Executive Director, IP

GENERAL SUMMARY

4DMT is seeking an experienced intellectual property attorney, with a focus on patent strategy and patent procurement, to manage, further develop, and enforce 4DMT’s global intellectual property portfolio and serve as a key advisor on intellectual property matters impacting business and corporate strategy. The role will report to the Chief Legal Officer. This role will provide counsel and training to the organization on all facets of patent, trade secret, trademark, and copyright law, including procurement, registration, enforcement, freedom to operate, and litigation. The role will also counsel 4DMT’s R&D and CMC teams on a broad range of transactions with vendors and collaborators that are central to their work, and well as provide IP input on business development transactions and support IP diligence efforts. The role will work cross-functionally with R&D, CMC, Finance, Business Development, and IT teams, and may interact with other teams, depending on project needs. The ideal candidate must have a strong background supporting late-stage clinical and commercial biopharmaceutical products, with in depth knowledge of the drug development process, pharmaceutical regulations, strategic partnerships, and commercial strategy.

MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and refine intellectual property strategy for 4DMT products and platforms; present IP strategy updates to executive leadership, as needed.
• Responsible for implementing key elements of 4DMT’s intellectual property strategy, and managing its patent, trade secret, and trademark portfolio; implements a strategy for IP lifecycle management.
• Directs outside counsel in the preparation and prosecution of applications and responding to office actions; directs outside counsel in evaluating the patentability of invention submissions and registrability of trademarks globally; manages related outside counsel budgets.
• Identifies strategic areas for patenting, trade secret protection, and trademarking; collaborates with R&D, CMC, Clinical Science, and other functions to proactively identify and develop patentable intellectual property to prepare, file, and prosecute.
• Manages patentability, freedom-to-operate, infringement, validity, and regulatory exclusivity analyses.
• Supports and manage IP disputes and administrative proceedings, including oppositions and post-grant challenges.
• Identifies and tracks 4DMT trade secrets and provides counsel with respect to 4DMT’s trade secret protection practices.
• Provides IP perspective and counseling at 4DMT meetings and presents on IP topics.
• Counsels and trains internal clients on intellectual property practices and policies.
• Conducts IP due diligence for business development activities and supports IP due diligence related to financing activities.
• Drafts, reviews, and negotiates agreements to support R&D and CMC activities, including NDAs, MTAs, MSAs, sponsored research agreements, consulting agreements, and licenses.
• Collaborates with Legal colleagues, Business Development, and other key leaders and functions on key strategic agreements, including licenses, collaboration agreements, and other business development efforts.
• Assists with other Legal Department matters, including litigation support, SEC reporting (IP-related sections), records management, compliance activities, and template projects.
• Other duties as assigned; nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

• J.D. degree or equivalent from an accredited law school
• J.D. or M.S. in molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, or other biological field related to the biopharma industry
• Admission to at least one U.S. state bar
• Registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office

Experience:

• Required:
• 14+ years of patent prosecution experience as an attorney in the life sciences field, particularly in biopharma (can be a combination of law firm and in-house experience).
• Strong knowledge of patent, trade secret, and trademark practices, as well as current U.S. and foreign patent, trade secret, and trademark laws
• In-house experience in and knowledge of drug development, with expertise in genetic medicines strongly preferred; in-house experience at one or more publicly traded, commercial-stage biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or biopharmaceutical companies.

• Experience managing outside IP counsel and non-attorney legal staff

• Strongly preferred:
  • Experience in counseling life sciences R&D and CMC teams with respect to day-to-day transactions, including experience reviewing and negotiating confidentiality agreements, manufacturing agreements, material transfer agreements, sponsored research agreements, master services agreements, consulting agreements, and licenses.
  • Prior experience providing IP input on life sciences strategic transactions.
  • Prior IP litigation experience.

• Other competencies:
  • Excellent analytical and organizational skills and demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate and manage several simultaneous projects under deadline pressure.

• Excellent communication (verbal and written), listening, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Solid interpersonal skills and the demonstrated ability to influence and partner across all levels of the Company.
• Highest integrity, excellent judgment, and the ability to proactively recognize and effectively communicate legal issues to the Chief Legal Officer and other members of company management.

Travel: 5%

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Physical Requirements - Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
• Working Conditions - The worker is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions (as in typical office or administrative work).

Base salary compensation range: $309,000 - 350,000

Please note, the base salary compensation range and actual salary offered to the final candidate depends on various factors: candidate’s geographical location, relevant work experience, skills, and years of experience.

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