Patent Counsel

NEXTCHEM; Sicilia; On-site; EUR 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible benefits

Participation bonus

Job summary

NEXTCHEM, a MAIRE Group company, seeks a Patent Counsel to drive IP for sustainable tech advancing the energy transition. Based in Catania within the NX Engineering District, you’ll lead invention harvesting, patent strategy and collaboration with R&D and outside counsel.

You bring 7+ years of patent experience, a technical master’s degree, and fluent English. The role offers a permanent contract with a €60,000 gross annual salary, paid in 14 installments.

Qualifications

• At least 7 years of patent counsel experience.
• Technical Master Degree in science or engineering (Chemical Eng preferred).
• Pro-active, team oriented with strong analytical skills.
• Knowledge of patent IP processes and filings (national/international).
• Excellent English language skills.

Responsibilities

• Advise colleagues regarding patent or general IP legal issues.
• Identify potentially patentable inventions with R&D.
• Study technology to understand the invention.
• Perform patentability searches and define search scope.
• Draft claims and outline invention for outside counsel.
• Support inventors through the patent process and disclosures.
• Coordinate with outside counsel on patent applications.
• Prosecute patent applications and manage oppositions/litigation.
• Support Freedom to Operate searches and opinions.
• Contribute to IP strategy and portfolio management.

Skills

Patent counsel

Chemical engineering

English proficiency

IP processes

Analytical skills

Education

Master’s in STEM

Job description

NEXTCHEM, a company of the MAIRE Group dedicated to Sustainable Technology Solutions, is seeking a dynamic and innovative Patent Counsel to join our team. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in the development and optimization of cutting-edge technologies aimed at advancing the energy transition agenda. Thanks to NEXTCHEM’s extensive know-how of nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon capture, fuels, chemicals and polymers, you'll be part of a dynamic team dedicated driving innovation and sustainability in the energy transition sector .

The candidate will become part of the NX Engineering District of Catania having the opportunity to work on innovative and novel technologies to fully enable the energy transition.

Key Responsibilities

• Advise colleagues regarding patent or general IP legal issues;
• Create awareness of the importance of IP in the organization;
• Invention harvesting (interaction with inventors): Assist Research & Development/Innovation Department colleagues in identifying potentially patentable inventions;
• Make in depth study of the technology in order to understand the invention;
• Patentability Search: Define scope of search based on preliminary definition of invention in communication with inventors.
• Prepare draft claims and outline of the invention for outside counsel based on definition of invention in light of the prior art;
• Assist inventors (and Innovation Departments) with every aspect of the patent process. Support inventors to prepare invention disclosures. Learn about the invention, then research other similar inventions and discuss the concept with other inventors to determine if there is any similarity to another invention that might prevent a patent from being issued;
• Interact with inventor/outside counsel to review & finalize draft patent application;
• During prosecution of patent application interact with inventors, business and outside counsel to ensure best available protection;
• Coordinate and assist outside counsel in Oppositions and Litigation
• Support Freedom to Operate searches and give Freedom to Operate opinions as well as provide guidance to internal clients regarding Freedom to Operate.
• Contribution to the definition of IP strategies
• Contribution to the management and optimization of the entire NEXTCHEM IP portfolio

Requirements and Skills

• You have at least 7 years as a Patent Counsel;
• You have a Technical Master Degree in science or engineering (Chemical Engineering preferred);
• You are Pro-active and team oriented;
• You have a thorough technical background combined with strong analytical skills and a well-developed sense for details and priorities;
• Knowledge of and experience with one or more of NEXTCHEM’s technologies, such as nitrogen fertilizer technology, hydrogen production technology, carbon capture and utilization technology, polymer technology, chemical and mechanical recycling of waste materials;
• Understanding of Patent IP administrative processes in general, including formalities concerned with National, International and Regional filings including European Grant Procedure Patent laws;
• An excellent command of the English language is essential.

Contract Type and Classification

• Contract type: Permanent
• Applicable collective agreement (NCLC): Chemical and Chemical-Pharmaceutical (identification code B011)
• Job classification level: Middle Manager, consistent with job requirements and applicable Collective Agreement

Compensation

The initial gross annual salary for this position, paid over 14 monthly installments, will be € 60,000.

• The compensation package will include the applicable elements of the Collective Agreement as well as benefits provided under company agreements, including flexible benefits and a participation bonus.
• Any additional variable components and/or benefits, regulated by Standards, Policies and/or company agreements, will be illustrated during the selection process.
• This job opportunity is open to all individuals, in compliance with the principle of equal opportunities and non-discrimination, in accordance with applicable regulations.

Transparency Statement

At the end of the selection process, the Company reserves the right to make an offer with a job level and/or gross annual salary different from what is indicated in this job posting, consistently with the candidate’s professional experience and technical and soft skills.

Any deviation from the information provided in the job posting will be justified by objective and verifiable elements that emerged during the selection process, including:

• Professional experience significantly higher/lower than the target profile
• Additional specialized skills relevant to the roleScope and complexity of responsibilities assigned in the final job configuration
• Alignment with internal grading system and consistency with comparable roles
• Outcomes of technical evaluations and/or assessments used in the selection process

Regulatory Compliance

The decision is:

• taken in compliance with the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value pursuant to Legislative Decree 96/2026 and EU Directive 2023/960
• is consistent with the applicable National Collective Bargaining Agreement
• comply with the values and principles set out in the Group Code of Ethics and in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy

Contract Type and Classification

Contract type: Permanent Applicable collective agreement (NCLC): Chemical and Chemical-Pharmaceutical (identification code B011)Job classification level: Manager, consistent with job requirements and applicable Collective Agreement

Complies with the values and principles set out in the Group Code of Ethics and in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy