Job description

The Position

Patent Attorney

202308-119339

Our team

Within Group Legal at the Roche Headquarters in Basel, the Patent Function is responsible for patenting inventions out of our research as well as for maintaining and enforcing Roche patent rights for our products.

As a member of the patent team, you will give guidance to our scientists and business on the patentability of inventions in this field. You will secure patent protection and freedom to operate for our products in close collaboration with the ​partners of all functions involved. You will bring your business insight and enterprise thinking skills to different teams across the whole value chain in the organization.

Your further roles and responsibilities:

• Pro-actively harvesting inventions, drafting and filing patent applications together with our scientists

• Reviewing planned publications

• Responsibility for patent prosecution, maintenance, defense, and enforcement of patent rights

• Advising management on patent strategies for development products

• Patent portfolio management, supporting the decision-making process for worldwide filings, maintenance and abandonment of patent filings from cradle to grave

• Performing freedom to operate analysis

• Evaluate contract terms related to IP and coordinate with the Legal and Licensing departments on the drafting and negotiating of the same

Who you are

You’re someone who wants to influence your own development. You’re looking for a company where you have the opportunity to pursue your interests across functions and geographies. Where a job title is not considered the final definition of who you are, but the starting point.

You have an advanced degree in biology, biomedicine, biochemistry, biotechnology, genetics, life science, biophysics, preferably with a PhD, and a broadly based curiosity in science and pharmaceutics. You bring experience in a corporate industrial setting, preferably related to biology, cell therapy, gene therapy, biotechnology, or equivalent field. Experience in patenting of inventions in these areas is an advantage.

You are a fully qualified European Patent Attorney, ideally with more than two years post EQE experience, knowledge of US patent law is a plus.

In addition, you bring the following skills and qualifications:

• A sophisticated understanding of a global patent prosecution strategy and process, particularly relating to drug discovery and development. You identify risks and provide counseling toward efficient commercial exploitation, strategic development, and effective protection of our company’s intellectual property assets

• A strong curiosity about international IP/patent laws and interdisciplinary matters with a desire to broaden horizons in this field and take pleasure in a variety of intellectually stimulating work

• Excellent written and oral communication skills and ability to moderate. Shown English language skills; knowledge of additional languages, in particular German will be an advantage

• Finely honed interpersonal skills, including the ability to give and receive feedback in a constructive manner. Resilience, humility, problem-solving attitude, and self-reflection.

• Ability to work collaboratively in self-organized teams and become comfortable with making decisions on the spot and dealing with ambiguity

• A well-structured, reliable and detailed style of work and a strong eye for business. You bring well-developed analytical and writing skills and you are able to work to tight schedules and handle several projects simultaneously.

The position is located at the Patent Department of F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. in Basel, Switzerland.

Please apply until 1 March 2024.

Who we are

At Roche, more than 100,000 people across 100 countries are pushing back the frontiers of healthcare. Working together, we’ve become one of the world’s leading research-focused healthcare groups. Our success is built on innovation, curiosity and diversity.

Basel is the headquarters of the Roche Group and one of its most important centres of pharmaceutical research. Over 10,700 employees from over 100 countries come together at our Basel/Kaiseraugst site, which is one of Roche`s largest sites. Read more.

Besides extensive development and training opportunities, we offer flexible working options, 18 weeks of maternity leave and 10 weeks of gender independent partnership leave. Our employees also benefit from multiple services on site such as child-care facilities, medical services, restaurants and cafeterias, as well as various employee events.

We believe in the power of diversity and inclusion, and strive to identify and create opportunities that enable all people to bring their unique selves to Roche.

Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.