IP Counsel

Key Responsibilities | 主要职责
• Develop and maintain a robust global intellectual property portfolio to support the Company’s research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of small molecule drug products.
• Conduct patentability assessments, prior art searches, freedom-to-operate (FTO) analyses, and competitive landscape evaluations; clearly communicate findings and recommendations to cross-functional teams.
• Provide actionable guidance to research teams on legal requirements for patentable inventions.
• Collaborate closely with R&D teams to identify new inventions and lead patent drafting, filing, and prosecution strategies.
• Review and analyze office actions and develop effective response strategies, including claim amendments.
• Partner with external counsel to manage and oversee global patent prosecution activities.
• Design and implement IP strategies aligned with business priorities, R&D timelines, and budget considerations.
• Support IP due diligence for potential in-licensing or business development opportunities.
• Review scientific publications, abstracts, and presentations to assess and mitigate IP risks.
• Advise on agreements and transactions with intellectual property implications.
• Participate in cross-functional program team meetings and provide strategic IP guidance on innovation arising from discovery and development activities.
Qualifications | 任职要求
• Advanced degree in organic chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, or related discipline required; Ph.D. in organic chemistry preferred.
• 1–5 years of relevant intellectual property experience in a law firm and/or in-house setting within the biotech or pharmaceutical industry, with a focus on small molecule drug inventions.
• Experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with a solid understanding of drug discovery, development, manufacturing, and commercialization processes; familiarity with biologics and small molecule drugs preferred.
• Familiarity with global patent prosecution rules and regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to lead patent drafting, filing, and prosecution processes, and to effectively communicate IP strategies to external counsel.
• Strong ability to collaborate across teams, work independently, and manage multiple priorities under tight timelines with a high level of professionalism.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both Chinese and English; ability to translate complex legal concepts and IP strategies into clear, business-oriented guidance.
• Ability to build trust, foster collaboration, and work effectively within cross-functional teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify issues and implement solutions, escalating when appropriate.
• High level of integrity, with the ability to handle confidential and proprietary information with discretion and sound judgment.
• Self-motivated, reliable, responsive, and able to work independently.
• Flexible and adaptable, with willingness to take on new responsibilities as needed.