Job Description
KWS is one of the world's leading plant breeding companies. Over 5,000 employees in more than 70 countries generated net sales of around €1.5 billion in the fiscal year 2021/2022. A company with a tradition of family ownership, KWS has operated independently for 165 years. It focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of seed for corn, sugarbeet, cereals, vegetables, oilseed rape and sunflower. KWS uses leading-edge plant breeding methods to continuously improve yield for farmers and plants' resistance to diseases, pests and abiotic stress. To that end, the company invested more than €285 million last fiscal year in research and development.For our Global Legal & IP Team, we are seeking to recruit a Business Partner IP Commercial (m/f/d) for the KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA. The BP IP Commercial (m/f/d) is the central point of contact for all IP matters and strategies in our strategic growing fields, especially KWS Food Ingredients (KFI), and contributes to the value creation through IP in the KWS Group. Providing high-quality and business-oriented IP advice the BP IP Commercial (m/f/d) acts as a pro-active and pragmatic sparring partner for the KWS business having a sound understanding of the seed and/or food industry.
This is a permanent position and available in full-time. The place of work is our HQ in Einbeck (Lower Saxony) or our office in Berlin.
Your Tasks:
- Provide IP leadership and advice at the interface between IP and RD, Breeding and Business with full responsibility for all IP matters and strategies relating to our expanding business area of KFI with special focus on plant-based proteins, as well as special crops.
- Act as a sparring partner to the business in identifying new business opportunities, developing and implementing holistic IP strategies and business models with appropriate consideration of the big picture and foster value creation in close alignment with respective KWS Group stakeholders on all hierarchy levels.
- Prepare or steer the filing and prosecution of patent applications worldwide and establish freedom to operate (FTO) for all KWS activities.
- Steer and represent the KWS Group in post grant proceedings such as oppositions and litigation.
- Secure IP interests of KWS in collaboration or license negotiations with competitors, academia, or other industries, and provide IP support for mergers & acquisitions (M&A).
- Expand and coordinate an excellent and cost-efficient global network of external IP counsels.
- PhD or comparable degree in Life Sciences, Food Science, Biology or in a related field.
- Strong understanding of the food industry with special focus on plant-based ingredients is a plus.
- Several years of post-qualification as European Patent Attorney in a multinational company or international patent law firm.
- National qualification and/or admission to represent KWS in patent matters before the Unitary Patent Court is a plus.
- Excellent level of customer orientation as well as entrepreneurial way of thinking and working.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate complex IP information back to stakeholders and foster decision-making.
- Excellent analytical thinking and problem solver mentality.
- Team player with independent way of working and social competence.
- Fluent in English and German (written and spoken).
- An exceptionally interesting and diverse job in an international environment with the opportunity to contribute innovative ideas.
- Working in an international, highly motivated and dynamic team.
- True to our motto “Make yourself grow!”, we support employees' professional and personal development.
- Flexible working hours with the possibility of hybrid work.
- As a family-run company we are guided by the values of closeness, reliability, foresight and independence; this culture is lived out in practice, creating an open and friendly working atmosphere.
- We create the appropriate conditions for you: an attractive salary including Christmas and holiday bonuses, capital-forming benefits, childcare allowance, job bike and many more.