Senior Director, Patent Litigation

The Role:

Reporting to VP, IP Litigation, the attorney will serve as a key member of the IP litigation team. The attorney will help set the Company’s patent and litigation strategy, effectively and efficiently manage and resolve IP litigation disputes and patent challenges, and coordinate with finance, corporate communications, and investor relations to ensure appropriate and timely disclosures.

Here's What You'll Bring to the Table (Preferred Qualifications)

• Manage a docket of U.S. litigation matters, working strategically with outside counsel, internal legal teams, and the business, as well as assisting with ex.-U.S. litigation matters and patent office proceedings.

• Partner internally to provide pre-litigation strategies, with an eye toward identifying and mitigating any risks, and to provide global, strategic counsel to the business regarding patent assessments for the Company’s robust pipeline.

• Coordinate information with finance, corporate communications, and investor relations teams to ensure that appropriate proactive disclosures and communications are made.

• Help drive intellectual property policies internally and externally to promote innovation.

• Work with internal legal teams and the business to scale, optimize and/or develop IP litigation infrastructure and processes.

Here’s What You’ll Need (Basic Qualifications)

• J.D. from a national law school and admission to any state bar in the United States.

• Must be eligible for in-house licensure   via the MA Board of Bar Overseers and licensed to practice law in at least 1 U.S. jurisdiction

• A minimum of 10 years of experience handling complex IP challenges and litigations in the biotechnology and/or pharmaceutical industries, with a deep understanding of IP litigation strategy, ideally gained through experience with a top law firm and in an in-house setting.  Demonstrated and extensive hands-on litigation experience, including day-to-day case management, overseeing discovery (including e-discovery) and managing case strategy strongly preferred.  First-chair experience a plus.

• Experience with IPR and EPO proceedings preferred.

• Demonstrated understanding/experience with international IP litigation landscape/laws a strong plus.

• Comfortable working with legal technology and open to using automation and Generative AI to enhance legal work.

• Participate in AI-related initiatives to improve legal support workflows, including use of approved AI tools and/or GPT-enabled support where appropriate. 

Here’s What You’ll Do:

• Highly strategic mindset and approach to disputes; anticipating future business, competitive, and legal risks and looking for creative solutions and opportunities.

• Outstanding interpersonal and leadership skills, with the ability to build strong relationships across functions and to communicate effectively with senior business leaders, as well as other professionals and colleagues at all levels of an organization.

• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tight deadlines in a high-paced environment.

• Highly nimble, adaptable, and agile team player with dynamic range, adept at collaborative and strategic decision making, as well as results-oriented execution.

• Exceptional judgment and ability to quickly assess business challenges, make timely, pragmatic recommendations under pressure, and identify, prioritize, and resolve issues quickly and independently.

• Sophisticated verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex issues in a simple way and provide executive-ready IP litigation insights concerning litigation events, risks and threats, as well as recommended strategy/process change.

• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, innovative, and high-energy environment without extensive hierarchy.

• Unquestioned integrity and judgment, with a demonstrated ability to establish credibility internally and externally.

• High sense of urgency and commitment to execution.

• Demonstrated business acumen, strong analytical skills, and the ability to grasp important business, legal, and financial issues facing the Company.

• Prior use of AI tools and/or experience developing GPTs or implementing AI-enabled workflows in a legal setting is a plus. 

Pay & Benefits

At Moderna, we believe that when you feel your best, you can do your best work.  That’s why our US benefits and global well-being resources are designed to support you—at work, at home, and everywhere in between.

• Best-in-class healthcare coverage, plus voluntary benefit programs to support your unique needs

• A holistic approach to well-being, with access to fitness, mindfulness, and mental health support

• Family planning benefits, including fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support

• Generous paid time off, including vacation, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and a discretionary year-end shutdown

• Savings and investment opportunities to help you plan for the future

• Location-specific perks and extras

The salary range for this role is $210,900.00 - $379,200.00. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An individual’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, performance, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate may be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, other incentive compensation, or equity award, subject to company plan eligibility criteria and individual performance.

About Moderna

Since our founding in 2010, we have aspired to build the leading mRNA technology platform, the infrastructure to reimagine how medicines are created and delivered, and a world-class team. We believe in giving our people a platform to change medicine and an opportunity to change the world.  

By living our mission, values, and mindsets every day, our people are the driving force behind our scientific progress and our culture. Together, we are creating a culture of belonging and building an organization that cares deeply for our patients, our employees, the environment, and our communities. 

We are proud to have been recognized as a Science Magazine Top Biopharma Employer, a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators, and a Great Place to Work in the U.S. 

If you want to make a difference and join a team that is changing the future of medicine, we invite you to visit modernatx.com/careers to learn more about our current opportunities. 

Our Working Model 

As we build our company, we have always believed an in-person culture is critical to our success. Moderna champions the significant benefits of in-office collaboration by embracing a 70/30 work model. This 70% in-office structure helps to foster a culture rich in innovation, teamwork, and direct mentorship. Join us in shaping a world where every interaction is an opportunity to learn, contribute, and make a meaningful impact. 

Moderna is a smoke-free, alcohol-free, and drug-free work environment. 

Equal Opportunities

Moderna is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry or citizenship, ethnicity, disability, military or protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, or any other personal characteristic protected under applicable law.  Moderna is a place where everyone can grow. If you meet the Basic Qualifications for the role and you would be excited to contribute to our mission every day, please apply!

Moderna is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. We consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. 

Accommodations

We’re focused on attracting, retaining, developing, and advancing our employees. By cultivating a workplace that values diverse experiences, backgrounds, and ideas, we create an environment where every employee can contribute their best. 

Moderna is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants with disabilities. Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should contact the Accommodations team at leavesandaccommodations@modernatx.com. 

Export Control Notice

This position may involve access to technology or data that is subject to U.S. export control laws, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). As such, employment is contingent upon the applicant’s ability to access export-controlled information in accordance with U.S. law. Due to the nature of the work and regulatory requirements, only individuals who qualify as U.S. persons (citizens, permanent residents, asylees, or refugees) are eligible for this position. For this role Moderna is unable to sponsor non-U.S. persons to apply for an export control license.

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