Business Partner Intellectual Property (m/f/d) Molecular Cell Technologies

Field of Work:Legal Tax IP
Location: locationobj
Legal Entity: KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA (0001)
Contract Type: Regular
Is Full Time: Yes
Job ID: 15235

We are seeking a Senior Intellectual Property Counsel who acts as a Business Partner (BP IP) (m/w/d) for our Global Legal and IP Team.

This role is pivotal in managing IP matters within our strategic fields of molecular cell technology and genome editing contributing significantly to the KWS Groups value creation. As a BP IP you will provide high-quality business-oriented IP advice and act as a proactive and pragmatic partner for KWS business with a strong understanding of the seed and agriculture industry.

This position is to be filled in fulltime and with a permanent contract. You can be based either in our Headquarters in Einbeck or in our KWS Office in Berlin.

Key Responsibilities:

• IP Leadership: Provide leadership and advice at the interface between IP R&D Breeding and Business with full responsibility for IP matters and strategies in molecular cell technologies with the main focus on genome editing.
• Strategic Partnering: Act as a sparring partner to R&D and business teams identifying new business opportunities developing and implementing holistic IP strategies with appropriate consideration of the big picture and fostering value creation in alignment with KWS Group stakeholders on all hierarchy levels.
• Patent Management: Prepare or steer the filing and prosecution of patent applications globally and establish freedom to operate (FTO) for all KWS activities.
• Collaboration and Negotiation: Secure IP interests in collaboration or license negotiations with competitors academia or other industries and provide IP support for mergers & acquisitions (M&A).
• Network Coordination: Expand and coordinate a cost-efficient global network of external IP counsels.

Your Profile:

• PhD or comparable degree in Life Sciences (Plant) Biology Agriculture or a related field.
• Good understanding of the agriculture industry with a focus on new genomic techniques.
• Several years of experience in an IP department of a multinational company or an international patent law firm.
• National or European qualification as a patent attorney is a plus.
• Excellent customer orientation with an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Strong communication skills capable of translating complex IP information for stakeholders and foster decision-making.
• Excellent analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Team player with an independent working style and social competence.
• Fluency in English is mandatory and proficiency level of German would be appreciated.

What We Offer:

• An exceptionally interesting and diverse job in an international environment with the opportunity to contribute innovative ideas.
• Work in an international highly motivated and dynamic team.
• Support for professional and personal development true to our motto Make yourself grow!
• Flexible Working Hours and possibility of hybrid work.
• As a family-run company we value closeness reliability foresight and independence creating an open and friendly working atmosphere.
• Benefits: Attractive salary including Christmas and holiday bonuses capital-forming benefits childcare allowance job bike and more.

If you are passionate about IP in the field of molecular cell technologies and genome editing and you meet the above criteria we would love to hear from you!

About KWS

KWS is one of the worlds leading plant breeding companies. Nearly 5000 employees in more than 70 countries generated net sales of around 1.68 billion in the fiscal year 2023/2024. A company with a tradition of family ownership KWS has operated independently for almost 170 years. It focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of seed for sugarbeet corn cereals vegetables oilseed rape and sunflower. KWS uses leading-edge plant breeding methods to continuously improve yield for farmers and plants resistance to diseases pests and abiotic stress. To that end the company invested more than 300 million last fiscal year in research and development. For more information: Follow us on LinkedIn at data privacy policy for candidates is available on Please select the country where the job you applied for is posted in and if applicable the specific business unit.