Senior Patent Attorney

Vodafone; Greater London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary yearly bonus

Company car

Annual leave: 28 days + holidays

Private medical plan

Private pension with Vodafone match

Share save scheme

Employee discounts

Job summary

Vodafone seeks a skilled patent counsel to lead licensing and commercialisation activities for a portfolio of Standard Essential Patents. You will coordinate with technology and business teams to align IP strategy with company goals, draft and prosecute patent applications, and manage interactions with external counsel.

You will also analyse data to support decision making, influence senior stakeholders, and help drive a broader IP strategy across networks, AI, and software domains.

Qualifications

• Experience leading patent commercialisation matters.
• Knowledge of SEPs and FRAND licensing principles.
• Experience managing SEP portfolios and licensing programmes.
• Experience instructing external counsel and service providers.
• Ability to communicate complex legal and technical issues to diverse stakeholders.
• Experience drafting patent applications and patent prosecution, including EPO/UK offices.

Responsibilities

• Manage patent licensing and commercialisation activities end-to-end.
• Oversee a portfolio of patents including SEPs and licensing programmes.
• Build partnerships with Technology and Business teams to align IP strategy with business goals.
• Draft and prosecute patent applications; coordinate with outside counsel.
• Collect and analyse internal/external data to derive actionable insights for decisions.

Skills

Patent licensing

SEPs (Standard Essential Patents)

FRAND licensing

External counsel management

Stakeholder communication

Patent drafting and prosecution

Tools

AI tools for patent drafting

Job description

Join Us

At Vodafone, we’re not just shaping the future of connectivity for our customers – we’re shaping the future for everyone who joins our team. When you work with us, you’re part of a global mission to connect people, solve complex challenges, and create a sustainable and more inclusive world. If you want to grow your career whilst finding the perfect balance between work and life, Vodafone offers the opportunities to help you belong and make a real impact.

Join Us

At Vodafone, we’re not just shaping the future of connectivity for our customers – we’re shaping the future for everyone who joins our team. When you work with us, you’re part of a global mission to connect people, solve complex challenges, and create a sustainable and more inclusive world. If you want to grow your career whilst finding the perfect balance between work and life, Vodafone offers the opportunities to help you belong and make a real impact.

What You’ll Do

• Management of patent licensing and commercialisation activities.
• Management of a portfolio of patents, including end to end management of a portfolio of Standard Essential Patents.
• Building partnerships with Technology and Business teams to align IP strategy with business goals.
• Drafting and prosecution of patent applications and working with outside counsel on the same.
• Collection and analysis of internal and external data to derive actionable insights and support decision-making.

Who You Are

• Demonstrated experience in, and the ability to lead, take ownership of, and independently manage patent commercialisation matters.
• Knowledge of Standard Essential Patents (SEPs), FRAND licensing principles, standards development organisations, and patent pools.
• Experience managing Standard Essential Patent portfolios, including essentiality assessments and licensing programmes.
• Experience instructing and managing external counsel and other service providers.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders and communicating complex legal, technical, and commercial issues in a clear and practical manner.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to engage with technical, business and legal stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience in drafting patent applications and prosecution before the European Patent Office and the UK patent office in areas such as networks, AI, and software (experience in the use of AI tools for patent drafting and prosecution preferred).

Not a perfect fit?

Worried that you don’t meet all the desired criteria exactly? At Vodafone we are passionate about empowering people and creating a workplace where everyone can thrive, whatever their personal or professional background. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align exactly with every part of the job description, we encourage you to still apply as you may be the right candidate for this role or another opportunity.

What's In It For You

• Discretionary yearly bonus: 20%
• Company car: company funded car of £580 per month + private fuel or cash alternative of £630
• per month.
• Annual leave: 28 days + bank holidays + the opportunity to buy/carry over 5 days/year
• Charity days: 5 days/year
• Maternity/adoption leave: 52 weeks out of which the first 13 weeks are fully paid followed by 26 weeks of half pay and 6 months - working 4 days, getting paid 5
• Paternity leave: 16 weeks fully paid
• Private medical family plan: fully paid
• Private pension: You can contribute up to 5% of your basic pay with 2:1 matching from Vodafone up to 10%.
• Access to: private dental, free health assessments, share save scheme
• Additional discounts: Vodafone retail, gym, cinema, cycle to work, season ticket loan

Who We Are

We are a leading international Telco, serving millions of customers. At Vodafone, we believe that connectivity is a force for good. If we use it for the things that really matter, it can improve people's lives and the world around us. Through our technology we empower people, connecting everyone regardless of who they are or where they live and we protect the planet, whilst helping our customers do the same.

Belonging at Vodafone isn't a concept; it's lived, breathed, and cultivated through everything we do. You'll be part of a global and diverse community, with many different minds, abilities, backgrounds and cultures. ;We're committed to increase diversity, ensure equal representation, and make Vodafone a place everyone feels safe, valued and included.

If you require any reasonable adjustments or have an accessibility request as part of your recruitment journey, for example, extended time or breaks in between online assessments, please refer to https://careers.vodafone.com/application-adjustments/ for guidance.

Together we can.