Director IP Litigation

MSD; Rahway (NJ); Hybrid; USD 210,000 - 331,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k)

Job summary

MSD seeks an experienced IP litigation attorney to lead global enforcement and freedom-to-operate matters. The role reports to the VP of Global Intellectual Property Litigation and involves strategic direction, managing outside counsel, and cross-functional collaboration with the Office of General Counsel.

The successful candidate will balance legal judgment with business objectives, manage significant workloads, and support both domestic and international travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant scientific discipline.
• Graduate of an accredited law school (J.D.).
• USPTO registration preferred for advanced practice.

Responsibilities

• Set strategy for pre-litigation and litigation, advising senior leadership on high-risk IP matters.
• Lead outside counsel from case inception through closure, including ADR strategies.
• Investigate factual and legal issues with business units to defend IP.
• Perform risk assessments and determine resolution with input from stakeholders.
• Establish and manage litigation budgets aligned with business goals.
• Collaborate with GC, business clients, and Global Communications to align strategy with objectives.

Skills

Client Counseling

Legal Analysis

Legal Writing

Litigation Strategy

Cross-Cultural Awareness

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor's degree in a scientific discipline

Juris Doctor / Law degree

Registered to practice before USPTO

Job description

Job Description

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced and strategic intellectual property litigation attorney who will be a member of the legal team responsible for global enforcement and freedom-to-operate litigation matters. This is an exciting opportunity to join a talented and proactive litigation group. The position reports to the Vice President of Global Intellectual Property Litigation.

Responsibilities

• Set strategy for, manage, and provide advice to senior leadership and the business on pre-litigation, litigation, and various high-risk IP matters
• Lead and manage outside counsel on intellectual property litigation from case inception through case closure, including establishing case and alternative dispute resolution strategies, providing internal guidance to business and relevant stakeholders and implementing litigation initiatives.
• Investigate factual and other issues pertaining to intellectual property litigation matters, working closely with business units to defend our Company's and its intellectual property.
• Perform risk assessments and determine when and how to resolve legal issues with input, as appropriate, from key legal and other stakeholders.
• Establish and manage litigation budgets that align with interests of the business and maximize likelihood of successful outcome, working creatively with outside counsel to minimize costs and fees.
• Work closely and collaboratively with others on the team, business clients, other members of the Office of General Counsel, and Global Communications to ensure litigation strategy comports with overall business objectives.

Minimum requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant scientific discipline from an accredited institution
• Graduate of an accredited law school
• Five (5) or more years of legal experience in a firm and/or pharmaceutical corporate setting with some pharmaceutical intellectual property litigation experience.
• Member in good standing of a Bar of at least one state or the District of Columbia.
• Superior ability to analyze complex legal, business, and scientific issues; outstanding writing and communication skills; strong initiative and a proven ability to manage outside counsel effectively and efficiently, consistent with applicable budgets.
• Experience managing a significant workload with the ability to balance competing priorities in a fast-paced and challenging environment, including as needed domestic and international travel.
• Willingness and ability to quickly become proficient in new areas of legal practice.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate risks and exercise excellent legal judgment.
• Must be team-oriented and have a solution-oriented approach to legal issues.
• Maintain up-to-date understanding of intellectual property litigation and the law applicable to the same and proactively counsel the business on legal developments potentially effecting the Company’s legal and reputational status.
• Successful candidate will work in the Company’s Rahway, NJ office, with flexibility for some remote working.

Preferred Experience

• Advanced degree in the biological or chemical sciences
• Registered to practice before the USPTO

OGC2026

Required Skills:

Client Counseling, Client Counseling, Confidentiality, Cross-Cultural Awareness, Detail-Oriented, Exercises Judgment, Intellectual Property, Intellectual Property Law, Intellectual Property Portfolio Management, Intellectual Property Strategy, Legal Analysis, Legal Consulting, Legal Research, Legal Strategies, Legal Support, Legal Systems, Legal Writing, Litigation, Litigation Management, Litigation Strategy, Litigation Support, Negotiation, Patent Analysis, Patent Litigation, Patent Preparation {+ 4 more}

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

The primary location for this posting is:

USA - New Jersey - Rahway

Where required by law, the compensation range for this role is provided below.

The salary range for the primary location of this role is:

$210,400.00 - $331,100.00

This range reflects the Company’s reasonable expectation of the base salary applicable to this role at the time of posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs. The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

Additional location(s): Please note the salary range above applies to the Primary Location of the position. Where a role has other listed locations, different compensation guidelines may apply. You may find the salary ranges for additional locations below. If the salary range is not listed for the location you are applying to, our Talent Acquisition team will provide further information to you relevant to your location.

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully

Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

Employee Status: Regular

Relocation: Domestic/International

VISA Sponsorship: No

Travel Requirements: 10%

Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid

Shift: 1st - Day

Valid Driving License: No

Hazardous Material(s): N/A

Job Posting End Date: 10/28/2026*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.