Our client is seeking a Director of Intellectual Property with extensive experience in biotech/pharma. The successful individual in this role will be responsible for managing intellectual property matters critical to the Company's success.This role provides counsel to senior management; develops and implements patent portfolio strategies; coordinates outside IP counsel; gathers IP competitive intelligence; and coordinates IP due diligence in support of business transactions. The successful candidate will have significant depth of experience in diverse aspects of patent law practice, high technical competency in the life sciences, and will be adept at serving as a trusted business partner.
Reports to: Executive Vice President, Research and Development
Location: Seattle, WA or Vancouver, BC (hybrid work environment)
Key Responsibilities:Patent strategy and portfolio management- Responsible for the Company's global patent strategy across all product candidates and platform technologies, aligning filing decisions with commercial and regulatory exclusivity objectives.
- Lead Company strategies to identify, evaluate and prioritize inventions arising from clinical programs, R&D, CMC, formulation, and device development.Drive the process of protecting these inventions through patent applications, or through implementation of the appropriate trade secret protection mechanisms.
- Direct outside counsel in drafting, filing and prosecuting - worldwide applications (provisional, PCT, national phase).Manage the patent lifecycle, including continuations, divisionals, patent term adjustment/extension, and Orange Book (or equivalent) listing decisions.
- Maintain the IP asset register and portfolio maps by molecule, indication, formulation, method of use and manufacturing process; and mapped against expected commercial life.
Freedom-to-operate and competitive intelligence- Perform initial exploratory freedom-to-operate analyses for Eupraxia's development programs and to support potential licensing transactions
- As required on a case-by-case basis, coordinate with external counsel formal freedom-to-operate analyses for Eupraxia's programs or for licensing transactions
- Monitor the competitor and third-party patent landscape and developing IP law, and brief R&D and executive leadership on developments affecting program risk or opportunity.
Transactions and cross-functional support- Support Business Development and Finance in performing due diligence for potential financing, licensing, collaboration, and sponsored research agreements
- Support Legal, Business Development and External Counsel during negotiation of IP terms for licensing, collaboration, sponsored research, material transfer, CDA/NDA, and manufacturing/supply agreements,
- Partner with regulatory affairs and external counsel on the interplay between patent strategy and regulatory exclusivities (NCE/data, orphan drug, patent term extension) across FDA, Health Canada, and EMA, and partner with investor relations on IP-related disclosure.
Trade secrets, enforcement, and risk management- Review and maintain trade secret protection, confidentiality, and invention assignment practices across employees, consultants, and CROs/CMOs.
- Assess and manage inventorship, ownership, and freedom-to-operate risk arising from collaborations, academic license-ins, and contract research/manufacturing relationships.
- Support the Executive Team and external counsel in coordinating opposition, re-examination, IPR, and litigation strategy
- Maintain the trademark portfolio for corporate and product brands.
Governance, budget, and team leadership- Own the IP budget and manage a network of outside patent firms across key jurisdictions for cost-effective, high-quality execution.
- Report portfolio status, key risks, and strategic recommendations to the executive team on a regular cadence.
- Maintain IP-related policies (inventorship, publication review, conflict of interest), train scientific staff on invention capture and confidentiality, and support special projects and legal research as needed
- Participate in special projects and legal research as needed.
Requirements- BS/MS/PhD in life sciences - biology, chemistry, biochemistry, or another technical degree relevant to biotechnology (advanced degree preferred).
- 8+ years of intellectual property/patent law experience, including at least 5 years in biotech, pharma, or life sciences.
- Detailed understanding of U.S. and foreign patent prosecution, including preparing and filing applications with the USPTO and internationally, preparing substantive responses to office actions, and managing domestic and international portfolios.
- Experience supporting Business Development and Legal reviewing agreements with business partners and service providers.
- Understanding of the healthcare ecosystem, including regulatory landscapes, reimbursement environments, and therapeutic areas such as GI, immunology, and specialty therapeutics.
- Proven ability to influence leadership teams while operating in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented, heavily regulated environment, with strong collaborative and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication, planning, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally
- Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, SharePoint, and PowerPoint.
Additional attributes- Highly motivated self-starter with strong initiative in identifying operational improvements.
- Proactive problem-solver who works effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Salary Range: $199,000 - $256,000 annually
Compensation range reflects base pay only. A bonus will be available based on performance. The Company also offers a competitive benefits package.
