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Job Description

At Gilead, we’re creating a healthier world for all people. For more than 35 years, we’ve tackled diseases such as HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19 and cancer – working relentlessly to develop therapies that help improve lives and to ensure access to these therapies across the globe. We continue to fight against the world’s biggest health challenges, and our mission requires collaboration, determination and a relentless drive to make a difference.

We empower our leaders to step up, share ideas, listen, learn, and lead. We’re welcoming bright, diverse, and imaginative minds; we’re nurturing them to foster an environment of inclusion and growth where innovation is encouraged. We expect our people leaders to model that environment, and to focus on creating inclusion, developing talent, and enabling teams.

Every member of Gilead’s team plays a critical role in the discovery and development of life-changing scientific innovations. Our employees are our greatest asset as we work to achieve our bold ambitions, and we’re looking for the next wave of passionate and ambitious people ready to make a direct impact. Join Gilead and help create possible, together.

Job Description

Gilead Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, and commercializes innovative therapeutics in areas of unmet medical need. The company's mission is to advance the care of patients suffering from life-threatening diseases worldwide. Headquartered in Foster City, California, Gilead has operations in North, South and Central America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Gilead makes it a priority to increase access to its medicines for people who can benefit from them, regardless of where they live or their economic status. 

Sr. Counsel, Intellectual Property            

As Senior Counsel you will develop and implement comprehensive patent portfolio strategies across Gilead’s therapeutic areas, with a focus on cell therapy biologic therapeutics in support of Kite Pharma. As a member of Gilead’s patent prosecution team, you will work collaboratively on cross-functional research teams to advance research and clinical candidates through the drug development process. You will advise research teams and management regarding risks and opportunities related to Gilead’s intellectual property.

Specific Responsibilities and Skills

The successful candidate will work on a range of intellectual property issues in a fast-paced, established pharmaceutical company. The successful candidate will demonstrate Gilead’s Core Values and Leadership Commitments through their ability to proactively identify issues potentially impacting the business and work with the teams and business units to devise solutions. The ability to counsel research and business colleagues by providing clear advice is essential. The successful candidate is expected to work independently, be proactive in identifying legal issues, and to demonstrate initiative, sound judgment and a service-oriented focus. The successful candidate will demonstrate expertise in specific areas of the law and will have experience contributing effectively to legal and cross-functional projects. The successful candidate will be a part of the patent product attorney group and will report to a senior member of the patent prosecution team.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Oversee and develop patent portfolios to protect Gilead’s product pipeline with a focus on cell therapy, manufacturing processes particularly for cell therapy, quality control systems, medical devices and diagnostics.
• Draft and prosecute patent applications (US and foreign patent offices).
• Counsel non-legal colleagues regarding patent strategy and identification of patentable inventions.
• Conduct patentability and freedom-to-operate analyses.
• Review and assist in the drafting of nondisclosure, research, license and other agreements involving the use, transfer, or ownership of intellectual property.
• Review proposed publications regarding Gilead and Kite’s research programs for potential IP issues.
• Address intellectual property issues of regulatory matters relating to exclusivity. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Biochemistry or related sciences; advanced degree is a plus.
• Admission to practice before the USPTO.
• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school and admission before a State bar.
• Fully admitted to practice applicable laws in the jurisdiction of residence and responsibility.
• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills to deliver clear and concise communications.
• Strong client service orientation.
• 6+ years of experience in patent prosecution in a law firm; experience as corporate in-house counsel in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industries preferred. 

The salary range for this position is: $237,660.00 - $307,560.00. Gilead considers a variety of factors when determining base compensation, including experience, qualifications, and geographic location. These considerations mean actual compensation will vary. This position may also be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, discretionary stock-based long-term incentives (eligibility may vary based on role), paid time off, and a benefits package. Benefits include company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans*.