Key responsibilities:

• Provide clear, informed and sophisticated counseling to Novartis R&D clients on opportunities to protect their inventions, create IP portfolios, advise on publication strategies, and mitigate third party risks.

• Build and manage patent portfolios for Novartis R&D projects by identifying inventions and preparing, prosecuting, maintaining, and defending patent filings for them, especially in technical areas related to new chemical entities, processes, platforms, and technologies, as well as clinical developments.

• Render legal opinions with respect to patentability, validity, and freedom to operate, and formulate patent strategies for Novartis R&D clients that secure IP positions, freedom-to-operate (FTO), and enable IP defense(s).

• Apply deep expertise in national patent law and practice, including patent trends and case law developments, to devise patent strategies and advice.

• Understand other forms of protection relating to exclusivity, and apply as required.

• Maximize effective communication with colleagues and leadership in the legal and IP function as well as the R&D organization.

• Build and manage external relationships with outside counsel and collaborators, including substantial interactions within a multicultural global patent function.

• Conduct due diligence assessments and counsel based on these assessments, including FTO, infringement and validity analyses, and risk evaluation and mitigation.

• Provide IP support for transactional projects, such as research collaborations and in-licensing opportunities, including advice on contract drafting and negotiation.

• Perform timely review of publication requests.

• Deliver work results on-time, on-target, and within budget.

• Continue professional development and contribute to development of IP colleagues.

Essential requirements:

EDUCATION:

• J.D. degree with admission to at least one state bar & registered to practice before US Patent Office required.

AND:

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or equivalent plus 1-2 years exposure to the drug discovery and development processes utilized at pharmaceutical and/or biotechnology companies; MS/PhD, or equivalent, in chemistry is preferred.

EXPERIENCE:

• 7+ years’ experience as a qualified patent attorney in a law firm or in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry

• Strong scientific background in chemical sciences; preferably including direct lab experience

• Expertise in local (US) and PCT law, filing process and prosecution practice; detailed understanding of counterpart European patent law and other major global patent systems

• Strong customer-service experience & focus to build and sustain effective partnerships with key stakeholders and project teams

• Experience integrating global outlook and management of product lifecycle into decision-making process

Skills:

• Effective analytical, presentation, and communication skills

• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team

• Well-developed research and critical thinking skills, and sound decision-making abilities, with attention to detail to produce consistently accurate work

• Strong organization and time management skills with flexibility, creativity, resourcefulness to successfully prioritize and manage multiple, competing priorities simultaneously

• Strong interpersonal skills (partnership, influence/persuasion, teamwork)

Novartis Compensation Summary:

The salary for this position is expected to range between $185,500.00 and $344,500.00 USD per year.

The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors.

Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards.

US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.