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Patent Associate (Fixed-Term - Maternity Cover)

City: Slough

We are Reckitt

Home to the world's best loved and trusted hygiene, health, and nutrition brands. Our purpose defines why we exist: to protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world. We are a global team united by this purpose. Join us in our fight to make access to the highest quality hygiene, wellness, and nourishment a right and not a privilege.

Legal

Step into the world of our Legal and Compliance Function and prepare to be challenged and stretched with a combination of impact, innovation, and excellence. Our Legal team is at the forefront of shaping the corporate landscape and redefining the boundaries of what is possible. We go beyond the traditional realms of a legal and compliance function. Transforming ourselves into strategic partners who help drive business growth, mitigating risks, and championing ethical and sustainable practices. Every day, our team deliver on groundbreaking transactions and navigate complex regulatory landscapes that help our organisation make a positive societal impact. Join us, and you'll be collaborating towards shared goals, solving complex challenges, and leaving an enduring legacy.

About the role

The Patent Associate supports one or more Reckitt business categories by providing patent and design expertise across the full innovation lifecycle. The role is responsible for managing and advising on global patent and design matters, supporting innovation programmes and helping to protect and maximise the value of Reckitt's intellectual property assets.

Reporting to the Patent Director, the role partners closely with R&D, Regulatory, Commercial, Innovation and Legal colleagues to deliver practical, commercially focused intellectual property advice in support of Reckitt's growth strategy. The Patent Associate works both independently and collaboratively within the Global IP & BP team and in particular the Global Patent team to develop, protect and enforce intellectual property rights across global markets.

It is a fixed-term employment (maternity cover).

Your responsibilities

Manage patent and design portfolios for one or more Reckitt categories or technology areas.
Partner with R&D and innovation teams to identify, assess and protect inventions and design innovations.
Draft, file and prosecute patent and design applications through external counsel and agents worldwide.
Provide freedom-to-operate advice, validity assessments and strategic patentability opinions.
Conduct competitor monitoring, patent landscape reviews and technology intelligence activities.
Contribute to opposition, enforcement and litigation activities where required.
Build strong relationships with business stakeholders to ensure intellectual property considerations are integrated into innovation and business decisions.

The experience we're looking for

Qualified or near-qualified European Patent Attorney and/or UK Patent Attorney.
Experience in patent drafting, prosecution and freedom-to-operate analysis.
Strong technical background in chemistry, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering or related disciplines.
Experience managing patent and design matters in private practice, industry or a combination of both.
Experience communicating complex legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders in a clear and commercial manner.
Exposure to FMCG, consumer health or innovation-driven businesses would be advantageous.
Experience conducting patent landscape and competitor monitoring activities would be beneficial.

The skills for success

Patent Strategy, Patent Drafting, Patent Prosecution, Design Protection, Freedom to Operate Analysis, Invention Harvesting, Intellectual Property Risk Management, Portfolio Management, Competitor Intelligence, Technology Landscaping, Stakeholder Management, Commercial Awareness, Legal Communication, Influencing, Innovation Partnership, Problem Solving, Project Management, Collaboration and Business Partnership.

What we offer

With inclusion at the heart of everything we do, working alongside our four global Employee Resource Groups, we support our people at every step of their career journey, helping them to succeed in their own individual way. We invest in the wellbeing of our people through parental benefits, an Employee Assistance Program to promote mental health, and life insurance for all employees globally. We have a range of other benefits in line with the local market. Through our global share plans we offer the opportunity to save and share in Reckitt's potential future successes. For eligible roles, we also offer short-term incentives to recognise, appreciate and reward your work for delivering outstanding results. You will be rewarded in line with Reckitt's pay for performance philosophy.

Equality

We recognise that in real life, great people don't always 'tick all the boxes'. That's why we hire for potential as well as experience. Even if you don't meet every point on the job description, if this role and our company feels like a good fit for you, we still want to hear from you. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, disability or medical condition; colour, ethnicity, race, citizenship, and national origin; religion, faith; pregnancy, family status and caring responsibilities; sexual orientation; sex, gender identity, gender expression, and transgender identity; protected veteran status; size or any other basis protected by appropriate law.

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