Principal, Legal IP & External Partnering

Haleon

13d • Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking an exceptional IP and licensing strategist to lead the full lifecycle of Haleon’s global intellectual property portfolio and advance high‑value in‑licensing and out‑licensing opportunities. This leader will play a critical role in safeguarding innovation, accelerating product development, and negotiating complex agreements that shape Haleon’s commercial trajectory. We are looking for a dynamic, influential professional who brings deep technical expertise and strong cross‑functional leadership.
The Principal, Legal IP & External Partnering, serves as the enterprise-wide leader for Haleon’s global intellectual property and licensing strategy, responsible for safeguarding innovation, maximizing commercial value, and driving growth through strategic partnerships. As the head of IP and Licensing, you will oversee the full lifecycle of Haleon’s global portfolio—spanning trademarks, patents, trade secrets, designs, copyrights, and digital assets—while leading complex in‑licensing, out‑licensing, collaboration, and technology‑access negotiations. You will work closely with R&D, Commercial, Regulatory, and BD teams to identify and protect early-stage innovation, support product pipeline decisions, and embed IP considerations throughout the business. This is a highly strategic, high‑visibility leadership role that influences enterprise decision‑making, advises senior executives, and ensures Haleon’s innovations are protected, competitive, and leveraged to their fullest potential.
This role may be based in Warren, NJ or Bankside, London UK.

Requirements

• Fully qualified Trademark or Patent Attorney in the US or UK with 7 - 10 years’ professional experience.
• Significant experience structuring and negotiating multi-party R&D agreements including collaborations, co-development, milestone-based licensing.
• Skilled in global, high-value deal structures, balancing IP rights, commercialization, and financial incentives. Proficiency in crafting and negotiating complex IP agreements, including license, collaboration, joint development, and royalty structures.
• Experience with IP portfolio management—covering prosecution, enforcement, due diligence, and risk assessment.
• Thorough due diligence capabilities, assessing IP assets, counterparties, and regulatory/compliance factors.
• Proactive risk identification and mitigation, including antitrust, regulatory, and technological risks.
• Ability to engage with inventors and technical teams, interpret prior art, and assess patentability.
• Team development experience, mentorship of junior counsel, and effective management of external counsel.
• Haleon is a global business; comfort operating across time zones and cultures is essential.

Nice To Haves

• In-house experience in consumer health, FMCH, CPG, or FMCG.
• Experience coordinating global patent portfolios and working with cross border teams.
• Familiarity with consumer healthcare, formulations, dosage forms, packaging and/or delivery systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead the company’s global intellectual property and licensing strategy, ensuring robust protection, commercialization, and optimization of brands, innovations, formulations, packaging technologies, and digital assets.
• Oversee and coordinate Haleon’s global category trademark and patent legal teams, driving cohesive IP strategy and execution while partnering with senior leaders across regions to protect and enhance our brand and innovation assets.
• Oversee the creation, management, enforcement, and monetization of the IP portfolio, including trademarks, patents, trade secrets, copyrights, designs, and domain names, while driving strategic in‑licensing and out‑licensing opportunities that align with Haleon’s growth priorities.
• Partner closely with R&D, BD, Regulatory, and Commercial teams to identify protectable innovations early, assess licensing needs, support product pipeline decisions, and embed IP and licensing considerations throughout the product lifecycle.
• Manage brand protection, anti‑counterfeiting, and IP enforcement activities, and lead negotiations for licensing, collaboration, co‑development, and technology access agreements that maximize value and manage risk.
• Advise senior leadership on IP risks, licensing opportunities, and competitive intelligence, delivering clear recommendations supporting commercial growth.
• Lead and oversee all licensing‑related legal matters, including in‑licensing, out‑licensing, co‑development, co‑promotion, distribution, manufacturing, and technology transfer agreements.
• Serve as the primary legal interface with external partners, including licensors, licensees, academic institutions, bio/tech companies, and CROs.
• Manage IP considerations related to patents, trademarks, trade secrets, data exclusivity, research tools, and platform technologies in license negotiations.
• Drive legal support for due diligence activities, assessing IP portfolios, freedom‑to‑operate risks, data packages, regulatory status, and contractual obligations.
• Draft, negotiate, and finalize complex licensing and collaboration agreements, balancing risk, value creation, and long‑term business objectives.
• Develop and maintain contract templates, playbooks, negotiation frameworks, and governance processes to enable efficient and consistent deal execution.
• Advise senior leadership on deal structures, risk allocation, and strategic implications, providing clear decision‑making guidance.
• Support integration and alliance management efforts post‑execution to ensure obligations, milestones, reporting, and performance commitments are met.
• Monitor relevant legal and regulatory developments affecting licensing, IP, collaboration models, and industry standards.
• Manage external counsel for specialized IP, regulatory, or transactional expertise.
• Contribute to internal training and capability building on licensing best practices, negotiation strategies, and contracting norms.

Benefits

• Haleon offers a robust Total Reward package that consists of competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits program.
• This includes a generous 401(k) plan, tuition reimbursement and time off programs including 6 months paid parental leave.
• On day one, you are eligible for benefits, including our healthcare programs where the company pays for the majority of your medical coverage for you and your family.
• We also offer the opportunity to receive a discretionary bonus based on the achievement of key business performance and other incentive/recognition programs as part of the offering.

What This Job Offers

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