Join the World's Top Legal Talent Network

**About The Job

** In this role, you will collaborate closely with the company’s Research & Innovation teams as well as local and global in-house legal departments to ensure that company innovations are protected in the U.S. and abroad. You will play a key role in driving patent strategy and assessing freedom to operate. This position is based in Louisville, Colorado and you will be a member of the global patent team located in Europe and China.

This position will include the following scope

• Partner with internal stakeholders to identify inventions, review invention disclosures, assess patentability and determine what inventions merit patent applications.
• Draft, file, prosecute and defend patents, often in collaboration with outside counsel.
• Assess novelty and patentability of company products, science, processes and (digital) services.
• Provide clear and practical legal guidance on freedom to operate, non-infringement, scope of protection and validity.
• Lead PR’s, PGR’s, and Re-examinations
• In partnership with the business and local and global legal teams, set and execute Intellectual Property strategies to advance the company’s innovation and growth objectives globally, and to protect and enhance the company’s IP assets to create and maintain competitive advantage.
• Monitor US patent trends and case law developments and recommend adjustment to IP strategies accordingly, providing US patent insights to patent attorney colleagues abroad .
• Serve as a day-to-day resource to the R & I team by answering questions and offering practical legal advice, including best practices and internal policy implementation.
• Advise on the protection of confidential information and trade secrets.
• Educate and train company personnel on technology protection and support the development and implementation of, and compliance with, internal policies and procedures.
• Review agreements impacting IP and review IP clauses in relevant contracts.
• Perform other duties and assist with special projects as needed.

This position is hybrid and is based in Louisville, CO.

**About You

** **Required Experience

**

• J.D. from an accredited law school
• Bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry or related science
• 5+ years of applicable substantive experience
• Licensed to practice in CO or willing to gain admission
• Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

**Required Skills

**

• Self-starter, ability to thrive in a changing environment and willingness to take ownership of projects
• Strong organizational skills, detail oriented and able to effectively prioritize workload and manage deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including the ability to convert complex patent concepts into useful business guidance.
• Ability to collaborate and work as part of a team, as well to work independently and efficiently.
• Personal accountability for work and work product; willing and able to follow through on complex issues
• Able to thrive in ambiguity and make decisions amidst multiple, competing demands and activities

**Preferred Experience

**

• Experience within the in-house legal department of a global food, beverage or specialized nutrition company
• Technical scientific knowledge on food products, compositions and production
• Broad IP experience, including freedom-to-operate, opinion preparation and patent prosecution
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders across business units and geographies at all organizational levels

The base compensation range for this position is $170,000-$190,000 commensurate with experience. Danone North America additionally offers a performance-based bonus and has a strong benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug Coverage, 401k Plan, Wellness Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Time Off, and Paid Parental Bonding Leave, among other benefit plan options. To give our employees flexibility, Danone is a hybrid work environment with opportunities to work both remotely and in office.

**About Us

** At Danone North America, you’ll work with some of the best-known food and beverage brands in the world like Activia, Silk, Horizon Organic, Two Good, Oikos, evian, and Happy Family. You’ll be part of the largest Certified B Corp ™ in the world , working together to make sure our brands create real benefits for people, communities, and the planet. We have 6,000+ employees across the U.S. and Canada. Come join our movement for a healthier world One Planet. One Health BY YOU .

Danone North America doesn’t just welcome what makes you unique, we value it. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All hires to our team are based on qualifications, merit and business needs. We recruit, employ, train and promote regardless of race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, genetic characteristic or any other protected status. Faithful to our values of openness and humanism, all of our employees share in the commitment to engage one another with dignity and respect.

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