Careers at Editas

Associate Director, Intellectual Property – 1091 – Cambridge, MA

Job Description

Location — Cambridge, MA

What if you could repair broken genes? That is the question we ask ourselves at Editas Medicine. We’re focused on translating the power and potential of the CRISPR/Cas9 and CRISPR/Cpf1 (also known as Cas12a) genome editing systems into a robust pipeline of medicines for people living with serious diseases around the world. Our goal is to discover, develop, manufacture, and commercialize transformative, durable, precision genomic medicines for many diseases.

We’re looking for talented, dedicated, passionate people to join our team. Are you full of hope, possibilities, and a belief that, working together, we can truly revolutionize the development of medicines to help patients around the world? If the answer is yes, then Editas Medicine is the place for you.

Editas Medicine is seeking an Associate Director, Intellectual Property, who will play a key role in developing its growing Intellectual Property portfolio. This position offers a broad range of responsibilities, including identifying patentable inventions, performing patentability and freedom-to-operate analyses, drafting and prosecuting patent applications, counseling internal clients on IP matters, and conducting IP due diligence analyses for various internal projects. This individual will work closely with other members of the legal group as well as scientists and other internal stakeholders. Strong interpersonal and communication skills required. Must be a team player.

Responsibilities:
•Partner with internal stakeholders, including scientists, project and leadership teams, as well as outside counsel, as needed, to assess opportunities and risks and to help develop and implement IP strategies for Editas’ technology platform and therapeutic pipeline;
•Work closely with other members of the IP team to protect, defend, and assert Editas Medicine’s IP interests in domestic and foreign jurisdictions;
•Draft and prosecute patent applications;
•Conduct patentability and freedom-to-operate assessments;
•Assist with IP due diligence and negotiation of IP provisions in various agreements to support the company’s business and licensing activities;
•Assist with developing company-wide IP policies and procedures;
•Support cross-functional program teams in reviewing publications; and
•Maintain expertise in intellectual property and patent practice to best advise program teams and leadership.

Qualifications:
•J.D. degree from an ABA-approved law school
•Admitted to practice before US Patent and Trademark Office and a state bar
•4+ years of experience drafting and prosecuting biotechnology and/or pharmaceutical patent applications (credit given for time spent as a patent agent or technology specialist)
•Understanding of U.S. and EP patent law as well as major global patent systems
•PhD in related scientific field
•Law firm and/or pharma/biotechnology company experience required
•Previous experience managing outside counsel preferred
•Creative, collaborative approach to problem solving
•Excellent verbal and written communication skills required; ability to clearly articulate complex concepts and strategies to a diverse audience
•Strong business judgment and ability to think strategically
•Desire and ability to work in a fast-paced, cross-functional, flexible and team-oriented environment