Director, Intellectual Property

Position Summary:
- Intellectual Property (IP) Attorney supporting the Company’s intellectual property function to protect small molecule product candidates. Reports to the Vice President of Intellectual Property.
- South San Francisco headquarters; onsite 4 days per week.

Responsibilities:
- Manage global IP portfolio; prepare/prosecute patent applications for small molecules; develop IP strategy.
- Partner with cross-departmental teams to identify patentable inventions and implement protection strategies.
- Evaluate risks (patentability, infringement, validity) and develop mitigation strategies.
- Perform freedom-to-operate reviews; analyze third-party patent positions; guide IP strategy.
- Conduct IP due diligence to support business development.
- Manage external legal counsel; ensure compliance with global IP laws/regulations.
- Coordinate/manage patent filings with collaborators and licensors.
- Build IP department infrastructure/policies; provide internal IP training.
- Monitor competitive IP landscape and industry trends.

Qualifications/Requirements:
- Ph.D. in Chemistry (preferably Organic) or Master’s in Organic Chemistry.
- J.D. from ABA-accredited law school; member in good standing of the California Bar, or ability to qualify as California Registered In-House Counsel.
- Registered before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
- 7+ years IP counsel experience for pharmaceutical small molecules (patent prep/prosecution, life cycle management, opinions, IP strategy); preferably 2–3 years in-house.
- Proven success developing/implementing patent strategies.
- Strong analytical skills; ability to interpret complex scientific/legal information.
- Proficiency with scientific and IP databases.
- Excellent written/verbal communication and attention to detail.

Compensation (expected): $261,000–$322,000 salary range.