IP Search Specialist

Jobtoolz; Sint-Truiden; Hybrid; EUR 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtoolz is seeking an IP professional to help develop our chemical and biological product portfolio. You will screen patents, advise on freedom-to-operate, and support R&D with strategic IP input to protect innovations and commercialize intellectual property globally.

You will collaborate with external patent attorneys and internal teams, monitor patent law trends, and help manage multiple dossiers while communicating clearly in English. Fluency in other languages is a plus.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in biochemistry or chemistry or equivalent.
• First experience in patents within chemistry and/or biology.
• Fluent in English; other languages are a bonus.
• Knowledge of international IP laws and IP commercialization.

Responsibilities

• Screen existing patents and formulate advice on freedom-to-operate versus third-party patent rights.
• Proactively support the R&D department with strategic IP input.
• Screen internal R&D results to protect knowledge underpinning products and processes.
• Assist IP colleagues in collaboration with external patent attorneys to file and defend patent applications.
• Support in challenging the validity of third‑party patent rights.
• Keep up-to-date with evolutions in patent law and assist implementation.
• Collaborate with IP colleagues and other departments on IP matters.
• Identify with FRAMILY values: Fun, Respect, Ambition, teaMwork, Innovation, fLexibility and familY.

Skills

Patent strategy

FTO analysis

IP management

Scientific communication

Team collaboration

Analytical thinking

Education

Master's degree in biochemistry or chemistry

Tools

Patent databases

Espacenet

Job description

You play an essential role in the development of our innovative chemical and biological products, their production and bringing them to market by identifying and addressing intellectual property requirements.

• You screen existing patents, and you formulate advice on freedom-to-operate versus third-party patent rights. You gather external opinions if needed.
• You pro-actively support the R&D department with strategic input from an intellectual property perspective.
• You screen internal R&D results in order to protect knowledge underpinning products and processes.
• You support your IP colleagues in the cooperation with external patent attorneys to file and defend patent applications at official patent offices.
• You support in challenging the validity of third-party patent rights.
• You continuously follow evolutions in patent law and support in the implementation.
• You work closely with your IP colleagues and supports colleagues from other departments (R&D, Product Concepts, Legal, …) in different IP related matters.
• You have a Master’s degree in biochemistry or chemistry, or equivalent.
• You have at least a first experience in patents within the fields of chemistry and/or biology.
• You have knowledge of international laws regarding intellectual property and of intellectual property commercialization.
• You are well-versed in searching and use of patent databases.
• You speak and write English fluently. Your communication is clear and concise, and you can adapt to different stakeholders. Knowledge of other languages is a bonus.
• You have strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• You have a growth mindset and are willing to continuously learn and develop.
• You can work autonomously and attach great importance to teamwork.
• You are well organized and can handle several projects/dossiers simultaneously.
• You can identify with our FRAMILY values: Fun, Respect, Ambition, teaMwork, Innovation, fLexibility and familY.