Director of Intellectual Property

The Director of Intellectual Property provides strategic support to CSL Research and Technical Operations organizations, with a primary responsibility for Tech Ops activities in Bern and Research in Schlieren (Zurich).  In particular, the role will support CSL plasma and recombinant platforms within Technical Operations and Translational Research activities.

The Director of IP is responsible for identifying, protecting, managing, patent, trade secrets, exclusivities of all types and related intellectual property (IP) matters. Additionally, the Director of IP assesses patentability of inventions, potential infringement of patents and exclusivities, agreements involving patents, know-how, trade secrets and other exclusivity rights, and management of third-party IP risk.  The position will work with some independence within the Global IP matrix work model to prepare, prosecute, maintain applications for the global patent portfolio, defend and enforce IP rights and partner with stakeholders and other CSL functions to maximize the value of IP for CSL.

Responsibilities

• Manage and deliver global patent and related intellectual property strategies and support for significant portion of CSL Group’s global activities, especially relevant to CSL Research and Technical Operations. Acts as primary IP contact for Technical Operations in respect of Albumin, Fractionation + Horizon 2 and local nominated Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) such as Ig/Inframarginals, Recombinants and Iron.  The role will also serve as the IP advisor to selected European-based Research functions, including Drug Discovery, Translational & Data Science, Non-Clinical Development and associated project teams.

• Manage prosecution and defense of CSL intellectual property by supporting projects from early drug discovery to launch and beyond, including creating and safeguarding of a patent portfolio tailored to CSL’s activities with respect to pending applications and granted patents considering national and international laws and guidelines.

• Contributes to the delivery of enterprise-wide IP strategy for new and existing development-stage products, including optimizing and defending regulatory exclusivities and lifecycle management activities.

• Drive strategic patent filings for key Swiss-owned products (e.g. Privigen, Alburx) to maximise Swiss Patent Box benefits.

• Partner with European-based Research leadership to develop and implement IP strategies supporting pre-clinical programs, platform technologies and translational research activities across key therapeutic areas including Haematology, Cardiovascular & Renal, and Transplant & Immunology, Vaccines and Immunoglobulins.

• Contribute to the identification and preservation of Trade Secrets and, in conjunction with IP team, ensure trade secrets are well protected within the Global IP strategy alongside other IP rights.

• Lead invention harvesting, patent filing and portfolio development activities arising from Research and Technical Operations initiatives, including core technology platforms, manufacturing innovations, analytical methods, formulations, product improvements and next-generation product opportunities.

• Provide freedom to operate analysis across elected countries for assigned portfolio related risks, developing risk mitigation strategies and options and communicating to management and stakeholders.

• Partner with Technical Operations and Research as part of due diligence and deal opportunities.

• Participation in the negotiation of agreements involving patent and related intellectual property matters, such as, confidential disclosures, material transfer, request for proposal (RFP), licensing agreements and other related matters.

• Actively contributes to development of and delivery of education sessions to business partners on aspects of IP across the CSL enterprise.

• Represent CSL Group directly or in cooperation with external attorneys.

• Other complex tasks within the Intellectual Property function as assigned including contributing to budget management.

• Key Relationships (internal and external)

  • IP team, including Head of IP and IP Leadership Team (IPLT) members.

  • Technical Operations and European Research leadership where required.

  • Integrated Product Teams (IPTs), where required.

  • Research Project Teams (RPTs), where required.

  • R&D Search / Strategy / Business Development, Procurement where required.

  • CSL Legal.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences discipline (chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology) or a related field.

• Master’s degree or PhD highly regarded.

• Qualified Patent Attorney or IP lawyer admitted to practice in at least one jurisdiction (AU, CH, EP, DE, UK, US preferred) or equivalent legal qualifications and experience in Intellectual Property.

Experience:

• At least 10 years post-qualification experience in Intellectual Property.

• Experience with life science technologies and operations of in-house IP teams with a background in a technical field relevant to CSL.

• Experience supporting biopharmaceutical research and development programs, including early research, translational science, non-clinical development or related innovation activities preferred.

• Patent management experience in an R&D drug development environment preferred.

• Experience with agreements involving patent and related intellectual property matters.

This is a hybrid role requiring 3 days per week of onsite presence.

About CSL Behring

CSL Behring is a global biotherapeutics leader driven by our promise to save lives. Focused on serving patients’ needs by using the latest technologies, we discover, develop and deliver innovative therapies for people living with conditions in the immunology, hematology, cardiovascular and metabolic, respiratory, and transplant therapeutic areas. We use three strategic scientific platforms of plasma fractionation, recombinant protein technology, and cell and gene therapy to support continued innovation and continually refine ways in which products can address unmet medical needs and help patients lead full lives.

CSL Behring operates one of the world’s largest plasma collection networks, CSL Plasma. Our parent company, CSL, headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, employs 32,000 people, and delivers its lifesaving therapies to people in more than 100 countries.

To learn more about CSL, CSL Behring, CSL Seqirus and CSL Vifor  visit https://www.csl.com/ and CSL Plasma at https://www.cslplasma.com/.

Our Benefits

For more information on CSL benefits visit How CSL Supports Your Well-being | CSL.

You Belong at CSL

At CSL, Inclusion and Belonging is at the core of our mission and who we are. It fuels our innovation day in and day out. By celebrating our differences and creating a culture of curiosity and empathy, we are able to better understand and connect with our patients and donors, foster strong relationships with our stakeholders, and sustain a diverse workforce that will move our company and industry into the future.

 To learn more about inclusion and belonging visit https://www.csl.com/careers/inclusion-and-belonging

Equal Opportunity Employer

CSL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please visit https://www.csl.com/accessibility-statement.

Global biotech leader in plasma-derived therapies, vaccines, and iron deficiency treatments. Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia.

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