Senior Director, Intellectual Property

Role Summary

The Senior Director, Intellectual Property will be responsible for independently developing and implementing strategies to protect Crinetics’ intellectual property, primarily its patent assets. This position will also play a critical role in the management of patent prosecution in-house and by outside counsel. The Senior Director, Intellectual Property will serve a variety of business partners and must have the ability to communicate complex legal advice to colleagues with a wide range of scientific backgrounds at all levels of the organization. Work can be based at Crinetics’ headquarters in San Diego or remote.

Responsibilities

• Identify commercially valuable IP in collaboration with the IP team, CMC, Discovery, and Clinical teams.
• Manage prosecution of high-quality patent applications that are strategically aligned with Crinetics’ pipeline.
• Conduct and manage freedom-to-operate and patentability searches and analyses, and counsel business partners on associated risks.
• Manage Orange Book listings and PTE application process.
• Contribute to strategic planning.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to direct reports and provide IP education cross-functionally.
• Support business development and competitive intelligence activities.
• Review and assist in negotiating IP provisions of various agreements.
• Review publications and provide advice on IP aspects.
• Contribute to the continued development of processes and best practices for the management of company IP.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Required: Licensed US attorney with USPTO registration number with a minimum of 13 years of experience supporting technologies in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology or life science industry by drafting, prosecuting, and managing global patent portfolios.
• Required: A minimum of 5 years of experience as an attorney at a law firm, and a minimum of 3 years of experience as in-house IP counsel or patent counsel with demonstrated cross-functional responsibilities.
• Required: A minimum of 10 years in a supervisory/leadership role.
• Required: Strong experience with foreign and US patent prosecution.
• Required: Familiarity with IP management systems, e.g., docketing and chemical patent search software.
• Required: Ability to independently handle multiple complex legal matters and complete projects in a timely manner.
• Required: Strong organizational and planning skills.
• Required: Keen attention to detail.
• Required: Exceptional written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Required: High degree of professionalism and ethical standards.
• Preferred: Research experience in pharmaceutical company or academic chemistry lab.
• Preferred: Experience reviewing agreements with IP-related terms.

Education

• Graduate degree in chemistry, preferably organic chemistry.

Additional Requirements

• Physical Demands And Work Environment: Physical Activities: On a continuous basis, sit at desk for a long period of time; intermittently answer telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means. Some walking and lifting up to 25 lbs. may be required. The noise level in the work environment is typically low to moderate. The physical demands described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and responsibilities.
• Laboratory Activities (if applicable): Biology and chemical laboratory environment experience needed. Environmental health and safety requirements also apply.
• Travel: You may be required to travel for quarterly on-site meetings and up to an additional 5% of your time.