Offre d'emploi

Patent Counsel F/M

The role could be based in Lyon (69) or Aubervilliers (93) in France

Solvay is an international chemicals group. Serving diversified markets, Solvay achieves 90% of its  sales in activities in which it ranks among the top three worldwide.

Headquartered in Brussels, the group employs 24,100 people at 115 sites in 64 countries and achieved sales of EUR 10.2 billion in 2020.

Solvay is a science company whose technologies bring benefits to many aspects of daily life. Their purpose—we bond people, ideas and elements to reinvent progress—is a call to go beyond, to reinvent future forms of progress and create sustainable shared value for all through the power of science. In a world facing an ever-growing population and quest for resources, they aim to be the driving force triggering the next breakthroughs to enable humanity to advance while protecting the planet we all share.

They bond with customers and partners to address today and tomorrow’s megatrends. As a global leader in Materials, Chemicals and Solutions, Solvay brings advancements in planes, cars, batteries, smart and medical devices, water and air treatment, to solve critical industrial, social and environmental challenges. You can count on their innovative solutions to contribute to safer, cleaner and more sustainable future.

Job Description

As a key objective, the Patent Counsel – IAM Pole “O” is responsible for patent-related matters which are strategically critical to a business/product line of “O” cluster, and for contributing to the creation of Solvay’s competitive advantage in such area. 

The Patent Counsel persistently partners, challenges and counsels technical and business stakeholders of relevant business/product lines on opportunities to protect their technology advances and addresses competitive IP scenarios, threats and opportunities. The Patent Counsel assists with the strategic development and management of a worldwide patent portfolio to meet Solvay’s business goals in relevant areas of responsibility. This position offers the Patent Counsel the possibility to continuously deepen effectiveness of her/his interactions with a global community of scientists and researchers and professional expertise (notably with respect to European prosecution and oppositions/appeals at the EPO).

More specifically, main job responsibilities are:

• Participate in elaborating IP strategies in own domain of responsibility, in liaison with relevant technical and business stakeholders.
• Draft, file, and prosecute patent applications;
• Prepare, draft and deliver opinions regarding freedom to operate, validity of third party patent rights, and other IP-related matters, notably oppositions to granted EP patents and invalidation in national jurisdictions;
• Manage a global patent portfolio of assigned technologies/businesses, targets, and projects through routine communication and alignment;
• Participate and contribute to team routines/tools/decision-making processes for all IP-related matters in connection with own domain of responsibility and communicate effectively in connection thereto;
• Provide guidance to stakeholders in regard to NDAs and other IP-related agreements; contribute to draft and amend IP-related agreements during negotiations.

In summary, this role calls for adequate drafting, prosecuting and patent-related expertise, enabling working effectively, with minimum supervision.

Profile required

• Master’s degree level or above in Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related chemistry discipline, preferably in inorganic chemistry
• Qualification as European Patent Attorney, or at least commitment to complete qualification.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in patent practice, including notably drafting and prosecuting applications.
• Comfortable working in a multicultural and international professional environment
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Good analytical, organizational, prioritization and problem solving skills.
• Self-motivated, open-minded, structured, collaborative, team player.
• Ability to organize a challenging workload and promptly adapt planning when confronted with unforeseen changes.
• Ability to relate easily at all levels within the organization, particularly to those in the Research and Innovation and in Business.

To apply : sandie.vivier@grantalexander.com