Senior Patent Counsel/Agent (Small Molecule)

Genentech’s Intellectual Property team is seeking a Senior Patent Counsel/Agent with small molecule expertise whose passion lies in creating and leveraging game-changing IP strategies that enable Roche and Genentech to “do now what patients need next.”  As a key partner and business strategist, this individual will challenge the limits of what can be achieved in a highly competitive industry. This position reports into the Immunology and Infectious Disease IP Practice Group in Genentech’s Legal Department, but may also support other therapeutic areas and modalities.

This position is based on site at Genentech’s South San Francisco, California campus and is not suitable for a fully-remote working arrangement.  Relocation benefits are NOT available for this job posting.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Key responsibilities of this individual contributor role include the following:

• Designing and delivering impactful global IP portfolios from invention capture to patent issuance and beyond for new technologies and products, including small molecule pharmaceutical development candidates and products in combination with other modalities and across various development stages and therapeutic areas;  

• Managing and prosecuting active global dockets, including independently drafting and handling U.S. and foreign patent applications as well as conducting US post-grant proceedings such as reexamination and reissue, and coordinating foreign oppositions and appeals as they may arise;

• Conducting due diligence assessments, freedom-to-operate, infringement and validity analyses, risk evaluation, and developing mitigation strategies in support of internal program molecules, technologies, and tools, as well as external partnering opportunities;

• Advising on intellectual property-related transactions and partnering with legal colleagues on adverse proceedings such as inter partes and post-grant review and litigation activities related to supported programs;

• Building effective relationships among team members and business stakeholders at all levels of the global organization, providing in-depth, clear and strategic patent and scientific expertise, education, guidance and advice to facilitate various business-enabling strategies;

• Leveraging a deep understanding of patent law, as well as knowledge of the competitive landscape, to identify and exploit new strategic opportunities and approaches to protecting Roche and Genentech assets;

• Maintaining and sharing expertise and knowledge on legal case law, as well as rules and regulations of the US Patent and Trademark Office and other foreign patent offices;

• Building sustainable and productive external relationships with outside counsel,  third party collaborators and partners; and

• Ensuring that Genentech remains a great place to practice game-changing IP law and continues to meet the challenges of bringing life-changing medicines to patients.   

COMPETENCIES

Key competencies of this individual contributor role includes the following: 

• Embraces a growth-mindset and enjoys work in a fast-paced and global organization;

• Excels in working independently and proactively with minimal direction, strong organizational skills, and an ability to prioritize and balance competing projects and responsibilities;       

• Engages as an active participant in a high-performing and agile team setting to support group, department, and cross-functional projects and initiatives where strategies, processes, operating standards and/or practices are developed and deployed to ensure state-of-the-art IP portfolios;

• Acts with poise under pressure with a solution-oriented mindset providing clear communication at all levels of the organization; 

• Tackles new challenges with curiosity, effectively utilizing available resources and an openness to listen and learn from others; and  

• Embraces agility and welcomes iteration as tools of continuous improvement – both personally and within and across all aspects of high-performing teamwork.

QUALIFICATIONS 

• 7+ years of patent attorney or patent agent experience in small molecule pharmaceutical intellectual property portfolio creation, strategy, and counseling, which ideally includes 2+ years of experience in a