Senior Counsel, Patents and Innovation

What You'll Love About This Job

Remote Opportunity | Patents and Innovation | Total Rewards Package

This is Energizer Holdings, Inc.

Energizer Holdings responsibly creates products to make lives easier and more enjoyable. To do this, we lean into our culture as an organization - we win together, while serving each other, with a willingness to act boldly, all while doing right. Our colleagues hail from all backgrounds, nationalities and walks of life, but our shared mission and purpose make us one team. Because we’re a global organization, you will always have opportunities to learn, grow and develop in your career. We support flexible working arrangements wherever possible.

Position Summary

Energizer is seeking an experienced Senior Counsel, Patents and Innovation, to join the Legal Department, serving as a dynamic leader who can cultivate key cross-functional relationships to ensure Energizer proactively protects, expands and develops intellectual property related to our products, technologies and processes. This position reports to the Associate General Counsel, Supply Chain, Operations and Human Resources.

Responsibilities

Universal Accountabilities

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with an ability to tailor messages to various audiences
• Strong legal and organizational judgment, with a demonstrated ability to drive solutions
• Ability to work as an impactful business partner by giving well-reasoned and balanced legal advice that is understandable to the business
• Work both independently and as part of a team as projects dictate
• Think strategically and find resolutions to complex legal issues
• Quickly identify critical legal risks and to appreciate both the immediate and longer-term impacts of different approaches
• Appropriately mitigate risk while remaining aligned with business objectives
• Manage multiple, competing priorities simultaneously and meet tight deadlines
• Prioritize time spent on matters by weighing value and risk
• Global mindset and ability to work virtually with colleagues in other regions
• High initiative, self-starter with a willingness to learn new areas of the law
  
  

Specific Accountabilities

• Provide leadership and direction on patent strategy to optimize global patent portfolio
• Define technical IP strategy and landscaping in close collaboration with Research & Development
• Review invention disclosures and evaluate US and foreign filing options
• Conduct freedom to operate and product clearance analyses
• Draft, review and prosecute patent applications and communicate decisions regarding patent applications and patent issuance, including foreign filings
• Identify, document and evaluate patentable and strategic inventions
• Collaborate with and advise Research & Development and Marketing on IP issues related to new product development
• Draft and negotiate non-disclosure agreements, joint development agreements, technology licenses, service agreements, transfer agreements, and other IP-related agreements as necessary
• Build commercialization opportunities and assist in identifying potential licensing opportunities
• Conduct IP due diligence in support of M&A activity
• Provide IP support in adversarial matters
• Keep up-to-date on patent law developments and overall patent strategy development
• Conduct training for internal clients on IP-related issues
• Manage outside counsel and maintain a budget
• Supervise the Senior Specialist, Patents and Innovation
  
  

What we are looking for

• 6-10 years of relevant experience in patent and technology law, including significant experience managing patent portfolios
• Juris Doctorate (JD) degree from an accredited institution
• Member in good standing of at least one state bar
• Registered to practice before the United States Patent & Trademark Office
• Experience with contested intellectual property matters (e.g., patent litigation, inter partes review, European opposition proceedings)
• Experience managing outside counsel and establishing and monitoring legal budgets on a project basis
• Experience working with and advising senior business leaders, especially regarding patent and technology strategic goals
  
  

What we prefer

• Prior in-house experience
• Experience with a global company
• Experience with a consumer packaged goods company
  
  

Come join us!

Energizer is an equal opportunity employer, and we prohibit discrimination based on age, color, disability, marital or parental status, veteran status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other legally protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

Total Rewards Package

The salary range for this position is USD $150,000.00/Yr. - USD $215,000.00/Yr.

Actual base salary offered to a candidate may vary based upon factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, time in role, base salary of internal peers, prior performance, business sector, and geographic location.

Bonus: This position is bonus eligible.

Energizer strives to create a supportive work environment centered around colleagues’ professional and personal well-being. Our total rewards package provides comprehensive benefits to attract, retain, and protect our colleagues – including health and welfare insurance, parental leave, paid time off, and retirement savings plans.