiple projects 
• Strong technical skills, particularly MS Office (Outlook, Excel, Word) 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills 
• Detail-oriented, organised, and able to meet deadlines 
• Analytical and problem-solving skills 
• Self-motivated, proactive, and strategic thinking 
• Able to work effectively in a hybrid environment