Patent Attorney

Utrecht + Hybrid, Full-time

About the Job

Join our Research & Innovation Center in Utrecht as a Patent Attorney!

As a Patent Attorney, your mission will be protecting and impacting business and innovation with the aim to create value and competitive advantage for Danone. Main contribution includes building the protection and the protection strategy of the division at global level, with a focus on patent protection, patent strategy and freedom to operate versus third party patents.

You will guide Danone to reinforce the ownability of our products, science, services and process and manages patent related (freedom to operate) risks and opportunities.

As a Patent Attorney you’ll actively engage internal and external stakeholders, working in close cooperation with R&I and other functions within Danone. Depending on the project these can for example include purchasing, regulatory, merger & acquisition, legal functions, marketing, tax etc). You will contribute to co-building ownable R&I program/project.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Patent Attorney responsibilities include the implementation of patent strategy of a product category or business line at global level. Your main tasks will include:

• Overseeing the strategic development and management of a patent & opposition portfolio aligned with business needs
• Invention harvesting
• Freedom to operate risk assessments
• Ensuring review of competitor patents in product category/business line
• Portfolio management (drafting-, filing- and prosecuting, defending and divesting patents)
• assessment of novelty and patentability of our products, science, processes, services
• Handling defensive and offensive oppositions or other patent invalidation actions globally
• Identify and manage risk and opportunities (freedom to operate risk analysis, patent infringement actions, etc.)
• Leading, guiding and/or expertise contribution on (i) patent infringement topics (offensive and defensive); (ii) patent licensing topics (in- an out-licensing); (iii) transfers and assignments, aligned with business decisions and resources.

The Patent Attorney contributes to patent department visibility and efficiency by for example educating stakeholders on patent related matters, being involved in devising and improving (patent) procedures within Danone, designing IP aspects in partnerships, reviewing contracts, prior use rights. 

The Patent Attorney can contribute to legal, commercial and financial aspects connected to protection, such as patent budget management, tax aspects, patent communication on pack, biodiversity laws, M&A, protection aspects & strategies in supplier contracts, know-how protection, inventorship topics, trade secret protection, data protection, protection models in open innovation, intra group assignments and licenses.

The Patent Attorney can manage one or more of patent information specialist, patent administrator/support officer, patent attorney.

Meet your future manager! You’ll be joining the team of Frederik Te Hennepe, Director Patents Platform.

You work independently and take initiatives to lead Danone in patent protection topics. You are a team player contributing actively to the joined learning, organisation and functioning of the patent team and being a constructive member of transversal teams. You are responsible for keeping an up to date knowledge level in the relevant international patent field. You also bring the following qualifications:

• Technical scientific knowledge on food products/packaging, composition and production (MSc, PhD from technical university discipline)
• You are Qualified* Patent Attorney (*in Europe passed European Qualifying Exam for patent attorneys) - this is a must-have for the role.
• You have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of effectively engaging with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• You are fluent in English.

Working at Danone is a unique experience. It’s fast-paced and complex and, at times, it can get a little challenging. But it’s packed with opportunities to learn and grow working with some of the best-known brands in the world, like Evian, Alpro, Nutricia, Activia and Nutrilon. Bring your unique perspective, ambitions and entrepreneurial ideas to the table – the impact you could make might just surprise you. One Planet. One Health – BY YOU.

We’re proud to be a B-Corp certified company. That means we meet the highest verified standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability in everything we do.

We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we base our hiring decisions on merit, job requirements and business needs.*

We Offer

It’s an exciting time to join Danone! And the best part? You’ll be supported to grow an impactful career that you can be proud of. Together, we’ll build a healthier world.

All Danoners receive a complete package of benefits. This includes a competitive salary and yearly bonus, a premium free pension and great discounts on health insurance and Danone products. We understand the importance of flexibility and offer 30 days of annual leave (with the opportunity to purchase more) and a hybrid working environment, where you can work either from home or from one of our People Hubs in Hoofddorp, Utrecht and Rijswijk.

What’s Next

It’s simple – hit the “apply” button now! You have until 1 December 2024 to apply. In order to comply with GDPR we can’t process your personal data without your given consent, so please apply directly via careers website. Good luck! We can’t wait to meet you.

Need more information? Please contact Elif Oruc, Talent Acquisition Manager via elif.oruc@danone.com

* all applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status

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