IP Counsel

Veracyte • San Diego, CA

1d • $211,000 - $277,800 • Hybrid

About The Position

Veracyte is seeking an IP Counsel to drive intellectual property risk management, with a focus on freedom-to-operate and invalidity analyses, and to support technical transactions with significant IP components. The role partners across the business to translate complex IP considerations into practical guidance that supports innovation and strategic growth.

The position identifies and mitigates IP risks throughout the product lifecycle and for strategic business initiatives; provides business-oriented advice on design-around opportunities, licensing strategies, and other risk mitigation; and partners on pre-litigation issues, disputes, oppositions, and litigation matters. It also supports review, negotiation, and drafting of research collaboration, material transfer, technology evaluation, data use, licensing, and other agreements with substantial IP components, including advising on ownership, licensing, data rights, and publication rights.

The IP Counsel collaborates with the legal team to develop and enhance Veracyte’s IP program, including supporting patent prosecution. The role advises scientific, clinical, regulatory, commercial, and executive stakeholders; develops and delivers IP education and training; and manages outside IP counsel and related legal budgets. Veracyte describes its workplace as purpose-driven, collaborative, inclusive, and focused on transforming cancer care.

Requirements

• J.D. or equivalent law degree and active bar membership.
• At least 5 years of relevant legal experience, including substantive work in life sciences IP, such as diagnostics, biotechnology, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, genomics, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience conducting and advising on freedom-to-operate and invalidity analyses.
• Ability to assess complex legal risks and develop practical, solution-oriented business recommendations.
• Experience and interest in developing transactional practice skills involving complex agreements with IP components.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• Scientific degree, including an advanced degree, in a life sciences discipline.
• Experience managing matters for diagnostics, molecular biology, genomics, or related industries.
• Law firm training in freedom-to-operate analysis, opinion work, and patent or technology transactions practice.
• Patent bar membership.
• Experience managing outside counsel.
• Interest in supporting patent prosecution.

Responsibilities

• Drive freedom-to-operate and invalidity analyses to identify and mitigate IP risks throughout the product lifecycle and for strategic business initiatives.
• Provide practical, business-oriented legal advice that balances legal risks with organizational objectives, including design-around opportunities, licensing strategies, and other risk mitigation approaches.
• Contribute to processes for proactive IP risk identification and mitigation.
• Partner to manage pre-litigation issues, intellectual property disputes, oppositions, and other litigation matters.
• Facilitate review, negotiation, and drafting of research collaboration, material transfer, technology evaluation, data use, licensing, and other agreements with substantial IP components.
• Provide IP support for strategic collaborations, partnerships, and business development transactions.
• Advise on IP ownership, licensing, data rights, publication rights, and related issues in research and development agreements.
• Collaborate with legal team members to develop and enhance the company’s IP program, including supporting patent prosecution.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to scientific, clinical, regulatory, commercial, and executive stakeholders.
• Develop and deliver IP education and training programs to increase organizational IP awareness.
• Manage outside IP counsel and related legal budgets.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation and benefits.
• May be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses or incentives and restricted stock units.
• Inclusive workforce and workplace.

What This Job Offers

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