Director, Patents– Pharmaceuticals

Director, Patents – Pharmaceuticals

Gaithersburg, MD

Legal

Hybrid Work- on average 3 days a week from office

At AstraZeneca, we turn ideas into life-changing medicines. Working here means being entrepreneurial, thinking big and working together with the utmost integrity to make the impossible a reality. We’re passionate about the potential of science to address the unmet needs of patients around the world. We commit to those areas where we believe we can really change the course of medicine and bring big new ideas to life!

We are looking for a Patent Director with significant experience in building IP portfolios which protect pharmaceutical products to join our Global IP team. This is a great opportunity to join a world-class in-house IP team in a leading biopharmaceutical company where you will play a vital role in protecting AstraZeneca’s fantastic pipeline. Taking on a role that bridges science and legal practice, you’ll be a global business IP advisor and will work closely with our scientists and global project teams to build and manage complex patent portfolios to protect our exciting pharmaceutical assets (including small molecules and other modalities) and innovations across R&D.

As a qualified US patent attorney, you will prosecute directly before the USPTO and partner with colleagues in the Global IP team as well as external legal counsel to obtain and defend patents globally. Working in-house, you will keep up to date with emerging legal and pharma developments to help set and implement the global IP strategy in your area in collaboration with the Assistant General Counsel.

What you’ll do

• Independently lead all aspects of build, maintenance and defense of specific patent portfolios
• Actively counsel members of Research & Development organizations to identify new inventions as well as devise and implement strategies for patent protection over the extended drug development life cycle
• Build and implement global strategic approaches toward building patent portfolios and contributing to increased business value
• Prepare and prosecute patent applications worldwide including effectively managing outside counsel as needed
• Lead all aspects of large intellectual property estates in AstraZeneca’s core and opportunistic therapeutic areas
• Evaluate and monitor patent portfolios of third parties
• Develop and communicate IP guidance to partners across the business, including within R&D, Business Development, commercial and legal
• Review and analyze license agreements and other contracts
• Provide IP and technical analysis in support of patent litigation and oppositions
• Identifying and managing all associated IP risks for your project – presenting them to IP, legal and business teams. You’ll craft strategies for the filing, prosecution, maintenance and defense of patents in your portfolio against third-party challenges.
• Managing external spend to meet budget targets
• You may also work on business development deals or coordinate our response to legal changes in a particular country or region

Essential for the role

• Qualified US patent attorney, with previous experience of handling pharmaceutical patent portfolios
• Bachelors degree or equivalent in chemistry, biochemistry or related science
• At least 7 years of relevant experience in life science patent prosecution with global portfolios
• Strong core chemical/small molecule pharmaceutical patent prosecution skills and ability to independently lead patent dockets and portfolios in multiple markets and jurisdictions
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to be an enterprise leader for the organization
• High level of integrity and motivation, ability to work independently
• Ability to balance multiple tasks and projects with constantly evolving priorities

Desirable for the role

• Education to Ph.D. level or equivalent, and/or several years of laboratory experience in the relevant scientific area
• Experience in the biotech and/or pharmaceutical industry
• Combined in-house and law firm experience preferred
• Experience in leading external service providers
• First-hand experience of IP-related litigation

Office Working Requirements

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That’s why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn’t mean we’re not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $220,500.00 – 330,750.00 USD as an annual base salary. Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition, our positions offer a short-term incentive bonus opportunity; eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program (salaried roles), to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles), and commission payment eligibility (sales roles). Benefits offered included a qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]; paid vacation and holidays; paid leaves; and, health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans. Additional details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

Equal Opportunities

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.

#LI-Hybrid

Date Posted

29-Sept-2025

Closing Date

12-Oct-2025

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.

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