IP Counsel

Broad Institute

$120K — $150K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Registered US patent attorney.
  • 5+ years in U.S. and international biotechnology patent prosecution, including application drafting and client management.
  • Ph.D. or equivalent in life sciences preferred, but experience can substitute.
  • Strong chemistry background is desirable, particularly in IP areas such as biochemistry and immunology.
  • Experience in licensing negotiations for life science technologies beneficial.

Responsibilities

  • Manage the Broad Institute's intellectual property portfolio, focusing on small molecule therapeutics.
  • Identify discoveries for patent protection through regular communication with scientists.
  • Evaluate the patentability of scientific discoveries and ensure alignment with strategic goals.
  • Oversee the patenting process for joint inventions and liaise with partner institutions' tech transfer offices.
  • Manage outside counsel and ensure their work aligns with institutional strategy.
  • Advise on IP matters and oversee the selection of external legal experts as needed.
  • Support negotiations of licensing and collaboration agreements with business development teams.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
  • 401(k) retirement plan with options.
  • Flexible spending and health savings accounts available.
  • At least 13 paid holidays per year, along with winter closure.
  • Paid time off and parental/family care leave.
  • Access to an employee assistance program.
Full Job Description
The legal function within the Office of Strategic Alliances and Partnering is critical to accelerating and expanding the translation of our institution's emerging knowledge and novel discoveries through strategic partnering, licensing, and new ventures. The Broad Institute's break-through innovations include novel therapeutics, biomarkers, diagnostics, drug development technologies, and analysis tools. Our research spans a wide array of disease states with significant unmet needs, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, infectious diseases, inflammation and autoimmune disorders, metabolic diseases, neglected diseases, orphan diseases, and psychiatric diseases.

The Intellectual Property team is active in establishing meaningful partnerships ranging from Broad Institute-based research and technology collaborations to joint drug development programs, technology licensing, and sponsored research opportunities.

Responsibilities:
Manage the Broad Institute's intellectual property ("IP") portfolio:
  • Identifying scientific and technical discoveries for potential patent protection through regular communications with scientists. The initial portfolio will be weighted toward small molecule therapeutics.
  • Evaluating scientific and novel aspects of discoveries for patentability, protection with other intellectual property including trademarks, and commercial applications.
  • Ensuring IP strategy conforms with overall strategic goals and supports the achievement of institutional goals.
  • Managing the patenting process for inventions generated from multi-disciplinary research jointly owned by partner institutions, and effectively communicating with their tech transfer offices.
  • Managing outside counsel and supervising all work products to ensure compliance with institutional strategy and risk tolerance.
  • Advising on IP matters, directing legal work, and overseeing the selection and engagement of outside legal experts when needed.
  • In partnership with business development and legal transactions groups, supporting negotiations of license, option, sponsored research, and collaboration agreements.
  • Supporting Alliance Managers in managing partnerships.
  • Providing guidance and education for the institutional community regarding intellectual property matters, including advising and responding to community questions/issues.
  • Interacting closely with scientific staff, including principal investigators, postdoctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students, and others.
  • Handling other projects or duties as requested or required.


Minimum Qualifications:
  • Registered US patent attorney.
  • Minimum five (5) or more years of experience as an attorney practicing U.S. and international biotechnology patent prosecution. This includes formal prosecution training, first-hand drafting of patent applications and Office actions, correspondence with the USPTO, and direct responsibility for client management.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Ph.D. or P.Eng. in the life sciences is desirable, but not required, based on years of experience.
  • Strong chemistry background is desirable. Potential IP areas include: biochemistry, biophysics, cellular/chemical biology, genomics, immunology, microbiology, molecular/systems biology, pharmacology, neuroscience, organic chemistry, synthetic biology, and biomedical/chemical engineering.
  • Experience in licensing and supporting licensing negotiations of life science technologies is beneficial.
  • Academic or pharma/biotech industry life science research experience is preferred.

Competencies:
  • Outstanding written and oral communication skills and the ability to quickly communicate complex issues clearly and succinctly.
  • Strong organizational skills, including careful attention to detail and ability to handle and prioritize multiple assignments and maintain strict deadlines through effective time management.
  • Experience in client service, capable of interacting with and providing guidance to a wide range of people, including faculty, students, venture capitalists, attorneys, IP professionals, industry executives, and staff at all levels, in a fast-paced and challenging environment.
  • Entrepreneurial, proactive, collaborative, self-starter, and highly independent.
  • A passion for science and its application to improve public health.

The Broad will not provide sponsorship for this position.

The expected base pay range for this position as listed above is based on a 40 hour per week schedule. Broad provides pay ranges representing its reasonable and good faith estimate of what the organization reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of posting. Actual compensation will vary based on factors including but not limited to, relevant skills, experience, education, qualifications, and other factors permissible by law.

At Broad, your base pay is just one part of a comprehensive total rewards package. From day one, this role offers a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance; a 401(k) retirement plan; flexible spending and health savings accounts; at least 13 paid holidays; winter closure; paid time off; parental and family care leave; and an employee assistance program, among other Broad benefits.

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