Senior Patent Manager

We at Yara are part of a global network, collaborating to profitably and responsibly solve some of the world's key challenges - resource scarcity, food insecurity and environmental change.

Within the Legal department, the Patent Team consists of four Patent Attorneys and a Patent Administrator to provide patent support not only for R&D but to support the entire Yara organization.  The new (Senior) Patent Manager will play a key role in supporting Yara’s Digital Farming business.  The Patent Team implements patent strategies, and advises business entities on all patent aspects of managing their IP portfolio.

This requires managing all patent related matters including patent drafting and prosecution activities worldwide, assessing contracts for IP issues, advising on any freedom to operate issues, managing patent conflicts and litigation, inventor gratuity and remuneration processes and intellectual property education and awareness.

The position can be located in Oslo, Brussels or Berlin.

• Develop patent strategies that support and are consistent with Yara’s corporate strategy and commercial objectives of the Segments / BUs to maximize the value of Yara’s patent assets and minimize risks of infringement
• Develop legal strategies for patent filing, prosecution, and enforcement
• Handle all aspects of patent applications and prosecution worldwide (office actions, appeals, etc)
• Manage patent conflicts, litigations and oppositions 
• Participation in key projects and Patent Steering Committee with the emphasis being on leveraging the IP position to the benefit of R&D and commercial objectives, and advising on protection and infringement risks
• Provide contract support for segments/BUs related to IP provisions of NDAs, Research Collaboration Agreements, M&A, etc
• Training of Yara employees in basic Intellectual Property and informing on legal developments, which may affect patent policy

• Full qualification as a European Patent Attorney, US Patent Attorney or UK Patent Agent 
• University degree (preferably Master’s degree) in computer science, electrical engineering, physics or a related discipline
• More than 5 years’ experience in industry or private practice at the Patent Manager level.  A senior patent manager would have more than 10 years of experience
• Practical experience of working with software patents
• Understand the science and technology, techniques, procedures and equipment to make appropriate decisions, perform own role responsibilities and achieve the agreed performance standards and objectives
• Ability to advise and influence at all levels in the organization
• Strong interpersonal skills, team player with a multicultural understanding
• Good communication skills. Excellent verbal and written English, other languages are beneficial

21st February 2020

Knowledge grows through differences
Yara is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We believe that creating a diverse and inclusive work environment is not only the right thing, but also the smart thing to do. To deliver on this, Yara has firmly anchored Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) as one of our top 7 strategic actions and has more than 400 employees worldwide involved in D&I ambassador networks.