Come join our diverse and engaging global IP team, and lead the IP function for four global Veralto companies
Description
This is a broad and critical IP leadership role supporting Veralto's
Product Quality & Innovation
companies around the world. This European Patent Attorney position is responsible for developing, implementing, and executing aligned intellectual property strategies supporting our growing Packaging & Color segment, which includes
X-Rite
,
Esko
,
Pantone
, and
TraceGains
.
The successful candidate will work alongside our business, R&D, technical, and marketing teams located throughout Europe and the U.S. to set and execute aligned IP strategies; help guide the development of new products and third-party relationships; identify and protect inventions, brands, trade secrets, and copyrights in collaboration with outside counsel; and lead freedom to operate, IP enforcement, IP agreements, patents, trademarks, and copyright actions, and all other IP-related activities.
The attorney will team with other internal associates and external consultants around the world to provide global IP support, including with other associates on the Veralto IP team, the Veralto legal team, and outside counsel. Prior experience working on global corporate teams would be highly beneficial, and the successful candidate will understand the importance of operating with a global, team-based mindset. The position is part of Veralto's global IP team and legal team and will report into Veralto's Vice President of IP.
Essential Job Functions
* Counseling and leadership on all issues related to intellectual property rights
* Develop and maintain a strong understanding of our Packaging & Color businesses, plans, technologies, product goals, and challenges
* Establish and implement an aligned intellectual property strategy for each Packaging & Color business, fully aligned to support its goals and address challenges
* Develop and curate a strategic, global intellectual property portfolio for each business (including patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrights)
* Actively support and integrate with R&D, technical, marketing, and business teams throughout product concept, design, development, and launch to ensure appropriate IP protection and support from start to finish
* Regularly align and lead IP Review Boards, meetings, and results
* Lead freedom to operate and clearance-related activities, including patent and trademark searches, assessing infringement and clearance risks, consideration of design around options, establishing clearance positions and opinions, and taking patent/trademark opposition/nullity actions when appropriate
* Monitor and report on competitor IP activity
* Lead activities relating to enforcement of company IP rights, including investigating and assessing potential infringement by others, taking enforcement action when appropriate, and resolution
* Defend company IP rights against third party challenges
* Negotiate and support IP-related transactions, contracts, and contract terms, including development agreements, license agreements, non-disclosure agreements, and other IP-related agreements and contract terms
* Assist with M&A and venture capital activities as needed, from due diligence to documentation to integration
* Collaborate with and oversee IP paralegal work
* Manage IP budgets and spending
* Develop and manage outside counsel relationships, support, and budgets, including, e.g., patent and trademark prosecution, conflicts, and enforcement
* Collaborate with in-house general, contracts, and IP attorneys worldwide, including close collaboration and leadership with Veralto IP team workflows and projects
* 15% domestic and international travel
* Appropriate, periodic travel to operating company facilities is essential
* Primary European company locations
* X-Rite – Regensdorf, Switzerland
* Linx – St. Ives, Cambridgeshire, UK
* Esko – Gent, Belgium
* Primary US company locations
* Pantone – Carlstadt, New Jersey, USA
* X-Rite – Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Candidate Qualifications
* Authorized representative before the European Patent Office
* A degree in engineering (e.g., mechanical, software, chemical, electrical, electronics), physics, chemistry or other relevant technical field
* 10+ years working in the IP department of a high-tech company or in a law firm
* Knowledge of international patent law systems, especially European & U.S. systems
* Excellent knowledge of German and English, both written and spoken
* In-depth legal and IP knowledge and keen interest in technical issues
* Excellent analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills
* Champion of continuous improvement
* Team player
Other Soft Skills
* Comfortable working in a global team environment
* Experience working with external consultant organizations (e.g., FTO and search) and external law firms
* Experience with IP processes typical of large-scale organizations
* Proactive communicator and strong team player
* Self-motivated and action oriented
* Ability to manage competing priorities
* Deals effectively with "work peaks"
* Technically curious
What You Can Expect
At X-Rite / Veralto, you can build a career in a way no other company can duplicate. Our brands allow us to offer dynamic careers across multiple industries. We're innovative, fast-paced, and results-oriented. We need talented people to succeed at a fast pace. Here you'll learn how our proprietary Veralto Enterprise System (VES) tools are used to shape strategy, focus
execution, align our people, and create value for customers and shareholders. Come join our global team
At Veralto, we value diversity and the existence of similarities and differences, both visible and not, found in our workforce, workplace and throughout the markets we serve. Our associates, customers and shareholders contribute unique and different perspectives as a result of these diverse attributes.
Unsolicited Assistance
We do not accept unsolicited assistance from any headhunters or recruitment firms for any of our job openings. All resumes or profiles submitted by search firms to any employee at any of the Veralto companies, in any form without a valid, signed search agreement in place for the specific position, approved by Talent Acquisition, will be deemed the sole property of Veralto and its companies. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Veralto and its companies because of the unsolicited referral.
, Dunja Widhalm, >