Senior IP Searcher

The IP Searcher plays a crucial role in supporting the IP team and broader business through carrying out, managing and coordinating comprehensive patent and trademark searches, maintaining records and managing regular IP monitoring activities within the IP team. The IP Searcher must possess strong research skills, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of IP databases and search techniques, including sequence searching and chemical sub-structure searching. Additionally, the IP Searcher works independently to coordinate and instruct external counsel and external search organisations on behalf of CSL and the IP team. The role includes developing and evolving the search capabilities of the IP function and may also include mentoring and overseeing work by a trainee/junior searcher. You will report to the Head of IP Digital & Technologies (IP LT).

Responsibilities and accountabilities

• In conjunction with attorneys, design, coordinate and/or conduct IP searches using various databases and resources to identify relevant prior art, patents, trademarks and other technical or commercial information, including keyword, sequence and chemical substructure searching. "commercial" is information on 3rd party sales; tracking of Gx API movement or Gx development/launch readiness; license or other commercial relationships that could be relevant e.g. in due diligences or Rx-Gx/Rx-Rx conflicts.

• Support attorneys in the review and/or analysis of search results to assess patentability, freedom to operate, and IP risk (trademarks and patents). Additionally, providing search support as required, for other IP areas such as litigation, domain names, International Nonproprietary Names (INN) or Orphan Drug Designation (ODD)

• Communicate search approach, structure/queries and results to IP team or other CSL stakeholders in R&D or associated enabling functions (i.e. Business Development or Global Licensing) in a clear and easily understandable way, with key search results and findings appropriately highlighted

• Ability to work independently to coordinate and/or instruct external counsel and external search organizations to conduct standalone searches or regular database monitoring on behalf of attorneys or IP team. Proactively manage search activities and relationships with external search providers on behalf of attorneys and IP team

• Contribute to management of CSL third-party IP monitoring activities, including recording, processing, communicating and actioning regular ongoing search results

• Ability to actively contribute within a matrix work model, including contributing to cross-functional sub-teams to deliver specialty IP projects, such as patent landscaping, competitor analysis, CSL portfolio reports and analytics, and/or due diligence activities

• Coordinate and maintain IP team search records, including search structure/queries and results, in accordance with company policies and procedures

• Actively drive the development or use of new digital technologies, search, reporting and/or analytics tools to improve search efficiency and expand the company's search scope into new areas of commercial importance, (also maximizing stakeholders' engagement), including working with external search organizations to develop tools for integrated IP search management

Job specifications

• Bachelor degree in a life sciences discipline (chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology) or a related field, preferably Masters or PhD qualification

• Certification/qualifications in patent and/or trademark searching highly regarded

• Minimum 5 years, preferably 8+ years, experience as patent searcher especially in life sciences disciplines

• Experience with keyword, sequence and chemical substructure searching highly regarded

• Experience using public and commercial patent databases such as USPTO, EPO, WIPO, Derwent Innovation, PatBase, SciFinder or equivalent platforms and databases

• Demonstrated understanding of patent and trademark classification systems, patent law, trademark law, and patent and trademark prosecution

• Computer literacy including knowledge of O365 applications, spreadsheets and ability to use databases including IP related databases and registers

• Prepared to effectively manage commitments across different time zones

The role can be base in the following locations: Bern (Switzerland), Zurich (Switzerland), Melbourne (Australia), Waltham (USA), King of Prussia (USA).

Our Benefits

We encourage you to make your well-being a priority. It's important and so are you. Learn more about how we care at CSL.

About CSL Behring

CSL Behring is a global leader in developing and delivering high-quality medicines that treat people with rare and serious diseases. Our treatments offer promise for people in more than 100 countries living with conditions in the immunology, hematology, cardiovascular and metabolic, respiratory, and transplant therapeutic areas. Learn more about CSL Behring .

We want CSL to reflect the world around us

As a global organisation with employees in 35+ countries, CSL embraces inclusion and belonging. Learn more about Inclusion & Belonging at CSL.

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