Director, Intellectual Property

IDEAYA; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 261,000 - 322,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Discretionary short-term incentive

50/50 healthcare coverage

Job summary

IDEAYA Biosciences, based in South San Francisco, is seeking an experienced Intellectual Property Attorney to protect small molecule candidates. You will report to the VP of Intellectual Property and work onsite four days a week, partnering with inventors, senior scientists, and the legal team to develop robust IP strategies.

The role requires a PhD in Chemistry or Master’s in Organic Chemistry, a JD and CA Bar, and 7+ years of pharma IP experience, including in‑house exposure.

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemistry or Master’s in Organic Chemistry required.
• Juris Doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school and California Bar member in good standing.
• Minimum 7 years of IP counsel experience in pharma small molecules, with 2–3 years in-house preferred.
• Track record of developing patent strategies and securing protection for products and related tech.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced startup environment and respond promptly.

Responsibilities

• Global IP portfolio management, including patent applications and strategy.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify patentable inventions and protection approaches.
• Assess risks (patentability, infringement, validity) and craft mitigations.
• Perform freedom-to-operate reviews and analyze third-party positions.
• Provide IP due diligence support for business development.
• Manage external counsel and ensure compliance with global IP laws.
• Coordinate patent filings with collaborators and licensors.
• Help build IP department infrastructure and policies, and train staff.
• Monitor competitive IP landscape for risks and opportunities.

Skills

IP counsel

Patent strategy

Legal research

In-house experience

California Bar

Communication skills

IP databases

Education

PhD in Chemistry or Master’s in Organic Chemistry

Juris Doctorate (ABA)

California Bar admission

Tools

IP databases

Job description

Job Summary About IDEAYA Biosciences:

IDEAYA is a precision medicine oncology company committed to the discovery, development, and commercialization of transformative therapies for cancer. Our approach integrates expertise in small-molecule drug discovery, structural biology and bioinformatics with robust internal capabilities in identifying and validating translational biomarkers to develop tailored, potentially first-in-class targeted therapies aligned to the genetic drivers of disease. We have built a deep pipeline of product candidates focused on synthetic lethality and antibody-drug conjugates, or ADCs, for molecularly defined solid tumor indications. Our mission is to bring forth the next wave of precision oncology therapies that are more selective, more effective, and deeply personalized with the goal of altering the course of disease and improving clinical outcomes for patients with cancer. When you're at IDEAYA, you will be in the midst of brilliant minds working on precision medicine therapies to help cancer patients. We are passionate and committed about being on the forefront of oncology medicine, which means we all have a high internal drive that is at the very core of every person at IDEAYA. We are inquisitive, ask deep questions, and are data-driven innovators who like to collaborate and use team work to move science forward. For more information, please see www.ideayabio.com.

Location: South San Francisco

Position Summary:

IDEAYA Biosciences is seeking an experienced Intellectual Property (IP) Attorney. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Intellectual Property, this role will support the Company’s intellectual property function to protect the Company’s small molecule product candidates. The ideal candidate will enjoy working collaboratively with inventors across various departments, senior scientific leaders, and the legal team. This position is based in our South San Francisco headquarter offices and required to be onsite four days per week per our company policy.

Job Description

• Global IP portfolio management, including preparing and prosecuting patent applications focused on small molecules, and developing IP strategy


• Partner with cross-departmental teams to understand project technology, identify patentable inventions, and implement protection strategies


• Identify and evaluate complex risks (e.g., patentability, infringement, validity) and develop business-focused mitigation strategies


• Conduct freedom-to-operate reviews, analyze third-party patent positions, and guide overall IP strategy


• Perform IP due diligence and provide support for business development opportunities


• Manage external legal counsel and ensure compliance with global IP laws and regulations


• Coordinate and manage patent filings and strategy with collaborators and licensors


• Assist in building IP department infrastructure and policies, and provide internal IP training


• Monitor and assess competitive IP landscape and industry trends for risk and opportunity analysis

Job Requirements:

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, preferably Organic Chemistry, or Master’s in Organic Chemistry


• Juris Doctorate from an ABA credited law school and a member in good standing of the California Bar, or the ability to qualify as California Registered In-House Counsel Registered before the United States Patent and Trademark Office


• Minimum 7 years of experience in providing IP counsel and support in the pharmaceutical small molecules (patent preparation and prosecution, life cycle management, opinion, and IP strategy), including preferably 2-3 years in-house experience


• Proven track record developing and implementing patent strategies with demonstrated success securing meaningful patent protection for products and related technology


• Demonstrated ability to work independently and cooperatively in a fast-paced start-up environment with internal teams and to respond in a timely and effective manner


• Must have strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret complex scientific and legal information


• Proficiency in using scientific and IP databases


• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills and attention to detail

All employees are expected to act with integrity and in full compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and IDEAYA policies, including IDEAYA’s Code of Conduct. Employees must demonstrate good judgement and ethical behavior in all business activities, maintain patient and product safety as a top priority, and report any suspected violations of law or Company policy through appropriate channels.

Total Rewards Along with our inspiring mission, and highly collaborative and inclusive environment, IDEAYA offers a competitive total rewards package that reflects our pay-for-performance philosophy where employees are eligible to be considered for merit‑based salary increases, company discretionary short-term incentive plan participation, and company discretionary stock option awards (based on board approval). Our comprehensive benefits package includes, but is not limited to, medical/dental/vision coverage (100% company paid for employees and 90% company paid for dependents), 401k, ESPP, and wellness programs.

The expected salary range for the role of Director, Intellectual Property is $261,000- $322,000. The final salary offered to a successful candidate will depend on several factors that may include but are not limited to the office location where this open position is located, the final candidates’ experience within their profession, experience in the disease areas we are striving to make an impact in as a company, length of time within the industry, educational background, and performance during the interview process.

The Company complies with all laws respecting equal employment opportunities and does not discriminate against applicants with regard to any protected characteristic as defined by federal, state, and local law. IDEAYA is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with applicable law, IDEAYA does not discriminate in hiring or otherwise in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status. EOE/AA/Vets. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please get in touch with us at [e-mail].

Contractor Max Bill Rate Per Hour

At IDEAYA we believe in the importance of on-site presence by all team members as an essential ingredient to effective collaboration. Our hybrid approach to work at IDEAYA includes all staff being on-site four days per week in the office, and one day per week working from home.

IDEAYA Company Values:

Passionate Commitment Fearless Innovation Courageous Integrity Respectful Teamwork Objective Decision-Making Empowered Accountability

For more information, please see www.ideayabio.com California Job Applicant Privacy Notice