Executive Director, IP

4D Molecular Therapeutics

IP attorney managing global intellectual property portfolio and advising on corporate strategy for a leading biotechnology company. Providing counsel on patent, trade secret, trademark, and copyright law.

Posted 6/27/2026full-timeRemote • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $309,000 - $350,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Develop and refine intellectual property strategy for 4DMT products and platforms; present IP strategy updates to executive leadership, as needed.
Responsible for implementing key elements of 4DMT’s intellectual property strategy, and managing its patent, trade secret, and trademark portfolio; implements a strategy for IP lifecycle management.
Directs outside counsel in the preparation and prosecution of applications and responding to office actions; directs outside counsel in evaluating the patentability of invention submissions and registrability of trademarks globally; manages related outside counsel budgets.
Identifies strategic areas for patenting, trade secret protection, and trademarking; collaborates with R&D, CMC, Clinical Science, and other functions to proactively identify and develop patentable intellectual property to prepare, file, and prosecute.
Manages patentability, freedom-to-operate, infringement, validity, and regulatory exclusivity analyses.
Supports and manage IP disputes and administrative proceedings, including oppositions and post-grant challenges.
Identifies and tracks 4DMT trade secrets and provides counsel with respect to 4DMT’s trade secret protection practices.
Provides IP perspective and counseling at 4DMT meetings and presents on IP topics.
Counsels and trains internal clients on intellectual property practices and policies.
Conducts IP due diligence for business development activities and supports IP due diligence related to financing activities.
Drafts, reviews, and negotiates agreements to support R&D and CMC activities, including NDAs, MTAs, MSAs, sponsored research agreements, consulting agreements, and licenses.
Collaborates with Legal colleagues, Business Development, and other key leaders and functions on key strategic agreements, including licenses, collaboration agreements, and other business development efforts.
Assists with other Legal Department matters, including litigation support, SEC reporting (IP-related sections), records management, compliance activities, and template projects.
Other duties as assigned; nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Requirements

What you’ll need

J.D. degree or equivalent from an accredited law school
J.D. or M.S. in molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, or other biological field related to the biopharma industry
Admission to at least one U.S. state bar
Registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office
14+ years of patent prosecution experience as an attorney in the life sciences field, particularly in biopharma (can be a combination of law firm and in-house experience).
Strong knowledge of patent, trade secret, and trademark practices, as well as current U.S. and foreign patent, trade secret, and trademark laws
In-house experience in and knowledge of drug development, with expertise in genetic medicines strongly preferred; in-house experience at one or more publicly traded, commercial-stage biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or biopharmaceutical companies.
Experience managing outside IP counsel and non-attorney legal staff
Experience in counseling life sciences R&D and CMC teams with respect to day-to-day transactions, including experience reviewing and negotiating confidentiality agreements, manufacturing agreements, material transfer agreements, sponsored research agreements, master services agreements, consulting agreements, and licenses.
Prior experience providing IP input on life sciences strategic transactions.
Prior IP litigation experience.
Excellent analytical and organizational skills and demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate and manage several simultaneous projects under deadline pressure.
Excellent communication (verbal and written), listening, negotiation, and presentation skills.
Solid interpersonal skills and the demonstrated ability to influence and partner across all levels of the Company.
Highest integrity, excellent judgment, and the ability to proactively recognize and effectively communicate legal issues to the Chief Legal Officer and other members of company management.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, status as a covered veteran, and any other category protected under applicable federal, state, provincial and local laws.

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

Patent ProsecutionIntellectual Property StrategyTrade Secret ManagementTrademark Portfolio ManagementIP Lifecycle ManagementIP Due DiligenceRegulatory Exclusivity AnalysisContract NegotiationLegal ResearchLitigation Support

Soft Skills

Excellent CommunicationAnalytical SkillsOrganizational SkillsCollaborationNegotiation SkillsPresentation SkillsInterpersonal SkillsJudgmentInfluencing SkillsProblem-Solving

Certifications

J.D. DegreeAdmission to U.S. State BarRegistered to Practice Before USPTO