Director, Intellectual Property
South San Francisco, California
G&A /
Full-Time /
Hybrid
We are seeking an experienced patent attorney or patent agent to support the development and execution of a robust IP strategy, addressed to advancing business goals at the intersection of computation, biology and chemistry. Reporting to the Head of Legal, you will have a broad scope of responsibilities related to the development, management and deployment of IP assets for business value, as well as managing 3rd party IP risk, licensing and freedom to operate matters.
Responsibilities
- Develop, protect, and manage Senti’s patent portfolio worldwide, including preparing and prosecuting current and future patent applications in all jurisdictions
- Establish, implement, and update IP strategies, policies, and procedures to ensure protection of company business and IP
- Direct and/or support patent assertions, defenses, and other disputes involving IP rights
- Advise and provide IP related legal support and counseling to stakeholders at all levels of the organization and across all phases of research, drug development & commercialization to provide business enabling strategy, counseling, and options
- Create and provide regular training to employees on topics relating to intellectual property law, including any changes or new development in patent law
- Support alliance management, finance, business development, legal and other stakeholders with IP related transactions, which activities may include drafting and negotiating intellectual property license and technology transactions agreements, supporting due diligence, interpreting agreements, and providing advice and guidance to ensure compliance under agreements
- Manage external law firms, including budget and work product
- Develop productive working relationships with external collaborators and partners
- Mentor and manage junior staff members in legal
- Evaluate emerging technical and scientific operations of the company to determine FTO risk and licensing opportunities
- Conduct patent landscape assessments, FTO analysis, and validity and infringement analysis
- Manage Proprietary Information – Identify and catalog trade secrets and proprietary know how
- Review, comment and advise on any public disclosures, including publications, presentations, press releases, SEC disclosures
- Assist with organization and operation of legal department affairs, internal company engagement with the legal team and use of legal resources by Senti employee base
- Oversee Senti’s trademark and domain name management and registration in all jurisdictions
- Work on other legal department matters as requested or needed
Qualifications
- A J.D. from an accredited law school and/or Ph.D with extensive experience as a Patent Agent in a top tier law firm and/or in-house at a biotechnology or pharmaceutical company
- Active membership in at least one US state bar if an attorney
- Admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- Advanced degree in biology, bioengineering, immunology, biochemistry or other related field
- Experience working at cell and gene therapy space preferred
- Exposure to computational methods relevant to drug design and development
Salary and Benefits
- Compensation for this role includes base salary, annual target bonus and equity
- The base salary range for this role is $235,000 - $275,000. Starting pay is determined by multiple job-related factors including a candidate’s skills, education and experience level, benchmark, and internal parity
- Significant growth opportunity as the company expands
- Empathetic, supportive and collaborative colleagues and work environments
