With extensive experience in developing biologics and bioconjugates, we offer a seamless service delivered by fully integrated teams, from early discovery to commercial manufacturing.
Forward-thinking and committed, we find the best solution and use the right technologies to design, develop and manufacture your products to ensure we get vital medicines to patients quickly and safely.
We are dedicated to quality excellence. We are driven to get better treatments to market, efficiently and responsibly by reducing timelines and delivering the highest quality products and services.
We are Abzena. More than a CDMO, we are a responsible and dedicated partner that takes care of your products from concept to patient.
The Director of Intellectual Property (IP) will influence and support a culture of innovation, to improve the services we offer and add value for our customers, overseeing all aspects of Abzena’s intellectual property portfolio. This includes patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. You will develop and execute strategies to protect the Abzena IP assets, manage IP litigation and enforcement actions. This role will design and manage the delivery of initiatives aligned with the Abzena goals and provide guidance to internal stakeholders on IP matters. Ensuring that value add is created in the services & technologies that are developed and that know-how and IP is secured and protected. Additionally, the Director of IP will stay up to date with changes in IP law and regulations, leading and advising Abzena on how to adapt its IP strategies accordingly.
The Director of Intellectual Property plays a crucial role in safeguarding the organization's intellectual property assets and ensuring that they contribute to the organization's long-term success. This position requires a combination of legal expertise, strategic thinking, and effective communication skills.
Responsibilities
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- Develop and implement strategies for protecting Abzena’s intellectual property rights, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.
- Manage Abzena’s patent and trademark portfolios, including drafting, filing, and prosecuting patent and trademark applications.
- Review and work with key stakeholders (CSO, Scientific and Technical leaders, Business Development, Finance) to identify, agree and direct future areas of innovation and technical improvements aligned with Abzena’s business model and company goals.
- Staying current on developments in IP Law and regulations, advising on how to adapt Abzena’s strategies accordingly. Operating as the SME of IP, educating all key stakeholders on the importance of protecting and respecting intellectual property rights.
- Work closely with the technical team to identify potential IP from innovation and technology development programmes taking responsibility for securing this through the generation, submission, and management of the patent process.
- Provide IP support to external clients and Business Development. Upskilling teams along the way on the basics of IP development, capture and exploitation.
- Collaborate and contribute to the evaluation of new innovations and technical developments to identify inventions and innovations eligible for patent protection.
- Negotiate and draft IP-related agreements, including licenses, assignments, and nondisclosure agreements.
- Develop and manage the IP budget, including forecasting expenses and identifying cost-saving opportunities.
- Discuss, agree and secure resource and budget requirements for projects with key stakeholders e.g. CSO, Tech Leads
- Manage project delivery with key stakeholders including team communications, collaborations and budgets of technical development programmes.
- Stay current with new developments and technologies that support improved drug development
- Stay current with patent processes and legislation
- Possess strong written and oral communication skills, facilitates communication between team members to ensure efforts are aligned.
- Proven ability to build and manage successful teams.
- Organized, flexible and easily adaptable to changing conditions.
Qualifications
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- A minimum of 15 years in biopharmaceutical environment, experience with new technical developments in the drug development sector and patent process
- PhD in relevant scientific discipline
- Deep knowledge of target to lead drug development processes
- Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Business partnering, and interpersonal skills required.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and implement IP strategies that align with business objectives.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders.
- Proven track record of managing IP portfolios and enforcing IP rights.
- Commitment to ethical conduct and respect for intellectual property rights.
£80,000 - £110,000 a year
Abzena is committed to promoting equal opportunities in employment. All our employees and any job applicants will receive equal treatment regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnerstatus,pregnancyormaternity,race,colour,nationality,ethnicornationalorigin,religionorbelief,sex or sexual orientation (“Protected Characteristics”).