Director Global Trademark & Patents

• Develop and implement strategic plans for the global IP portfolio, ensuring alignment with business goals and innovation priorities
• Oversee trademark and patent management activities, including clearance, registration, enforcement, litigation, and anti-counterfeiting initiatives on a worldwide scale
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex IP agreements such as technology transfer, licensing, joint development, and research collaborations, ensuring protection of company interests and compliance with legal standards
• Advise and support cross-functional teams (e.g., R&D, marketing, product, licensing, engineering) with business-oriented IP guidance, including risk analysis and strategic counseling on innovation and commercialization
• Lead and manage the IP legal team and external counsel/vendors, overseeing budget, resource allocation, and team development to ensure effective portfolio management and legal compliance
• Direct responsibility for a multi-million-dollar IP portfolio, including prosecution, maintenance, enforcement, and litigation costs
• Influence on company-wide innovation, brand, and risk management strategies through leadership in the protection and monetization of IP assets

• Juris Doctor (JD) and a USPTO bar registration required
• Admitted to practice in Pennsylvania or ability to obtain a limited corporate counsel license in Pennsylvania
• Minimum 12 years of experience in intellectual property, trademarks, patents, and trade secrets, including in-house legal department experience (preferably at a consumer-packaged goods company) or relevant law firm experience
• In-depth knowledge of global IP, trademarks, and patent laws and regulations, especially as they relate to consumer products and processes
• Ability to interpret and apply legal frameworks to complex business scenarios and develop innovative solutions to achieve organizational goals
• Strong experience in defending IP claims, managing disputes, and providing risk management advice
• Excellent oral and written communication, research, and analytical skills
• Capacity to operate both autonomously and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary legal and business team environment

Some knowledge of food regulatory and compliance requirements preferred but not required