Director, Intellectual Property

Kenyan Edu; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 266,000 - 418,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

401k with employer match

Global benefit programs

Family planning support

Gender-affirming care

Mental health & coaching

Flexible vacation

Parental leave

Job summary

Reddit is seeking a pragmatic, strategic IP expert to join its Legal team to drive its global IP strategy and provide seasoned counsel. You will oversee a broad portfolio, shape litigation strategy, and advise cross-functional partners on copyright, patent, trademark and trade secret matters.

In collaboration with engineering, product, and outside counsel, you will mitigate IP risk and build Reddit’s patent portfolio while aligning with product roadmaps and business goals.

Qualifications

• JD, bar license in a US state, with top academic background.
• 10+ years of IP litigation experience, ideally from big law and in-house tech.
• Strong copyright, patent, trademark & trade secret knowledge.
• Ability to lead a wide range of IP matters across teams.
• Proven track record handling complex copyright litigation.
• Experience in patent litigation, licensing, portfolio development; AI/ML, web tech, social platforms, mobile preferred.
• Strategic thinker balancing business and legal risk.
• Excellent communicator with cross-functional collaboration.
• Passionate about Reddit and its mission.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve worldwide IP litigation strategy aligned with product roadmaps and business goals.
• Oversee global IP portfolio aligned with priorities and differentiation.
• Shape international litigation stance on emerging IP matters.
• Translate competitive IP landscapes into actionable recommendations.
• Advise cross-functional partners on copyright, trademark, patent, and trade secrets.
• Collaborate with engineering, product, legal teams and outside counsel to mitigate IP risk and build portfolio.
• Make smart judgments, navigate risks, and manage internal/external challenges.

Skills

IP litigation

Strategic thinking

Communication

Legal analysis

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Bar license (US)

Job description

Headquarters: Remote - United States

Reddit is a community of communities. Its built on shared interests, passion, and trust, and is home to the most open and authentic conversations on the internet. Every day, Reddit users submit, vote, and comment on the topics they care most about. With 100,000+ active communities and approximately 130 million daily active unique visitors, Reddit is one of the internet’s largest sources of information. For more information, visit www.redditinc.com.

We're looking for a pragmatic, strategic IP expert to join our Legal team. In this role, you will use your experience, expertise, and proactive approach to drive Reddit’s global IP strategy, provide seasoned counsel, and make a big impact on Reddit’s rapidly-growing business.

What You’ll Do:

• Define and continuously evolve Reddit’s worldwide IP litigation strategy, aligning it with Reddit’s product roadmaps, market positioning, risk profile, and long-term business goals.
• Oversee Reddit’s global IP portfolio, ensuring it is aligned with Reddit’s business priorities and competitive differentiation objectives.
• Shape and refine Reddit’s international litigation and strategic stance regarding a diverse array of emerging, novel IP matters.
• Translate complex competitive IP landscapes into actionable strategic recommendations.
• Be a subject matter expert and provide advice to cross functional partners and Legal team members on copyright, trademark, patent, and trade secret matters.
• Collaborate with Reddit’s engineering, product, and legal teams, along with outside counsel, to mitigate IP risk, protect Reddit’s brand, business, and innovations, and build Reddit’s patent portfolio.
• Make smart judgment calls, navigate risks, and creatively manage internal and external challenges on Reddit’s IP matters.

What We’re Looking For:

• JD, top academic background, and current license in a state bar in the United States.
• 10+ years of experience as an IP litigator, preferably with a mix of big law firm training and in-house experience at a tech or fast-paced company.
• Strong understanding of copyright, patent, trademark, and trade secret law.
• Ability to lead on a wide variety of IP matters and proactively collaborate with various teams across Reddit.
• Proven track record navigating intricate and emerging copyright litigation challenges.
• Experience with patent litigation, licensing negotiations, and portfolio development, with a strong preference for experience with artificial intelligence and machine learning; web technologies; social products, technologies, and platforms; and/or the mobile space.
• Ability to think strategically at a high-level and from deep in the details to drive complex problem solving and develop creative, business-forward solutions.
• Ability to calibrate risk, distinguish business from legal risk, and communicate it clearly to executive, business, and technical audiences.
• Nimble, fast moving, and an excellent communicator. You can think outside the box, articulate technical concepts in an easy-to-understand manner, and adapt and prioritize, while maintaining a big-picture focus on Reddit’s mission and goals. You're used to negotiating and collaborating effectively and have the ability to build strong relationships. You’re accountable and own the work you do.
• You love and use Reddit!

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Healthcare Benefits and Income Replacement Programs
• 401k with Employer Match
• Global Benefit programs that fit your lifestyle, from workspace to professional development to caregiving support
• Family Planning Support
• Gender-Affirming Care
• Mental Health & Coaching Benefits
• Flexible Vacation & Paid Volunteer Time Off
• Generous Paid Parental Leave

Pay Transparency:

This job posting may span more than one career level. In addition to base salary, this job is eligible to receive equity in the form of restricted stock units, and depending on the position offered, it may also be eligible to receive a commission. Additionally, Reddit offers a wide range of benefits to U.S.-based employees, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) program with employer match, generous time off for vacation, and parental leave. To learn more, please visit https://www.redditinc.com/careers/. To provide greater transparency to candidates, we share base salary ranges for all US-based job postings regardless of state. We set standard base pay ranges for all roles based on function, level, and country location, benchmarked against similar stage growth companies. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors including, skills, depth of work experience and relevant licenses/credentials, and may vary from the amounts listed below.The base salary range for this position is:$266,000-$418,000 USDIn select roles and locations, the interviews will be recorded, transcribed and summarized by artificial intelligence (AI). You will have the opportunity to opt out of recording, transcription and summarization prior to any scheduled interviews.

During the interview, we will collect the following categories of personal information: Identifiers, Professional and Employment-Related Information, Sensory Information (audio/video recording), and any other categories of personal information you choose to share with us. We will use this information to evaluate your application for employment or an independent contractor role, as applicable. We will not sell your personal information or disclose it to any third party for their marketing purposes. We will delete any recording of your interview promptly after making a hiring decision. For more information about how we will handle your personal information, including our retention of it, please refer to our Candidate Privacy Policy for Potential Employees and Contractors.

Reddit is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and is committed to building a workforce representative of the diverse communities we serve. Reddit is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If, due to a disability, you need an accommodation during the interview process, please let your recruiter know.