IP Counsel

The Broad Institute stands on the leading edge of biomedical research, with a mission to broadly disseminate discoveries and information to the scientific community and general public. The Broad's research is pursued through a blend of academic and industrial-scale production of genetic, biological, and chemical outputs, with scientists from Broad, MIT, Harvard, and the Harvard-affiliated hospitals working side-by-side.

The legal function within the Office of Strategic Alliances and Partnering is critical to accelerating and expanding the translation of our institution's emerging knowledge and novel discoveries through strategic partnering, licensing, and new ventures. The Broad Institute's break-through innovations include novel therapeutics, biomarkers, diagnostics, drug development technologies, and analysis tools. Our research spans a wide array of disease states with significant unmet needs, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, infectious diseases, inflammation and autoimmune disorders, metabolic diseases, neglected diseases, orphan diseases, and psychiatric diseases.

The Intellectual Property team is active in establishing meaningful partnerships ranging from Broad Institute-based research and technology collaborations to joint drug development programs, technology licensing, and sponsored research opportunities.

Responsibilities:
Manage the Broad Institute's intellectual property ("IP") portfolio:

• Identifying scientific and technical discoveries for potential patent protection through regular communications with scientists. The initial portfolio will be weighted toward small molecule therapeutics.
• Evaluating scientific and novel aspects of discoveries for patentability, protection with other intellectual property including trademarks, and commercial applications.
• Ensuring IP strategy conforms with overall strategic goals and supports the achievement of institutional goals.
• Managing the patenting process for inventions generated from multi-disciplinary research jointly owned by partner institutions, and effectively communicating with their tech transfer offices.
• Managing outside counsel and supervising all work products to ensure compliance with institutional strategy and risk tolerance.
• Advising on IP matters, directing legal work, and overseeing the selection and engagement of outside legal experts when needed.
• In partnership with business development and legal transactions groups, supporting negotiations of license, option, sponsored research, and collaboration agreements.
• Supporting Alliance Managers in managing partnerships.
• Providing guidance and education for the institutional community regarding intellectual property matters, including advising and responding to community questions/issues.
• Interacting closely with scientific staff, including principal investigators, postdoctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students, and others.
• Handling other projects or duties as requested or required.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Registered US patent attorney.
• Minimum five (5) or more years of experience as an attorney practicing U.S. and international biotechnology patent prosecution. This includes formal prosecution training, first-hand drafting of patent applications and Office actions, correspondence with the USPTO, and direct responsibility for client management.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D. or P.Eng. in the life sciences is desirable, but not required, based on years of experience.
• Strong chemistry background is desirable. Potential IP areas include: biochemistry, biophysics, cellular/chemical biology, genomics, immunology, microbiology, molecular/systems biology, pharmacology, neuroscience, organic chemistry, synthetic biology, and biomedical/chemical engineering.
• Experience in licensing and supporting licensing negotiations of life science technologies is beneficial.
• Academic or pharma/biotech industry life science research experience is preferred.

Competencies:

• Outstanding written and oral communication skills and the ability to quickly communicate complex issues clearly and succinctly.
• Strong organizational skills, including careful attention to detail and ability to handle and prioritize multiple assignments and maintain strict deadlines through effective time management.
• Experience in client service, capable of interacting with and providing guidance to a wide range of people, including faculty, students, venture capitalists, attorneys, IP professionals, industry executives, and staff at all levels, in a fast-paced and challenging environment.
• Entrepreneurial, proactive, collaborative, self-starter, and highly independent.
• A passion for science and its application to improve public health.

The Broad will not provide sponsorship for this position.