Senior Director, Intellectual Property Strategy

At Insmed, every moment and every patient counts — and so does every person who joins in. As a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to transforming the lives of patients with serious and rare diseases, you’ll be part of a community that prioritizes the human experience, celebrates curiosity, and values every person’s contributions to meaningful progress. That commitment has earned us recognition as Science magazine’s No. 1 Top Employer for five consecutive years, certification as a Great Place to Work® in the U.S., and a place on The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list in the UK.

For patients, for each other, and for the future of science, we’re in. Are you?

About the Role:

We are seeking an accomplished and highly strategic patent attorney to lead the strategy for our non-small molecule patent portfolio. This role is designed for a senior expert who can operate at the intersection of sophisticated patent prosecution, patent disputes and competitive intelligence gathering. Reporting to the Chief IP Counsel, this individual will serve as our patent portfolio lead for all biologic programs within Insmed, with responsibility for developing and integrating global prosecution and challenge (both offensive and defensive) strategies. The role will function as a key strategic partner to the Chief IP Counsel, with a primary focus on strengthening the durability and value of Insmed’s protein therapeutics, gene therapy and antisense oligonucleotide assets worldwide, anticipating competitive threats, and identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities. The Senior Director, IP Strategy will work closely with research, CMC, development and broader product teams to harvest new inventions, draft patent applications, provide direction on prosecution strategy, and to perform IP due diligence activities. This position includes management responsibility for members of the IP team, such as those handling patent prosecution.
The role is based in Bridgewater, NJ or San Diego, CA with a hybrid work model (onsite 3+ days per week).

What You'll Do:

In this role, you will lead end-to-end IP strategy for our biologic patent portfolio, carefully integrating global prosecution and third-party considerations into a cohesive and forward-looking approach to maximize exclusivity positions.

• Provide legal advice to cross-functional R&D and business teams on a variety of IP-related matters.

• Draft, file, and prosecute strategic patent applications worldwide both directly and through management of outside counsel and in house IP team.

• Play a central role in third-party challenges and challenge preparation, both offensively and defensively, while coordinating with outside counsel, including European oppositions and appeals, US post-grant proceedings (IPRs, PGRs), and litigation (e.g., US, Europe, China).

• Partner with the Chief IP Counsel on broader portfolio-level prioritization and risk assessment, while maintaining primary ownership of patent strategy.

• Drive competitor intelligence efforts and freedom-to-operate analyses, translating insights into actionable IP strategies.

• Identify gaps, risks, and whitespace opportunities across research and development programs, and ensure coordinated coverage and prosecution.

• Collaborate closely with internal subject matter leads and, where appropriate, provide mentorship or direct management to team members aligned with patent workstreams.

• Review manuscripts, presentations, press releases, corporate disclosures and other publication materials for clearance.

• Support business development, due diligence, and executive-level discussions as a subject matter expert in asset IP.

• Manage and direct outside counsel globally to efficiently deliver high-quality, strategically aligned work product.

Who You Are:

You hold a Ph.D. in a life science discipline in addition to a J.D. from an accredited US law school and member in good standing of a US State Bar. You will have15+ years of patent experience in the pharmaceutical/biotech sector, with significant in-house experience within a pharmaceutical/biotech company.

In addition you will have:

• Deep and creative expertise in patent prosecution strategy and implementation, including in viral gene therapy, protein therapeutics and antisense oligonucleotide technologies.

• Significant experience with patent disputes, including oppositions, IPRs/PGRs, and/or litigation.

• Demonstrated ability to integrate prosecution and dispute strategies into a cohesive, forward-looking IP approach.

• Strong understanding of global patent systems.

• Demonstrated successful experience advising senior management on complex IP issues, including risk assessment and strategic decision-making.

• Ability to operate as a senior individual contributor and strategic leader, with or without formal people management responsibilities.

• Superb technical, written and verbal communication skills in English.

• Ability to write well as evidenced by past patent applications and USPTO responses.

• Individual must possess initiative, high emotional intelligence and have strong interpersonal skills.

• Registered to practice before the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Where You'll Work

This is a hybrid role based either out of our Bridgewater, NJ or San Diego, CA office. You’ll work remotely most of the time, with in-person collaboration when it matters most.  

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Pay Range:

$247,000.00-337,500.00 Annual

Life at Insmed
 

At Insmed, you’ll find a culture as human as our mission—intentionally designed for the people behind it. You deserve a workplace that reflects the same care you bring to your work each day, with support for how you work, how you grow, and how you show up for patients, your team, and yourself.

Highlights of our U.S. offerings include:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage and mental health support, annual wellbeing reimbursement, and access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Generous paid time off policies, fertility and family-forming benefits, caregiver support, and flexible work schedules with purposeful in-person collaboration

• 401(k) plan with a competitive company match, annual equity awards, and participation in our Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), and company-paid life and disability insurance

• Company Learning Institute providing access to LinkedIn Learning, skill building workshops, leadership programs, mentorship connections, and networking opportunities

• Employee resource groups, service and recognition programs, and meaningful opportunities to connect, volunteer, and give back

Eligibility for specific programs may vary and is subject to the terms and conditions of each plan. 

Current Insmed Employees: Please apply via the Jobs Hub in Workday.

Insmed Incorporated is an Equal Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Unsolicited resumes from agencies should not be forwarded to Insmed. Insmed will not be responsible for any fees arising from the use of resumes through this source. Insmed will only pay a fee to agencies if a formal agreement between Insmed and the agency has been established. The Human Resources department is responsible for all recruitment activities; please contact us directly to be considered for a formal agreement.

Insmed is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application   or interview process, please contact us by email at TotalRewards@insmed.com  and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

Applications are accepted for 5 calendar days from the date posted or until the position is filled.

For New York City Residents:

To assist in identifying candidates with qualifications matching those required and/or preferred for this role, Insmed uses an Automated Employment Decision Tool (“AEDT”) that employs artificial intelligence to analyze and score information provided in resumes and application materials including, but not limited to, skills, work experience, education, and job-related qualifications. The AEDT does not make final hiring decisions and all final hiring decisions are subject to human oversight and/or review.

If you are an applicant for this role and a New York City resident, you have the right to request:

 

• A reasonable accommodation, if one is available under applicable law, by emailing TotalRewards@insmed.com; and/or

• An alternative selection process by emailing Privacy@insmed.com.

• Information about the type of data collected, the source of that data, and data retention practices related to the AEDT by emailing us at Privacy@insmed.com.