Executive Director, Assistant General Counsel, Intellectual Property, (IP)

Corporate       ·      Sacramento, California; United States     ·       Full time

• Multiple Locations: Sacramento, California; United States
•  Categories: Corporate
•  Req ID: 10406

Job Description

Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ: JAZZ) is a global biopharmaceutical company whose purpose is to innovate to transform the lives of patients and their families. We are dedicated to developing life-changing medicines for people with serious diseases – often with limited or no therapeutic options. We have a diverse portfolio of marketed medicines and novel product candidates, from early- to late-stage development, in neuroscience and oncology. We actively explore new options for patients including novel compounds, small molecules and biologics, and through cannabinoid science and innovative delivery technologies. Jazz is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland and has employees around the globe, serving patients in nearly 75 countries. For more information, please visit www.jazzpharmaceuticals.com and follow @JazzPharma on Twitter.

Overview

The Executive Director, Assistant General Counsel, Intellectual Property (IP) will be a key leader within the Jazz Global IP Function. Reporting directly to the VP of IP, the successful candidate will work to develop and implement global IP strategies for our products, product candidates and/or platform technologies and will serve as a key advisor to cross functional teams on a variety of IP related matters. The Executive Director, Assistant GC, IP will build effective relationships with relevant stakeholders at all levels of the global organization and across all phases of research, drug development & commercialization to provide clear, strategic business-enabling IP advice.  This position will supervise those team members responsible for day-to-day management and protection of our IP assets, particularly within the neuroscience area.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Responsible for developing and executing IP strategies for those assets primarily within the neuroscience area; Directly and indirectly supervise those IP team members supporting programs and projects within the neuroscience area.
• Build effective partnerships with relevant stakeholders at all levels of the global organization and across all phases of research, drug development & commercialization to provide clear, strategic business-enabling IP advice. 
• Identify opportunities to strengthen the company’s IP portfolio through engagement with project teams and collaboration partners and leveraging a deep understanding of patent law and the competitive landscape across the portfolio.
• Design & deliver impactful global IP portfolios from invention capture to patent issuance for individual programs and products.
• Strategically manage worldwide IP portfolios for both in-licensed and internally developed IP to maximize value and utility of IP assets, as assigned.
• Provide high level, independent IP support to Corporate Development on strategic collaborations and licensing agreements including conducting robust IP due diligence, preparing resulting analyses and providing meaningful input into relevant portions of transactional documents and negotiations.
• Render freedom-to-operate, infringement, validity analyses, risk evaluation, and mitigation strategies for individual programs, technologies, and tools.
• Effectively manage outside counsel in worldwide prosecution of patent applications, conducting IP assessments and other legal opinions and risk assessments.
• Counsel internal clients, including other members of the Legal Department and senior management, on intellectual property risks and opportunities in patentability, freedom-to-operate, infringement, validity, and regulatory exclusivity analyses.
• Educate and advise senior management & Jazz personnel on important IP issues and advance IP/patent awareness.
• Review publications, presentations, press releases and other materials for clearance.
• Advise on adversarial proceedings involving our products, product candidates, and platform technologies, including IP disputes, litigation, IPRs, PGRs and European/foreign Oppositions and similar matters.
• Actively lead and participate in department initiatives, identifying opportunities to enhance effectiveness of IP department practice and operations.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Fully qualified US or European Patent Attorney with 12+ years relevant IP experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, with significant in-house or combined in-house and law firm experience
• Undergraduate degree in biological science, biochemistry, chemistry, or other field relevant to pharmaceuticals, life sciences or biotechnology; Advanced degree preferred.
• Experience in managing IP practitioners and staff.
• Significant experience in IP due diligence and licensing and collaboration agreements.
• Experience in adversarial and administrative proceedings is a plus.
• Ability to work in dynamic, fast-paced team environment, flexible and responsive self-starter with the ability to act independently as well as collaboratively across the business.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with experience presenting and concisely communicating complex information to all levels of an organization.
• Approach IP creation and protection with a strategic mindset by anticipating internal and/or external business challenges, competitive and legal risks and opportunities and offering creative solutions.
• Ability to manage outside counsel and other external resources for quality work product, value, and efficiency.
• Practical problem solver with ability to facilitate and contribute to collaborative decision-making processes and work effectively on cross-functional teams.
• Strong prioritization skills and ability to effectively manage a diverse workload
• Embraces and fosters a culture that reflects a strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and community
• Experience with protection of botanical products and processes is a plus.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.

Please click here to apply.