Via - Head of Licensing, Americas

Dolby; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 220,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Via Licensing Alliance, a subsidiary of Dolby Laboratories, is seeking a strategic Head of Licensing, Americas to lead the licensing function across the Americas. You will define regional strategy, build a robust pipeline, and negotiate high-value licenses with major licensees.

The role requires deep IP licensing expertise, executive-level negotiation, and the ability to drive sustainable growth through cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• 12+ years in patent licensing with leadership responsibility.
• Experience developing regional or multi-market licensing strategies.
• Proven track record leading licensing or sales teams.
• Expertise in complex license negotiations and forecasting.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead licensing strategy for the Americas aligned with global goals.
• Build and manage the Americas licensing function with clear goals and rhythms.
• Own pipeline development, forecasting, and revenue objectives.
• Identify opportunities across the Americas and translate insights into strategies.
• Cultivate senior relationships with prospective and existing licensees.
• Lead high-value negotiations with legal counsel to finalize agreements.
• Represent regional perspectives in global licensing strategy and planning.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure aligned execution.
• Monitor industry trends and regulatory/licensing developments impacting strategy.
• Provide senior management with data-driven reports on performance and risks.

Skills

Licensing strategy

Executive negotiation

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional leadership

Forecasting & pipeline

Education

Bachelor's degree required

Juris Doctor or advanced degree preferred

Tools

CRM platforms

Licensing databases

Microsoft Office

Job description

Join the leader in collaborative licensing and help us advance inclusive and efficient new patent licensing approaches to drive innovation globally. Via Licensing Alliance is dedicated to accelerating global technology adoption, fostering participation, and generating return on innovation with balanced IP licensing solutions for innovators and manufacturers of all sizes around the globe. Via administers dozens of patent licensing programs in audio, video, broadcast, power, and more for a variety of technologies, consisting of 25,000 patents in over 130 countries, with nearly 100 current patent holders and over 3,000 current licensees.

Via Licensing Alliance, a subsidiary of Dolby Laboratories, is an independently managed company owned by industry-leading participants with over 25 years of intellectual property licensing leadership. We are the world's largest patent pool administrator. We aggregate patents around key innovations and offer licensing solutions that give companies streamlined access to standardized technologies. For decades, we have served as a trusted bridge between our licensors and licensees, driving a strong and efficient IP licensing environment that yields better products and technologies for people around the world.

We are seeking a strategic, commercially oriented Head of Licensing, Americas to lead Via’s licensing function across the Americas. This senior leader will set and execute the regional licensing strategy, translate company objectives into market priorities and operating plans, and build a robust pipeline of licensing opportunities across existing and emerging technology sectors. The successful candidate will combine deep intellectual property and commercial licensing expertise with strong people leadership, executive-level negotiation skills, and the ability to build trusted relationships with current and prospective licensees. Working closely with global licensing leadership and cross-functional partners, this role will be accountable for regional performance, team effectiveness, disciplined execution, and sustainable growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Working closely with the VP of Licensing, define and lead the licensing strategy for the Americas, aligning regional priorities, market coverage, and execution plans with Via’s global business objectives.
• Lead and develop the Americas licensing function: establish clear goals, operating rhythms, performance expectations, and accountability for results.
• Own regional licensing performance, including pipeline development, forecasting, account prioritization, revenue objectives, and progress against strategic targets.
• Identify and evaluate market opportunities across the Americas, translating industry, technology, and competitive insights into focused account and licensing strategies.
• Build and maintain senior-level relationships with decision-makers at prospective and existing licensees, positioning Via as a trusted, solutions-oriented licensing partner.
• Lead complex, high-value license negotiations from initial engagement through execution, partnering with internal and external legal counsel to structure and finalize agreements.
• Serve as the senior commercial voice for the Americas, representing regional perspectives and opportunities in global licensing strategy, planning, and leadership discussions.
• Partner closely with Program Management, Legal, Finance, Accounting, Operations, and other cross-functional teams to ensure coordinated execution and alignment with Via’s broader business priorities.
• Monitor industry trends, competitive dynamics, standards-essential patent developments, and regional intellectual property and licensing matters that may affect business strategy or execution.
• Provide senior management with clear, data-driven reporting on regional performance, pipeline health, forecasts, risks, and recommended actions.
• Champion disciplined use of CRM and other commercial tools to improve visibility, decision-making, account management, and forecasting accuracy.

Qualifications and Skills:

• 12+ years of progressively responsible experience in patent legal practice and patent licensing, including significant leadership responsibility.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing regional or multi-market licensing strategies and delivering measurable commercial results.
• Proven experience leading, developing, and holding accountable high-performing licensing or sales teams.
• Deep expertise in complex license negotiations, account strategy, pipeline management, forecasting, and senior stakeholder engagement.
• Experience in technology, consumer electronics, automotive, semiconductor, media, and/or telecommunications industries.
• Strong knowledge of international licensing, standards-essential patent licensing, patent pools, and relevant intellectual property laws and market practices.
• Executive presence and exceptional negotiation, communication, influencing, and relationship-management skills.
• Ability to synthesize market intelligence and business data, make sound strategic decisions, and communicate clear recommendations to senior leadership.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, global environment.
• Proficiency with CRM platforms, licensing databases, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Bachelor’s degree required; law degree and/or advanced degree in business or sciences preferred.

This is a hybrid role that is required to be onsite at the Via office in San Francisco three days per week (Tueday - Thursday).

The San Francisco/Bay Area base salary range for this full-time position is $220,000 - 300,000 and can vary if outside of this location. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, competencies, experience, market demands, internal parity, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range and perks and benefits for your location during the hiring process.

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Via will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of San Francisco Police Code, Article 49, and Administrative Code, Article 12

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Via is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Our success depends on the combined skills and talents of all our employees. We are committed to making employment decisions without regard to race, religious creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, marital status, family status, medical condition, disability, military service, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions or any other classification protected by federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.