Intellectual Property Patent Technical Leader

Kimberly-Clark • Neenah, WI

4d • Onsite

About The Position

You were made to do this work: exploring uncharted questions, engineering innovative solutions, advancing scientific understanding, and constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. You want to be part of a performance culture dedicated to solving real-world problems with purpose and precision. You want to work in an environment that promotes sustainability, inclusion, wellbeing, and career development. In this role, you’ll help us shape the future and improve lives for billions of people around the world. It starts with YOU. In this role, you will: Drive the corporation's intellectual property strategy across Global Personal Care (with focus on Baby and Child Care Research and Development) to inspire where the organization needs to evolve - Ensure all key projects/programs have active IA strategies and guide the team(s) on protection plans. Work effectively with global inventors to strengthen Kimberly-Clark patent estates, helping to identify what should be added or adjusted within invention disclosure submissions to obtain the best and broadest protection possible. Assess differentiation between invention disclosures and prior art, the technical merits of inventions, and level of fit with the technology and business strategy, to drive recommendations regarding disposition of invention disclosure submissions. Proactively identify opportunities for new patents and IP protection. Identify and monitor Kimberly-Clark and competitor patent portfolios to understand competitive technology investment and to identify and help close gaps in Kimberly-Clark patent portfolio related to Kimberly-Clark technology investment. Drive an inventive culture and mindset – Establish standard metrics for Kimberly-Clark globally and keep leadership abreast of key work through quarterly updates. Strategize with the R&D teams on how to define inventions to enable the broadest protection for the business. Share best practices broadly within IA and R&D community for continued progress. Develop a culture of understanding and importance around IA and establish formal and informal processes for recognition of IA achievements. Maintain a working knowledge of Kimberly-Clark products, manufacturing processes, Kimberly-Clark patent estate, and competitive patent estates. Interact with a Globally Diverse team – Work directly with attorneys, subject matter experts, global R&E team members and business leaders to make and implement intellectual asset decisions. Facilitate patent filings, patent estate maintenance decisions, foreign filing decisions, competitive patent reviews, publication and trade secret processes. Foster Partnerships – Be the primary R&E contact with the legal team ensuring all timelines are met for proper decision making. Work with peers from other functions to drive standardization and alignment to ownership of broader Kimberly-Clark initiatives. Provide technical guidance to the Intellectual Property Patent Facilitator role on the team for growth/development. Drive Big Innovations – Manage prioritization and execution of IA development with the most strategic FEI programs. Influence learning plans when needed to create data needed to support invention disclosures and stronger patent applications. Foresee barriers to IP procurement and maintenance and to develop strategies to overcome those hurdles. Influence Business Strategies – Leverage IA related insights to influence action and project decisions with brand teams. Support competitive assessments by connecting trends with patents, trademarks, etc. with product and other publicly available information. Support Third Party Agreements – Maintain a working knowledge of contracts with IA obligations or impacts. Ensure third party agreements are considered early with IA strategies to maximize Kimberly-Clark’s position and prevent inadvertent public disclosures.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree or preferably an advanced degree in a technical discipline (e.g. Chemical, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering).
• 7+ years of global patent experience, IA/IP law, IA/IP management or related experience.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of IA/IP law, and an IA/IP management system (i.e. ANAQUA) and external Patent & Trademark Office processes for protection of Kimberly-Clark inventions.
• Demonstrated competence in searching and analyzing patent art with ability to effectively summarize and draw conclusions from large amounts of patent data.
• Experience with ideation processes which lead to invention disclosures.
• Competency and experience in understanding the issues and aspects associated with developing and obtaining patents and enabling inventors to create intellectual property.
• Strong collaboration, decisiveness, and communication skills required to interact effectively and independently with all levels of the enterprise and across the globe.
• Model Kimberly-Clark’s leadership behaviors and the ability to influence without direct authority.
• Global patent experience.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with ANAQUA IA/IP Management System.
• Familiarity with Personal Care related products, processes and materials including experience with intellectual assets for FDA regulated medical devices.
• Working knowledge of the Kimberly-Clark Personal Care Global organizational structure as it relates to managing IA decisions.
• Advanced education with Patent Law.

Responsibilities

• Drive the corporation's intellectual property strategy across Global Personal Care (with focus on Baby and Child Care Research and Development) to inspire where the organization needs to evolve - Ensure all key projects/programs have active IA strategies and guide the team(s) on protection plans.
• Work effectively with global inventors to strengthen Kimberly-Clark patent estates, helping to identify what should be added or adjusted within invention disclosure submissions to obtain the best and broadest protection possible.
• Assess differentiation between invention disclosures and prior art, the technical merits of inventions, and level of fit with the technology and business strategy, to drive recommendations regarding disposition of invention disclosure submissions.
• Proactively identify opportunities for new patents and IP protection.
• Identify and monitor Kimberly-Clark and competitor patent portfolios to understand competitive technology investment and to identify and help close gaps in Kimberly-Clark patent portfolio related to Kimberly-Clark technology investment.
• Drive an inventive culture and mindset – Establish standard metrics for Kimberly-Clark globally and keep leadership abreast of key work through quarterly updates.
• Strategize with the R&D teams on how to define inventions to enable the broadest protection for the business.
• Share best practices broadly within IA and R&D community for continued progress.
• Develop a culture of understanding and importance around IA and establish formal and informal processes for recognition of IA achievements.
• Maintain a working knowledge of Kimberly-Clark products, manufacturing processes, Kimberly-Clark patent estate, and competitive patent estates.
• Interact with a Globally Diverse team – Work directly with attorneys, subject matter experts, global R&E team members and business leaders to make and implement intellectual asset decisions.
• Facilitate patent filings, patent estate maintenance decisions, foreign filing decisions, competitive patent reviews, publication and trade secret processes.
• Foster Partnerships – Be the primary R&E contact with the legal team ensuring all timelines are met for proper decision making.
• Work with peers from other functions to drive standardization and alignment to ownership of broader Kimberly-Clark initiatives.
• Provide technical guidance to the Intellectual Property Patent Facilitator role on the team for growth/development.
• Drive Big Innovations – Manage prioritization and execution of IA development with the most strategic FEI programs.
• Influence learning plans when needed to create data needed to support invention disclosures and stronger patent applications.
• Foresee barriers to IP procurement and maintenance and to develop strategies to overcome those hurdles.
• Influence Business Strategies – Leverage IA related insights to influence action and project decisions with brand teams.
• Support competitive assessments by connecting trends with patents, trademarks, etc. with product and other publicly available information.
• Support Third Party Agreements – Maintain a working knowledge of contracts with IA obligations or impacts.
• Ensure third party agreements are considered early with IA strategies to maximize Kimberly-Clark’s position and prevent inadvertent public disclosures.

Benefits

• Great support for good health with medical, dental, and vision coverage options with no waiting periods or pre-existing condition restrictions.
• Access to an on-site fitness center, occupational health nurse, and allowances for high-quality safety equipment.
• Flexible Savings and spending accounts to maximize health care options and stretch dollars when caring for yourself or dependents.
• Diverse income protection insurance options to protect yourself and your family in case of illness, injury, or other unexpected events.
• Additional programs and support to continue your education, adopt a child, relocate, or even find temporary childcare.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees