VP Global Head of Intellectual Property

Job Description:

At Ferring Pharmaceuticals, we help people around the world build families and live better lives. We are entrepreneurial and innovative, with a global team focused on scientific advances particularly in reproductive and women’s health, gastroenterology and urology. Ferring + You is all about working together and sharing ideas, so that we can bring science to life for patients around the world. 

Every person at Ferring works together to change lives and help people build families. Our corporate teams offer empowering, innovative, challenging and rewarding careers – we are motivated to make a difference. To reach our full potential we collaborate, and respect and value diverse contributions so that we can grow as an organisation and as professionals. Together we can influence the world around us to make life and work better.  

Ferring+You  

You will lead, develop and manage the Global Intellectual Property function, foster an IP culture within Ferring and represent Ferring in IP related matters. 

Your day at Ferring 

• Ensure that IP rights of Ferring are adequately protected and acknowledged by the continuous development and implementation of a global IP strategy, policies and procedures 

• Provide Intellectual Property advice to senior management and ensure strong collaboration with and guidance to Ferring’s functions 

• Oversee the preparation, processing, filing and maintenance of patents, trade secrets, trademarks, domain names, copyrights, and intellectual property aspects of publications and agreements 

• Ensure thorough and skillful assessment of third parties IP rights, in particular in view of determining Freedom to Operate or negotiation position or value, strengths & weaknesses of potential partner or acquisition target 

• Leads and steers the IP litigation activity to best protect Ferring against third parties' claims, to generate freedom to operate for Ferring’s products and to mitigate diversion of sales to generics and other competitors 

• Lead and guide the IP team ensuring that relevant capabilities are built for future success  

• Develop and maintain adequate infrastructure. Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate legal staff comprised of IP lawyers, paralegals and administrative personnel, to ensure the efficient operation of the function and represents the company in matters relating to intellectual property law. Ensure strong engagement of the IP team with internal Ferring clients. Manages relationships with outside counsels 

• Coordinate, liaise with, and advise with compliance, ethics and other legal groups to ensure that effective, efficient advice consistent with corporate objectives is given 

• Develop and oversee management of substantial functional budget 

• Assists the general counsels and the Chief Legal Officer with licensing, contract, and other general legal issues 

• Embrace and implement opportunities to rethink how IP services are provided, focusing internal expertise on complex, high value matters, and automating, streamlining, or outsourcing high-volume, lower complexity matters, and using data to drive continuous improvement in services. 

• Promote IP awareness within Ferring. Advise and train business stakeholders on IP patent portfolio management and drug product lifecycle management 

Behind our innovation…There’s you 

• Possess an excellent educational background and practical patent knowledge of Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Biotech, Bioengineering, or other similar life science technical disciplines 

• Qualified and registered Patent Attorney and preferably also Trademark Attorney  

• Minimum 15 years of profound experience in international patent and trademark procurement and multi-jurisdictional IP portfolio management, invalidity, freedom to operate, legal opinion and litigation work 

• Substantive knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry and government oversight of the industry essentially acquired in-house

• Ability to manage multiple projects and conflicting priorities under tight deadlines 

• Strong experience leading a team of professionals within a multicultural and diverse environment 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical and legal issues in a crisp and comprehensible manner, to audiences without technical or IP expertise and proven ability to develop and articulate strategic IP plans to senior management. 

• Fluency in English required 

People come first at Ferring 

• Get inspired from our commitment to advocate for everyone’s right to build a family, no matter who you are, where you live or who you love 

• Our inclusive support package – “Building Families at Ferring” provides equal and accessible policies for all employees who wish to start their family journey, ensuring a global standard, irrespective of location and role 

• Parental leave for both birthing and non-birthing parents 

• Extended support on family building journey 

Making a difference in the life of millions of people means we succeed by working together. Our diverse backgrounds, experiences, expertise, and perspectives enable us to find solutions to even the most challenging problems, and our success is tied to each team member’s contributions. Imagine the power of your career when it’s Ferring + You. 

Behind our purpose… There’s you 

If our mission and your vision are aligned, please apply! 

We strive to build and maintain an inclusive and diverse workplace with equal opportunities and mutual respect for all employees regardless of their backgrounds and socioeconomic status. 

Note to agencies: this search is being managed by Ferring’s Talent Acquisition team. Kindly do not send us spontaneous profiles. 

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