IP Specialist (1YR FTC)

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is looking for an Intellectual Property Specialist (IPS) to work with the IP Exploitation Manager in bringing technologies developed at NPL to market. The role involves managing the patent filing and prosecution process, providing IP support by liaising and giving advice to our scientists, and leading the evaluation and due diligence of early stage IP opportunities.

This is a great opportunity to work for one of the UK's leading science facilities and research centres. NPL occupies a unique position as the UK's National Measurement Institute and sits at the intersection between scientific discovery and real world application. Its expertise and original research have underpinned quality of life, innovation and competitiveness for UK citizens and business for more than a century.

The IPS will have responsibility for ensuring that all IP related deadlines are properly registered and monitored via NPL's database and will be required to evaluate Invention Disclosures resulting in a decision on patentability and other forms of IP protection .

• Initial intellectual property assessment of inventions - including use of on-line searching, search services, libraries and other market research techniques etc.
• Patent filing and prosecution, using external agents (working with Product Managers and academics), patent administration and correspondence
• Copyright protection and know-how tracking
• Conduct IP due diligence
• Provide IP training and IP advice to the business

About You

Skills/Experience required

• Qualified to at least MSc level in a technical/science discipline. PhD candidates preferred or those with Queen Mary IP Practice qualification or similar.
• Proven experience of managing a patent portfolio - preferably with exposure to carrying out IP searches, filing patents, briefing patent agents and/or other forms of intellectual property right protection and IP due diligence.
• Able to communicate with internal and external stakeholders at all levels, e.g. scientists, potential investors, commercial managers.
• Strong alpha/numeric written communication skills, with solid attention to detail, and reporting skills - able to present data in a comprehensible way
• Microsoft Office. In particular web searching, Excel and database skills must be at a reasonable level
• Accustomed to working accurately to tight deadlines - managing several projects simultaneously.
• Happy to provide IP advice and training.

About The Company

We're transforming. As a national laboratory, we're exploring even more commercial routes to market and that's presenting us with greater opportunity - for you and us. Our success relies on the diversity and talent of our people, we strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued and supported to excel in their chosen field.This value is at the core of our organisation.

We believe in a culture of fairness by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, background or any other factor irrelevant to a person's work. At NPL we are committed to the health and well being of our employees.Flexible working and social activities are embedded in our culture to create a positive work-life balance, along with a broad range of benefits(see our careers website for more information).

As part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we signed up to the Institute of Physics' Project Juno in 2015 as a Juno Supporter. NPL were proud to be awarded Juno Practitioner status in 2018. NPL also joined Stonewall as a Diversity champion in 2015, participating in their annual Workplace Equality Index for the equality of LGBT+ community at NPL. In 2018, NPL became a member of the Business Disability Forum and joined the disability confident scheme as level 1 committed employer.

To ensure everyone has an equal chance, we're always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss, please contact us.