TITLE: Senior Intellectual Property (IP) Attorney

LOCATION: Bridgewater, NJ

REPORTS TO: V.P. & Chief IP Counsel        

Overview:

We are looking for an experienced attorney and professional in the area of IP who is inspired by our purpose to “bring the potential of people, nature and technology together to make life better.” The Senior IP Attorney will report to the VP & Chief IP Counsel and will work closely with other members of the legal team, with the global innovation team, and other corporate functions to deliver timely, effective legal advice and solutions in a fluid environment on all aspects of IP, including patents, trade secrets, agreements, publication requests, due diligence, freedom-to-operate, IP landscapes and related opinions, confidentiality, IP litigation, and any other IP-related matters integral to the organization’s operations (including coordination with IP colleagues who are focused on trademarks, copyrights, and domains).

The Senior IP Attorney will be a member of the Global Legal, Business Integrity and Government Affairs (GLBG) team. The GLBG is one global team, that works together to create value for the company by driving outcomes that advance the company’s strategy and protect our people, places, and things. We are building a modern department, with an operating model that leverages technology and supports purposeful collaboration, and prioritizes the engagement, growth, and development of our people, to ensure we have the best people, doing the best work.

The Senior IP Attorney will be a key member of our GLBG team responsible for providing expert legal counsel and guidance on matters related to all forms of IP, worldwide. The Senior Attorney will work closely with various departments within the company to fulfill the responsibilities listed below and ensure that (i) our products and services are protected robustly. (ii) we protect and defend the company’s IP comprehensively, and (iii) we respect the rights of all customers and 3rd parties.

Core responsibilities:

The Senior IP Attorney role requires a deep understanding of US and global IP law and regulations, excellent legal research and analysis skills, the ability to communicate complex legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders, and the ability to work independently as well as effectively in a cross-functional, matrixed team. The responsibilities include:

Actively engage with the global business and innovation group to develop, implement and manage IP strategies for products in development, including freedom-to-operate assessments and IP-protection and patent-filing strategies, as well as IP strategies associated with Ingredion’s existing portfolio of products. Align the global patent portfolio with key strategic business drivers and provide client counseling on IP matters, including when to patent, publish, or maintain as a trade secret.     Help develop and implement IP best practices, policies, and procedures. Help develop and provide IP training seminars to raise IP awareness across the global organization, including through in person training, video- or web-enabled training or train the trainers approaches.Conduct IP due diligence of third-party IP assets, including communicating outcome of assessment to senior management, and drafting and negotiating the IP provisions of any associated in-licensing, purchase, or JV agreement. Draft and negotiate non-disclosure, material transfer, joint development, patent license, and other agreements.Actively manage a global patent portfolio, including evaluating invention disclosures (including patentability assessments), drafting patent applications that meet U.S. and international patentability standards, prosecuting domestic patent applications before the USPTO, managing the filing and prosecution of international patent applications, and coordinating/managing reexaminations, IPRs, invalidation actions, appeals, and oppositions, including assessing and developing the associated strategies.Actively manage and set IP matter budgets (including performance against such budget), coordinate with Chief IP Counsel on overall IP budget matters, lead cost reduction initiatives, and identify and select external legal counsel including negotiating legal fees and improving the overall efficiencies and cost management processes and procedures.Actively manage IP litigation and other IP disputes, including driving the strategy, briefing senior level management on the status of the case and any issues requiring business in-put, establishing and managing the budget and associated external legal counsel budget.

Qualified candidates will:

Have a Juris Doctorate from an ABA accredited U.S. law school.Be licensed to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.Be registered to practice before the United States Patent & Trademark Office.Have 8+ years of combined law-firm and corporate legal experience developing and implementing business-focused global IP strategies, providing, managing, and advising on patentability, validity, and freedom-to-operate assessments, managing IP portfolios (patents, trade secrets, etc.), and negotiating and drafting agreements, including the IP provisions in various commercial agreements. Experience acting as IP business partner to innovation, commercial and other corporate colleagues, preparing and prosecuting domestic and international patent applications, preferably in the chemical, biotechnology, and/or food science related arts, including developing and implementing patent filing and prosecution strategies, and managing IP litigation (and, in particular, patent litigation and oppositions) is a plus.BS, MS, or PhD degree in chemistry or related scientific field. Subject matter expertise in the areas of biotechnology, food research, and food applications is a plus.Experience using online databases (e.g. USPTO, Epoline, Questel Orbit, etc.), and internet resources is required.Demonstrated customer-service skills/experience. Must be able to build and sustain solid working partnerships with key stakeholders.Must be well organized with excellent attention to detail and exceptionally effective writing, analytical, and communication skills with ability to explain complex issues clearly and concisely to all levels of the organization, as well as have basic project management skills and demonstrated ability to serve as an active member of a cross-functional team.Ability to work independently and collaboratively to manage multiple, diverse projects in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, and proactively communicate with the General Counsel and other legal team members when appropriate.Demonstrated ability to provide timely, contemporaneous risk-based delivery of IP legal advice and guidance with efficient use of resources.Demonstrated ability to manage outside counsel and legal fee budgets.

#LI-BS1

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. Ingredion seeks to provide a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. We will not tolerate any form of discrimination based on race, color, religion, age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, handicap or disability—mental or physical—marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability resulting from military service, or any other classification protected by law (“protected classifications”). We are committed to establishing and maintaining a work environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

Ingredion provides accommodations to job applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process. If a job applicant requires an accommodation during the application process or through the selection process, we will work with the applicant to meet the job applicant's accommodation needs.

Relocation Available:

Yes, Within Country

Pay Range:

$175,200.00-$233,600.00 Annual

This pay range is not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Final base salary will be determined based on several factors which may include but are not limited to responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data and applicable bargaining agreement (if any).

Incentive Compensation:

As a part of the total compensation package, this role may be eligible for the Ingredion Annual Incentive Plan or a role-specific commission/bonus.

Benefits:

Full-time roles are eligible for our comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental and vision coverage as well as a 401(k) plan with an competitive company match.