Senior Director, Intellectual Property Counsel

Job description

**This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior Director, Intellectual Property Counsel based in the United States.** The Senior Director, Intellectual Property Counsel will shape and lead intellectual property strategy for an innovative biotechnology organization developing next-generation therapies in immunology. This senior, hands-on role is responsible for building and protecting global patent portfolios while safeguarding valuable scientific discoveries and trade secrets. Working closely with Research, Development, CMC, Clinical, and Business Development teams, you will translate complex scientific innovation into practical legal and commercial strategies. You will also advise senior leaders on intellectual property risks, portfolio priorities, partnerships, and long-term business objectives. The role combines strategic leadership with direct involvement in patent prosecution, risk assessment, transactions, and outside counsel management. It offers the opportunity to become the organization's principal intellectual property advisor, with potential to assume broader Chief Intellectual Property Counsel responsibilities as the business evolves. ### Accountabilities - Develop and execute global intellectual property strategies aligned with research priorities, development programs, pipeline needs, and corporate objectives. - Build, manage, and strengthen patent portfolios covering drug candidates, formulations, manufacturing processes, methods of use, and other innovations. - Oversee the drafting, review, filing, and prosecution of US and international patent applications. - Evaluate invention disclosures and work with scientific teams to identify patentable discoveries and establish appropriate filing strategies. - Identify, protect, and manage trade secrets, while supporting trademark clearance and protection for product brand names. - Conduct and oversee freedom-to-operate, patentability, validity, and infringement analyses, communicating findings and recommending practical approaches to address potential risks. - Support lifecycle and exclusivity planning, including patent term extension opportunities and coordination with Regulatory and other relevant functions. - Monitor competitor patent activity and emerging intellectual property developments relevant to the organization's programs. - Advise discovery, translational science, CMC, clinical development, and other internal teams on intellectual property matters, including inventorship, ownership, confidentiality, and disclosure risks. - Review proposed publications, presentations, and external disclosures to protect intellectual property while enabling appropriate scientific communication. - Educate internal stakeholders on intellectual property practices and encourage timely invention identification and disclosure. - Partner with Business Development and Legal teams on intellectual property matters related to licensing, research collaborations, co-development agreements, material transfer agreements, and other strategic transactions. - Conduct and support intellectual property due diligence for potential partnerships, licensing opportunities, and business development activities. - Draft, review, and negotiate intellectual property provisions covering ownership, prosecution, enforcement, and licensing rights. - Support intellectual property obligations and governance under existing collaboration and license agreements. - Select, direct, and oversee external patent counsel and intellectual property service providers globally. - Manage patent dockets, filing deadlines, annuities, portfolio records, budgets, forecasts, and outside counsel spending. - Recommend portfolio prioritization and resource allocation as programs and business needs evolve, ensuring legal strategy remains aligned with organizational objectives. ### Requirements: - J.D. from an accredited law school. - Active admission to at least one US state bar and registration to practice before the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). - At least 12 years of relevant patent law experience in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry. - Experience working at a leading intellectual property law firm and within an in-house biotechnology or pharmaceutical legal department. - Strong technical understanding of biological and pharmaceutical drug discovery and development, particularly biologics, antibodies, immunology, and inflammation. - Extensive hands-on experience drafting and prosecuting US and international patent applications and managing complex global patent portfolios. - Demonstrated experience conducting freedom-to-operate, patentability, validity, and infringement analyses. - Experience supporting intellectual property due diligence and negotiating intellectual property provisions in licensing and collaboration agreements. - Proven ability to oversee external counsel, manage budgets, and prioritize competing demands. - Strong communication skills, including the ability to explain complex legal and scientific matters clearly and provide actionable recommendations. - Sound independent judgment, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to build trusted relationships across scientific and business teams. - Experience with patent disputes, oppositions, or other post-grant proceedings. - In-house experience at an early-stage or rapidly growing biopharmaceutical company is preferred. - Experience supporting antibody therapeutics, combination therapies, or programs in immunology and inflammatory diseases is an advantage. - Demonstrated leadership capability and readiness to take increasing responsibility for company-wide intellectual property priorities and strategy. ### Benefits: - Salary: Expected annual base salary of $320,000–$336,000, depending on relevant knowledge, experience, education, and geographic location. - Performance-based bonus opportunities. - Equity grant opportunities. - Competitive health, welfare, and retirement benefits. - Unlimited paid time off. - Two company-wide shutdowns per year, each lasting one week. - Professional development opportunities. - Remote working environment, with frequent in-person meetings to address complex challenges and build relationships. - Opportunity to contribute broadly in a fast-paced, growing biotechnology organization and help shape its culture and intellectual property function.