Director, Intellectual Property

Amylyx Pharmaceuticals • Cambridge, MA

9h • $245,000 - $276,000 • Remote

About The Position

The Director, Intellectual Property, will be a key member of Amylyx’s growing IP function and support development of the company’s IP portfolio. Reporting to the Vice President, Head of Intellectual Property, this role will develop and execute strategies to build durable IP protections for the company’s molecules and programs. The ideal candidate has core expertise in patent enforcement for therapeutics and end-to-end patent experience, from early R&D portfolio building through post-approval dispute resolution with generics. The role also advises on trademark and IP-related contractual matters and offers a patent-focused candidate the opportunity to grow into an IP generalist role.

Amylyx supports remote work within the United States, subject to restrictions based on health insurance coverage and state tax regulations; the company is not currently considering applicants residing or working in Alaska or Hawaii. The role requires travel to the company’s Cambridge, Massachusetts corporate location several times a year, along with attendance at other company events as needed. The employee must have a remote work setting that supports privacy, reliable internet and phone access, and video conferencing.

Requirements

• At least 10 years of overall experience, ideally including at least 7 years of demonstrated patent-matters experience in the pharmaceutical and/or biotech industries and at least 5 years of law firm experience.
• J.D. degree; membership in good standing of at least one state bar; and registration to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
• An advanced degree, such as an M.S. or Ph.D., or equivalent industry experience in chemistry, biochemistry, biology, or another life-science-related discipline.
• Significant demonstrated patent experience in pharmaceutical or biotech therapeutics, such as small molecules, peptides, oligonucleotides, proteins, and/or biologic therapeutics.
• Experience supporting or managing Hatch-Waxman patent litigation, litigation-readiness efforts, and/or inter partes reviews (IPRs).
• Experience advising on regulatory exclusivities, such as new-chemical entity, orphan drug, and pediatric exclusivity, as well as patent term extensions.
• Experience conducting patentability, freedom-to-operate, due diligence, and validity assessments.
• Global patent prosecution experience, including drafting patent applications and handling day-to-day prosecution tasks.
• Ability to provide solution-focused, fit-for-purpose guidance on complex matters, drive initiatives and cross-functional alignment, and influence the organization.

Nice To Haves

• Ph.D. in a life-science-related discipline.
• Experience structuring, drafting, and negotiating IP-related contract terms, such as in license, collaboration, R&D, manufacturing, and/or clinical development contracts.
• Patent experience on both the brand and generic sides of therapeutics.
• Trademark prosecution experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic patent portfolio development and litigation readiness strategies for assigned clinical and pipeline molecules.
• Support efforts to obtain regulatory exclusivities, such as pediatric and orphan drug exclusivity.
• Perform IP assessments, including business-development diligence, freedom-to-operate, patentability, validity, and competitive intelligence assessments.
• Monitor IP case law and policy developments, advise on their impact, and develop best practices or risk-mitigation strategies.
• Support transactions by drafting and directly negotiating IP-related contract terms, including in license, collaboration, manufacturing, clinical development, and R&D agreements; advise stakeholders on post-execution impact and compliance.
• Manage day-to-day patent prosecution for assigned clinical and pipeline molecules, including drafting applications and managing U.S. and ex-U.S. outside counsel.
• Monitor R&D, clinical, and manufacturing activities to identify potential IP protection opportunities; review proposed publications, presentations, and other public releases for alignment with patent strategy.
• Manage the global trademark portfolio through outside counsel and perform clearance assessments as needed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree