Patent Counsel - Nestlé Institute of Material Sciences

Patent Counsel - Nestlé Institute of Material Sciences

Lausanne, CH

Lausanne, CH

Position Snapshot

Location: Lausanne - Vers-chez-les-Blanc, Switzerland
Company: Société des Produits Nestlé SA  
Type of contract: Permanent 
Act. Rate: Full-Time, 100%

Position Summary

Part of the Nestlé Group Legal & Compliance function, Legal R&D enables and protects Nestlé R&D Innovations through pragmatic legal services and business-driven IP protection.

As Patent Counsel for the Nestlé Institute of Material Sciences (NIMS), you will be responsible for developing, implementing, and delivering the IP strategy for the Institute, which drives, discovers, develops and deploys activities in 4 areas: 

• Providing scientific discoveries to make innovative plant-based products, 


• Finding technological solutions to reduce or replace salt, sugar and fat in products, 


• Ensuring that our products meet consumer expectations for taste and texture, 


• Providing product solutions that are affordable to everyone.

A day in the life of a Patent Counsel - Nestlé Institute of Material Sciences

• Be a Legal R&D IP Business Partner for the leadership team of the Nestlé Institute of Material Sciences


• Develop, implement and deliver the IP Strategy together with the Lead Patent Counsel, R&D Counsel and IP Analysts, and in close partnership with the R&D teams


• Lead patent filling and prosecution, freedom to operate assessments and oppositions of 3rd party patents, as well as defend against 3rd party oppositions


• Manage the patent portfolio with business-alignment and rigorous cost management 


• Advise on IP matters in R&D collaborations, including contributing to the drafting of R&D agreements


• Enable new and accelerated approaches to develop new consumer-centric products, while ensuring adequate protection under tight timelines


• Partner with the R&D Counsel on any Institute-specific IP topic


• Promote passion for IP across the Institute, through awareness, training and communication


• Drive awareness and enforcement of Nestlé technical IP through our markets

What will make you successful

• Fully qualified patent attorney in a European IP jurisdiction, with ideally a background in food, health or material science


• Prior experience with developing business-driven IP strategies


• 3+ years post-qualification professional experience with patent drafting, prosecution and FTO assessment


• Experience in R&D contract drafting, in particular IP-related clauses 


• Experience with IP in packaging technology is an asset


• You are service-oriented, pragmatic and hands-on, as well as a true team player able to successfully collaborate with Legal R&D colleagues around the globe


• Exposure to different jurisdictions (US, China, Japan)


• Fluent in English, any other language is an asset

Nestlé is the world’s largest food and beverage company. It is present in 187 countries around the world, and its 290,000 employees are committed to Nestlé’s purpose of enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future. Nestlé offers a wide portfolio of products and services for people and their pets throughout their lives. Its more than 2,000 brands range from global icons like Nescafé or Nespresso to local favourites like Ninho. Company performance is driven by its Nutrition, Health and Wellness strategy. Nestlé is based in the Swiss town of Vevey where it was founded more than 150 years ago. Learn more about our Group and reasons to join us on www.nestle.com 

Position Snapshot

Location: Lausanne - Vers-chez-les-Blanc, Switzerland
Company: Société des Produits Nestlé SA  
Type of contract: Permanent 
Act. Rate: Full-Time, 100%

Position Summary

Part of the Nestlé Group Legal & Compliance function, Legal R&D enables and protects Nestlé R&D Innovations through pragmatic legal services and business-driven IP protection.

As Patent Counsel for the Nestlé Institute of Material Sciences (NIMS), you will be responsible for developing, implementing, and delivering the IP strategy for the Institute, which drives, discovers, develops and deploys activities in 4 areas: 

• Providing scientific discoveries to make innovative plant-based products, 


• Finding technological solutions to reduce or replace salt, sugar and fat in products, 


• Ensuring that our products meet consumer expectations for taste and texture, 


• Providing product solutions that are affordable to everyone.

A day in the life of a Patent Counsel - Nestlé Institute of Material Sciences

• Be a Legal R&D IP Business Partner for the leadership team of the Nestlé Institute of Material Sciences


• Develop, implement and deliver the IP Strategy together with the Lead Patent Counsel, R&D Counsel and IP Analysts, and in close partnership with the R&D teams


• Lead patent filling and prosecution, freedom to operate assessments and oppositions of 3rd party patents, as well as defend against 3rd party oppositions


• Manage the patent portfolio with business-alignment and rigorous cost management 


• Advise on IP matters in R&D collaborations, including contributing to the drafting of R&D agreements


• Enable new and accelerated approaches to develop new consumer-centric products, while ensuring adequate protection under tight timelines


• Partner with the R&D Counsel on any Institute-specific IP topic


• Promote passion for IP across the Institute, through awareness, training and communication


• Drive awareness and enforcement of Nestlé technical IP through our markets

What will make you successful

• Fully qualified patent attorney in a European IP jurisdiction, with ideally a background in food, health or material science


• Prior experience with developing business-driven IP strategies


• 3+ years post-qualification professional experience with patent drafting, prosecution and FTO assessment


• Experience in R&D contract drafting, in particular IP-related clauses 


• Experience with IP in packaging technology is an asset


• You are service-oriented, pragmatic and hands-on, as well as a true team player able to successfully collaborate with Legal R&D colleagues around the globe


• Exposure to different jurisdictions (US, China, Japan)


• Fluent in English, any other language is an asset

Nestlé is the world’s largest food and beverage company. It is present in 187 countries around the world, and its 290,000 employees are committed to Nestlé’s purpose of enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future. Nestlé offers a wide portfolio of products and services for people and their pets throughout their lives. Its more than 2,000 brands range from global icons like Nescafé or Nespresso to local favourites like Ninho. Company performance is driven by its Nutrition, Health and Wellness strategy. Nestlé is based in the Swiss town of Vevey where it was founded more than 150 years ago. Learn more about our Group and reasons to join us on www.nestle.com