Director Global Trademark & Patents
About The Position
Reporting to the Deputy General Counsel, Assistant Secretary & Chief Compliance Officer, the Director, Global Trademarks & Patents, leads the company’s worldwide intellectual property portfolio, encompassing trademarks, patents, copyrights, trade secrets, and related assets. This executive is responsible for formulating and executing a comprehensive IP strategy that protects, enforces, and maximizes the value of the company’s innovations and brands, ensuring alignment with business objectives and regulatory requirements. Serving as a strategic advisor to senior leadership, the Director collaborates across functions to advance innovation, drive value creation, mitigate risk, and safeguard the company’s competitive position in the market.
Requirements
- In-depth knowledge of global IP, trademarks, and patent laws and regulations, especially as they relate to consumer products and processes.
- Ability to interpret and apply legal frameworks to complex business scenarios and develop innovative solutions to achieve organizational goals.
- Strong experience in defending IP claims, managing disputes, and providing risk management advice.
- Excellent oral and written communication, research, and analytical skills.
- Capacity to operate both autonomously and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary legal and business team environment.
- Juris Doctor (JD) and a USPTO bar registration required.
- Admitted to practice in Pennsylvania or ability to obtain a limited corporate counsel license in Pennsylvania
- Minimum 12 years of experience in intellectual property, trademarks, patents, and trade secrets, including in-house legal department experience (preferably at a consumer-packaged goods company) or relevant law firm experience.
Nice To Haves
- Some knowledge of food regulatory and compliance requirements preferred but not required.
Responsibilities
- Develop and implement strategic plans for the global IP portfolio, ensuring alignment with business goals and innovation priorities.
- Oversee trademark and patent management activities, including clearance, registration, enforcement, litigation, and anti-counterfeiting initiatives on a worldwide scale.
- Draft, review, and negotiate complex IP agreements such as technology transfer, licensing, joint development, and research collaborations, ensuring protection of company interests and compliance with legal standards.
- Advise and support cross-functional teams (e.g., R&D, marketing, product, licensing, engineering) with business-oriented IP guidance, including risk analysis and strategic counseling on innovation and commercialization.
- Lead and manage the IP legal team and external counsel/vendors, overseeing budget, resource allocation, and team development to ensure effective portfolio management and legal compliance.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
