Global Senior Patent Counsel - IP Strategy & Portfolio Lead

Mondelēz International; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 143,000 - 235,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Wellness and family support programs

Life and disability insurance

Retirement savings plans

Paid leave programs

Education related programs

Paid holidays and vacation time

Job summary

Mondelēz International is seeking a Sr. Patent Counsel to lead the in-house IP team, protecting a global portfolio across snack brands.

Based in East Hanover, NJ or Chicago, IL with a hybrid schedule, you will guide patent preparation, prosecution, and strategy while partnering with R&D, marketing and business units. You will manage external counsel, perform landscape analyses, and drive invention harvesting sessions to identify patentable innovations that align with brand priorities and product

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and USPTO registration.
• Active state bar membership with good standing.
• Minimum 4 years of patent prosecution in a law firm and 2 years in-house.

Responsibilities

• Draft, file, and prosecute U.S. patent applications across core tech areas.
• Coordinate global patent prosecution with foreign counsel.
• Develop patent filing strategies aligned with brand and roadmaps.
• Manage global patent portfolio and perform maintenance decisions.
• Conduct freedom-to-operate analyses and patentability assessments.
• Support IP due diligence for M&A, licensing, and partnerships.
• Partner with R&D and marketing to identify patentable innovations.
• Lead invention harvesting sessions and IP awareness training.
• Prepare and file design patents in U.S. and internationally.
• Draft and negotiate innovation agreements and PSAs.

Skills

Legal experience

Analytical skills

Strategic vision

Leadership

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Problem-solving

Decision-making

Risk assessment

Technology awareness

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

USPTO registration

Bar admission in at least one U.S. state

Tools

IP portfolio management tools

AI tools for workflows

Industry-standard analytics platforms

Job description

Mondelēz International is seeking a Sr. Patent Counsel to lead the in-house IP team, protecting a global portfolio across snack brands.

Based in East Hanover, NJ or Chicago, IL with a hybrid schedule, you will guide patent preparation, prosecution, and strategy while partnering with R&D, marketing and business units. You will manage external counsel, perform landscape analyses, and drive invention harvesting sessions to identify patentable innovations that align with brand priorities and product