Director, Intellectual Property

Woodward is committed to creating a great workplace for all team members. Our company and its members are committed to acting with integrity being respectful and accountable to one another and staying humble and driven while maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards.

We are steadfastly committed to attracting the best talent across our communities creating a rewarding workplace. Together we are fulfilling our purpose to design and deliver energy control solutions our partners count on to power a clean future.

Woodward supports our members wellbeing and regularly benchmarks with other companies in our industry to offer an extensive Total Reward package for this position. Salary will be determined by the applicants education experience knowledge skills and abilities as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

• Estimated annual base pay: $203000(minimum) - $244000(midpoint) - $284000(maximum)
• Equity

All Levels are eligible for the benefits below:

• All members included in annual cash bonus opportunity.
• 401(k) match (4.5%)
• Annual Woodward stock contribution (5%)
• Tuition reimbursement and Training/Professional Development opportunities for all members
• 12 paid holidays including floating holidays.
• Industry leading medical dental and vision Insurance upon date of hire
• Vacation / Sick Time / Vacation Buy-up / Short Term Disability / Bereavement leave.
• Paid parental leave.
• Adoption Assistance
• Employee Assistance Program including mental health benefits.
• Member Life & AD&D / Long Term Disability / Member Optional Life
• Member referral bonus
• Spouse / Child Optional Life / Optional AD&D / Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending
• Voluntary benefits including:
  • Home / Auto Insurance discounts
  • Whole Life Insurance / Critical Illness Insurance / Legal Assistance / Military Leave

Are you ready to make your mark If youre a Intellectual Property leader we have an exciting opportunity for you. Provide strategic intellectual property (IP) legal leadership for Woodwards Aerospace segment by identifying and managing IP-related risks and opportunities advising business and engineering stakeholders and ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations. This role leads the drafting review and negotiation of IP and development agreements; implements the enterprise IP strategy and program within the Aerospace segment; oversees IP harvesting processing protection and asset management (including managing outside counsel) within the Aerospace segment; supports M&A transactions through IP due diligence and risk identification; and mentors/educates team members to strengthen IP awareness and execution across the organization.

What You Will Be Doing

• Segment Strategic Legal Leadership: Provide strategic and practical IP guidance to the Aerospace segment and overall organization by identifying legal risks and opportunities ensuring that all business activities comply with applicable laws and regulations.
• Contract Management: Oversee and assist in the drafting review and negotiation of all IP and development agreements to protect the companys IP interests and mitigate potential liabilities within the Aerospace segment.
• Risk Management: Identify potential IP related risks related to business operations and develop strategies and solutions to manage and minimize those risks effectively.
• IP Strategy and Program Implementation: Implement the enterprise-wide IP strategy and IP program within Aerospace segment.
• Team Development and Education: Mentor and educate Woodward members about IP strategy and program fostering a collaborative environment with Engineering and other departments within the Aerospace segment.
• Manage outside counsel support of IP asset management within the Aerospace segment.
• Manage the harvesting processing and protecting of intellectual property within the Aerospace segment.
• Support M&A transactions in performing due diligence and identifying risks associated with the acquisition and divestment of IP assets.

What We Are Looking For

• Legal Expertise: Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of relevant IP laws regulations and legal precedents to effectively guide the organizations IP strategy implementation.
• Strategic Thinking: Develops and implements long-term legal strategies that align with the companys business objectives and mitigate potential risks.
• Leadership: Provides strong leadership to the legal team fostering a collaborative environment and ensuring high performance and professional growth.
• Risk Management: Identifies assesses and mitigates IP legal risks to protect the organization from potential liabilities and ensure compliance.
• Negotiation Skills: Expertly negotiates contracts licenses and agreements to secure favorable outcomes for the organization.
• Communication: Communicates complex legal concepts clearly and effectively to stakeholders including executives employees and external partners.
• Project Management: Manages multiple legal projects efficiently ensuring deadlines are met and resources are effectively allocated.
• Ethical Judgment: Upholds the highest ethical standards ensuring the organizations actions comply with legal and moral guidelines.
• Adaptability: Stays current with evolving laws and industry trends adapting legal strategies to address new challenges and opportunities.

Other Qualifications:

• A Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school is required. Candidates must be licensed to practice law in the relevant country and jurisdiction(s).
• Registered as a Patent Attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Successful Candidates Will Typically Have:

• At least 10 years of experience.
• Aerospace and/or manufacturing experience.
• In-house experience.

Application window is anticipated to close 30 days from original posting date.

This information is provided in compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act and is the companys good faith and reasonable estimate of the compensation range and benefits offered for this position. The compensation offered to the successful applicant may vary based on factors including experience skills education location and other job-related reasons.

This position requires use of information which is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). All applicants must be U.S. Persons within the meaning of the ITAR and EAR or eligible to obtain all required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce. The ITAR defines a U.S. Person as a U.S. citizen or national lawful permanent resident (i.e. Green Card holder) or a protected person (e.g. asylee or refugee).

Woodward is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race color religion sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity) national origin age disability protected veteran status or any other category protected under federal state or local laws.

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