Senior IP Searcher

The IP Searcher plays a crucial role in supporting the IP team and broader business through carrying out, managing, and coordinating comprehensive patent and trademark searches, maintaining records, and managing regular IP monitoring activities within the IP team. The IP Searcher must possess strong research skills, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of IP databases and search techniques, including sequence searching and chemical sub-structure searching. Additionally, the IP Searcher works independently to coordinate and instruct external counsel and external search organizations on behalf of CSL and the IP team. The role includes developing and evolving the search capabilities of the IP function and may also include mentoring and overseeing work by a trainee/junior searcher. You will report to the Head of IP Digital & Technologies (IP LT).

Responsibilities and accountabilities

In conjunction with attorneys, design, coordinate, and/or conduct IP searches using various databases and resources to identify relevant prior art, patents, trademarks, and other technical or commercial information, including keyword, sequence, and chemical substructure searching.

Support attorneys in reviewing and analyzing search results to assess patentability, freedom to operate, and IP risk (trademarks and patents). Provide search support for other IP areas such as litigation, domain names, INN, or ODD.

Communicate search approaches, structures/queries, and results clearly to the IP team and other stakeholders, highlighting key findings.

Coordinate and instruct external counsel and search organizations, managing relationships and search activities proactively.

Contribute to managing CSL's third-party IP monitoring activities, including recording, processing, communicating, and acting on search results.

Participate in cross-functional teams on projects like patent landscaping, competitor analysis, portfolio reports, and due diligence.

Maintain IP search records in accordance with company policies.

Drive the development and use of digital technologies, search, reporting, and analytics tools to improve efficiency and expand search scope, including collaboration with external organizations to develop new tools.

Job specifications

Bachelor's degree in life sciences (chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology) or related field; Masters or PhD preferred.

Qualifications in patent/trademark searching are highly regarded.

Minimum 5 years, preferably 8+ years, of experience as a patent searcher in life sciences.

Experience with keyword, sequence, and chemical substructure searching is highly regarded.

Experience with patent databases like USPTO, EPO, WIPO, Derwent Innovation, PatBase, SciFinder, or similar.

Understanding of patent and trademark classification, law, and prosecution processes.

Proficiency with O365, spreadsheets, and databases, including IP-related databases.

Willingness to manage commitments across different time zones.

The role can be based in Bern, Zurich, Melbourne, Waltham, or King of Prussia.

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CSL Behring is a global leader in medicines for rare and serious diseases, serving over 100 countries in immunology, hematology, cardiovascular, respiratory, and transplant areas. Learn more about CSL Behring.

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