Job Description
Position Scope and Key Responsibilities:
Genentech’s Intellectual Property team is seeking a leader whose passion lies in creating and leveraging game-changing IP strategies that enable Roche & Genentech to do now what patients need next. As a senior business strategist, this individual will be pushing the boundaries of what is possible in a highly competitive industry while leading, empowering and developing great attorneys and staff across a dynamic and diverse global organization. This position reports directly to the Senior Director and Associate General Counsel, Ophthalmology, Neuroscience, Immunology & Infectious Disease (“OMNI”) IP Practice Group Lead in the Genentech Legal Department and will be located in our South San Francisco campus.
Key Responsibilities include:
● Driving strategic IP procurement and management of global intellectual property rights including drafting & prosecuting patent portfolios, licensing transactions, due diligence assessments, freedom-to-operate, infringement and validity analyses, and risk evaluation & mitigation strategies.
● Leading on behalf of the Genentech IP Legal team in intellectual property-related transactions, adverse proceedings, and litigation activities.
● Partnering effectively with stakeholders at all levels of the global organization and across all phases of research, drug development & commercialization to provide business enabling strategy and counseling.
● Managing and growing a small team of attorneys/agents directly and in a matrixed environment, including performance and talent management, coaching and mentoring.
● Successfully leading and modeling change in substantive practice and operational model to create value and effectively manage risk.
● Sustainably building enduring, productive external relationships with outside counsel and third party collaborators and partners.
● Engaged, inclusive, and creative leadership as a member of the OMNI practice area group and of the extended Genentech IP Leadership Team.
The successful candidate has a growth mindset, enjoys work in a fast-paced, diverse & global organization, and is energized by the complexity and challenges of bringing great medicines to patients. This candidate excels at growing people, fostering teamwork, fostering diverse and inclusive environments, and thinking outside the box.
Specific responsibilities include:
● Leading and directly managing a small team of patent attorneys and agents in the design and delivery of global IP portfolios; assessing, communicating and mitigating risk; identifying new IP opportunities and strategic approaches by leveraging knowledge of industry & legal trends, the competitive landscape, as well as the Genentech product, R&D portfolio, and disease area strategies. Focused areas are neuroscience and ophthalmology-related indications.
● Providing input, guidance, and hands-on work on complex legal issues, prosecution strategies, complicated transactions, and some direct management of patent portfolio and counseling for R&D candidates and products in the areas of neuroscience and ophthalmology.
● Assuring appropriate attorney/agent staffing, effort and cross-team/function communication at all times and on all matters within the OMNI remit.
● Building effective relationships by communicating and collaborating enthusiastically across time zones and cultures.
● Maintaining and sharing deep expertise and knowledge on legal case law, rules or regulations before the US Patent & Trademark Office as well as other relevant jurisdictional IP offices.
● Developing and deploying strategies, processes, operating standards and/or practices to ensure highest quality practices and execution for all aspects of IP portfolios in a high performing, agile team setting.
● Leading and/or participating in Group, Department, and cross-functional projects and initiatives that impact the people and/or practices of the IP team.
● Exhibiting a “can do” attitude in anticipating and proactively resolving issues and conflicts, streamlining processes, and reducing redundancies and/or inefficiencies in operating models and systems.
● Fostering an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued and encouraged in our operational functions and strategies, as well as our team culture.
● Acting as a role model across the team and Genentech/Roche organization in effective communication, poise under pressure, a solution oriented mindset, collaboration across local and global teams, on-campus presence with IP/Legal and business stakeholders, tackling new challenges with curiosity, effectively utilizing available resources, and a willingness to listen and learn from others.
● Assuring that Genentech remains a great place to practice game-changing IP law, have fun, and make a difference for patients,
Job Requirements:
● Demonstrated experience and track record of success in:
○ Building and leveraging global IP portfolios;
○ Developing and implementing global IP strategies or initiatives, both substantive and operational;
○ Experience in IP transactions and due diligences;
○ Experience in adverse proceedings including but not limited to US litigation, USPTO adverse proceedings, and/or EPO adverse proceedings;
○ Experience in gene therapy, cell therapy, and RNA therapeutics is a plus;
○ Experience in leading teams or managing people is a plus.
● 8+ years of experience in pharma intellectual property portfolio creation, strategy, and counseling.
● Prior experience in a pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, or biotechnology corporation is required.
● An advanced degree in the biological or chemical sciences, or other area relevant to pharmaceutical IP practice. A Ph.D. is a plus.
● A United States law degree (JD) with a current “good standing” admission to at least one US state bar.
● Admission to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Who We Are
Genentech, a member of the Roche group and founder of the biotechnology industry, is dedicated to pursuing groundbreaking science to discover and develop medicines for people with serious and life-threatening diseases. To solve the world's most complex health challenges, we ask bigger questions that challenge our industry and the boundaries of science to transform society. Our transformational discoveries include the first targeted antibody for cancer and the first medicine for primary progressive multiple sclerosis.
Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) are critical to the success of our company and our impact on society. We believe that by championing diversity of background, thought and experience, we can foster a sense of belonging and provide an environment where every employee feels valued, included, and able to contribute their best for the patients we serve. We’re focused on attracting, retaining, developing and advancing our people to their full potential by rewarding bold ways of thinking and integrating inclusive behaviors into every aspect of our work.
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Genentech is an equal opportunity employer & prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin/ancestry, age, disability, marital & veteran status. For more information about equal employment opportunity, visit our Genentech Careers page.