Categories: Intellectual Property, R&D, Personal Care

Intellectual Property Patent Technical Leader

Job Description

You were made to do this work: exploring uncharted questions, engineering innovative solutions, advancing scientific understanding, and constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. You want to be part of a performance culture dedicated to solving real-world problems with purpose and precision. You want to work in an environment that promotes sustainability, inclusion, wellbeing, and career development. In this role, you’ll help us shape the future and improve lives for billions of people around the world.

It starts with YOU.

In this role, you will:

Drive the corporation's intellectual property strategy across Global Personal Care (with focus on Baby and Child Care Research and Development) to inspire where the organization needs to evolve -

• Ensure all key projects/programs have active IA strategies and guide the team(s) on protection plans.

• Work effectively with global inventors to strengthen Kimberly-Clark patent estates, helping to identify what should be added or adjusted within invention disclosure submissions to obtain the best and broadest protection possible.
• Assess differentiation between invention disclosures and prior art, the technical merits of inventions, and level of fit with the technology and business strategy, to drive recommendations regarding disposition of invention disclosure submissions.
• Proactively identify opportunities for new patents and IP protection.
• Identify and monitor Kimberly-Clark and competitor patent portfolios to understand competitive technology investment and to identify and help close gaps in Kimberly-Clark patent portfolio related to Kimberly-Clark technology investment.

Drive an inventive culture and mindset –

• Establish standard metrics for Kimberly-Clark globally and keep leadership abreast of key work through quarterly updates.
• Strategize with the R&D teams on how to define inventions to enable the broadest protection for the business.
• Share best practices broadly within IA and R&D community for continued progress.
• Develop a culture of understanding and importance around IA and establish formal and informal processes for recognition of IA achievements.
• Maintain a working knowledge of Kimberly-Clark products, manufacturing processes, Kimberly-Clark patent estate, and competitive patent estates.

Interact with a Globally Diverse team –

• Work directly with attorneys, subject matter experts, global R&E team members and business leaders to make and implement intellectual asset decisions.
• Facilitate patent filings, patent estate maintenance decisions, foreign filing decisions, competitive patent reviews, publication and trade secret processes.

Foster Partnerships –

• Be the primary R&E contact with the legal team ensuring all timelines are met for proper decision making.
• Work with peers from other functions to drive standardization and alignment to ownership of broader Kimberly-Clark initiatives.
• Provide technical guidance to the Intellectual Property Patent Facilitator role on the team for growth/development.

Drive Big Innovations –

• Manage prioritization and execution of IA development with the most strategic FEI programs.
• Influence learning plans when needed to create data needed to support invention disclosures and stronger patent applications.
• Foresee barriers to IP procurement and maintenance and to develop strategies to overcome those hurdles.

Influence Business Strategies –

• Leverage IA related insights to influence action and project decisions with brand teams.
• Support competitive assessments by connecting trends with patents, trademarks, etc. with product and other publicly available information.

Support Third Party Agreements –

• Maintain a working knowledge of contracts with IA obligations or impacts.
• Ensure third party agreements are considered early with IA strategies to maximize Kimberly-Clark’s position and prevent inadvertent public disclosures.

About Us

Huggies®. Kleenex®. Cottonelle®. Scott®. Kotex®. Poise®. Depend®. Kimberly-Clark Professional®. You already know our legendary brands—and so does the rest of the world. In fact, millions of people use Kimberly-Clark products every day. We know these amazing Kimberly-Clark products wouldn’t exist without talented professionals, like you.

At Kimberly-Clark, you’ll be part of the best team committed to driving innovation, growth and impact. We’re founded on more than 150 years of market leadership, and we’re always looking for new and better ways to perform – so there’s your open door of opportunity. It’s all here for you at Kimberly-Clark.

Led by Purpose. Driven by You.

About You

You perform at the highest level possible, and you appreciate a performance culture fueled by authentic caring.  You want to be part of a company actively dedicated to sustainability, inclusion, wellbeing, and career development.
 

You love what you do, especially when the work you do makes a difference. At Kimberly-Clark, we’re constantly exploring new ideas on how, when, and where we can best achieve results.

In one of our R&D roles, you’ll focus on winning with consumers and the market, while putting safety, mutual respect, and human dignity at the center. To succeed in this role, you will need the following qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree or preferably an advanced degree in a technical discipline (e.g. Chemical, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering).
• 7+ years of global patent experience, IA/IP law, IA/IP management or related experience.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of IA/IP law, and an IA/IP management system (i.e. ANAQUA) and external Patent & Trademark Office processes for protection of Kimberly-Clark inventions.
• Demonstrated competence in searching and analyzing patent art with ability to effectively summarize and draw conclusions from large amounts of patent data.
• Experience with ideation processes which lead to invention disclosures.
• Competency and experience in understanding the issues and aspects associated with developing and obtaining patents and enabling inventors to create intellectual property.
• Strong collaboration, decisiveness, and communication skills required to interact effectively and independently with all levels of the enterprise and across the globe.
• Model Kimberly-Clark’s leadership behaviors and the ability to influence without direct authority.
• Global patent experience.

Preferred:

• Experience with ANAQUA IA/IP Management System.
• Familiarity with Personal Care related products, processes and materials including experience with intellectual assets for FDA regulated medical devices.
• Working knowledge of the Kimberly-Clark Personal Care Global organizational structure as it relates to managing IA decisions.
• Advanced education with Patent Law.

Total Benefits

Here are just a few of the benefits you’d enjoy working in this role for Kimberly-Clark. For a complete overview, see www.mykcbenefits.com.
 

Great support for good health with medical, dental, and vision coverage options with no waiting periods or pre-existing condition restrictions. Access to an on-site fitness center, occupational health nurse, and allowances for high-quality safety equipment.

Flexible Savings and spending accounts to maximize health care options and stretch dollars when caring for yourself or dependents.

Diverse income protection insurance options to protect yourself and your family in case of illness, injury, or other unexpected events.

Additional programs and support to continue your education, adopt a child, relocate, or even find temporary childcare.

To Be Considered

Click the Apply button and complete the online application process. A member of our recruiting team will review your application and follow up if you seem like a great fit for this role.

In the meantime, please check out the careers website.

And finally, the fine print….

For Kimberly-Clark to grow and prosper, we must be an inclusive organization that applies the diverse experiences and passions of its team members to brands that make life better for people all around the world, which is why we seek to build a workforce that encompasses the experiences of our consumers.  When you bring your original thinking to Kimberly-Clark, you fuel the continued success of our enterprise. We are a committed equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this classification. Statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required for this position. 

Employment is subject to verification of pre-screening tests, which may include drug screening, background check, and DMV check. 

Veterans and members of the Reserve and Guard are highly encouraged to apply.

Kimberly-Clark will support in-country relocation for the chosen candidate for the role. The benefits provided will be per the terms of Kimberly-Clark’s applicable mobility policies. The benefits/policy provided will be decided at Kimberly-Clark’s sole discretion.

#LI-Onsite

 

Salary Range: 127,600 – 157,600 USD

 

At Kimberly-Clark, pay is just one aspect of our total rewards package, which also includes a variety of benefits and opportunities to achieve, thrive and grow. Along with base pay, this position offers eligibility for a target bonus and a comprehensive benefits suite, including our 401(k) and Profit Sharing plan. The anticipated base pay range for this role is provided above for a fully qualified hire. Actual pay will depend on several factors, such as location, role, skills, performance, and experience. Please note that the stated pay range applies to US locations only.

Primary Location

Neenah - West R&E Office

Additional Locations

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time