About the CompanyOur client is a leading biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative drug discovery and development, with a robust pipeline spanning mRNA platforms, nephrology, anti-infectives, and other therapeutic areas. The company is advancing multiple proprietary programs from discovery through clinical stages, with a strong commitment to building globally competitive patent portfolios.The company operates with a science-driven, collaborative culture, and places intellectual property at the core of its business strategy. With a growing pipeline and expanding BD activities (including License-in/License-out and co-development transactions), the IP function plays a critical role in shaping the company's commercial trajectory.The RoleWe are seeking a seasoned Patent/IP Counsel to join the company's Shanghai office. This is a standalone senior contributor role, reporting to the Head of IP, with responsibility for managing the company's global patent portfolio and providing strategic IP counsel to R&D, BD, and executive teams.This is not a purely administrative prosecution role. You will work closely with scientific teams to identify patentable inventions, develop filing strategies, conduct FTO analyses, and support high-value BD transactions. You will also have the opportunity to shape the company's IP policies and build processes from the ground up.Key Responsibilities<ol><li> Patent Strategy & Prosecution Management</li></ol><ul><li>Independently develop and execute global patent filing strategies for innovative and improved‑formulation drug candidates, including US, EP, CN, and PCT routes</li><li>Review and manage foreign associate work product (office action responses, amendments, and legal opinions)</li><li>Oversee patent maintenance and annuity payments</li></ul><ol start="2"><li> Patent Mining & Portfolio Development</li></ol><ul><li>Collaborate with R&D teams to identify patentable inventions and build commercially valuable patent portfolios around core platforms (e.g., mRNA, nephrology, anti-infectives)</li><li>Conduct landscape analyses to inform R&D direction and competitive positioning</li></ul><ol start="3"><li> FTO & Risk Management</li></ol><ul><li>Lead FTO analyses and patent infringement risk assessments for key pipeline assets and near‑commercial products</li><li>Provide actionable IP opinions to support R&D and commercial decision‑making</li><li>Monitor competitor patent activity and produce regular competitive intelligence reports</li></ul><ol start="4"><li> BD Transaction Support & IP Due Diligence</li></ol><ul><li>Participate in IP due diligence for License‑in/License‑out, co‑development, and technology export transactions</li><li>Draft and review IP‑related provisions in transaction documents (including representations, warranties, and indemnities)</li><li>Identify and mitigate potential IP risks in business development activities</li></ul><ol start="5"><li> Internal Systems & Culture Building</li></ol><ul><li>Develop and refine internal IP policies, including inventor remuneration and reward systems</li><li>Provide IP training to R&D personnel on patent searching, technology disclosure drafting, and IP awareness</li><li>Manage relationships with external patent agents and law firms to ensure quality and cost control</li></ul>What We Look ForEducation & Qualifications<ul><li>Master's degree or above in Biology, Pharmacy, Chemistry, or a related life sciences discipline</li><li>PRC Patent Agent Qualification (mandatory)</li><li>PRC Legal Professional Qualification (Bar) is a strong plus</li></ul>Experience<ul><li>8+ years of patent prosecution and portfolio management experience, preferably with a combination of law firm and in‑house biopharmaceutical experience</li><li>Proven track record of managing global patent filings (CN, US, EP, and PCT routes)</li><li>Experience in FTO analysis, patent due diligence, and BD transaction support</li></ul>Technical & Language Skills<ul><li>Strong technical understanding of biopharmaceutical frontier technologies (e.g., mRNA, gene therapy, ADC, etc.)</li><li>Excellent English proficiency - able to directly review and comment on foreign counsel work product and legal opinions without translation dependency</li><li>Strong drafting skills in both Chinese and English</li></ul>Soft Skills<ul><li>Strategic thinker with commercial awareness - able to align IP strategy with business objectives</li><li>Excellent cross‑functional communication skills - able to effectively coordinate across R&D, BD, and external counsel</li><li>Self‑motivated, detail‑oriented, and capable of managing multiple workstreams simultaneously</li><li>Pragmatic and business‑focused - comfortable operating in a fast‑paced, matrix environment</li></ul>What We Offer<ul><li>Competitive compensation package (base salary + performance bonus)</li><li>Opportunity to build and shape the IP function at a growing biopharma company</li><li>Exposure to high‑value BD transactions and cross‑border deal work</li><li>Direct access to scientific leadership and business decision‑makers</li><li>Autonomy to design and implement IP processes and policies</li><li>Collaborative, science‑first culture with minimal bureaucracy</li></ul>By clicking 'apply', you give your express consent that Robert Half may use your personal information to process your job application and to contact you from time to time for future employment opportunities. For further information on how Robert Half processes your personal information and how to access and correct your information, please read the Robert Half privacy notice https://www.roberthalf.cn/en/privacy-statement. Please do not submit any sensitive personal data to us in your resume (such as government ID numbers, ethnicity, gender, religion, marital status or trade union membership) as we do not collect your sensitive personal data at this time.<hr />点击"申请"，即表示您明确同意 Robert Half 可以使用您的个人信息来处理您的工作申请，并不时与您联系以获得未来的就业机会。如需进一步了解 Robert Half 如何处理您的个人信息以及如何访问和更正您的信息，请阅读 Robert Half 隐私声明<a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https://www.roberthalf.cn/en/privacy-statement&data=05|01|[email protected]|45960615caf741a897da08db12e2448b|16532572d5674d678727f12f7bb6aed3|0|0|638124535281002861|Unknown|TWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0=|3000|||&sdata=txey6FkFkoVyheBOucHzeYO1yTcFywlr7N4oX7M8axY=&reserved=0">https://www.roberthalf.cn/en/privacy-statement</a> 。请不要在您的简历中向我们提交任何敏感的个人数据（例如身份证号码、种族、性别、宗教、婚姻状况或工会会员身份），因为我们此时不收集您的敏感个人数据。 <img src="https://counter.adcourier.com/d2lsbC5xaWFuLjY1NDg5LjEwOTIxQHJoaWNuLmFwbGl0cmFrLmNvbQ.gif">

Shanghai,
remote
Permanent
1000000 - 1000000 CNY / Yearly
About the CompanyOur client is a leading biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative drug discovery and development, with a robust pipeline spanning mRNA platforms, nephrology, anti-infectives, and other therapeutic areas. The company is advancing multiple proprietary programs from discovery through clinical stages, with a strong commitment to building globally competitive patent portfolios.The company operates with a science-driven, collaborative culture, and places intellectual property at the core of its business strategy. With a growing pipeline and expanding BD activities (including License-in/License-out and co-development transactions), the IP function plays a critical role in shaping the company's commercial trajectory.The RoleWe are seeking a seasoned Patent/IP Counsel to join the company's Shanghai office. This is a standalone senior contributor role, reporting to the Head of IP, with responsibility for managing the company's global patent portfolio and providing strategic IP counsel to R&D, BD, and executive teams.This is not a purely administrative prosecution role. You will work closely with scientific teams to identify patentable inventions, develop filing strategies, conduct FTO analyses, and support high-value BD transactions. You will also have the opportunity to shape the company's IP policies and build processes from the ground up.Key Responsibilities<ol><li> Patent Strategy & Prosecution Management</li></ol><ul><li>Independently develop and execute global patent filing strategies for innovative and improved‑formulation drug candidates, including US, EP, CN, and PCT routes</li><li>Review and manage foreign associate work product (office action responses, amendments, and legal opinions)</li><li>Oversee patent maintenance and annuity payments</li></ul><ol start="2"><li> Patent Mining & Portfolio Development</li></ol><ul><li>Collaborate with R&D teams to identify patentable inventions and build commercially valuable patent portfolios around core platforms (e.g., mRNA, nephrology, anti-infectives)</li><li>Conduct landscape analyses to inform R&D direction and competitive positioning</li></ul><ol start="3"><li> FTO & Risk Management</li></ol><ul><li>Lead FTO analyses and patent infringement risk assessments for key pipeline assets and near‑commercial products</li><li>Provide actionable IP opinions to support R&D and commercial decision‑making</li><li>Monitor competitor patent activity and produce regular competitive intelligence reports</li></ul><ol start="4"><li> BD Transaction Support & IP Due Diligence</li></ol><ul><li>Participate in IP due diligence for License‑in/License‑out, co‑development, and technology export transactions</li><li>Draft and review IP‑related provisions in transaction documents (including representations, warranties, and indemnities)</li><li>Identify and mitigate potential IP risks in business development activities</li></ul><ol start="5"><li> Internal Systems & Culture Building</li></ol><ul><li>Develop and refine internal IP policies, including inventor remuneration and reward systems</li><li>Provide IP training to R&D personnel on patent searching, technology disclosure drafting, and IP awareness</li><li>Manage relationships with external patent agents and law firms to ensure quality and cost control</li></ul>What We Look ForEducation & Qualifications<ul><li>Master's degree or above in Biology, Pharmacy, Chemistry, or a related life sciences discipline</li><li>PRC Patent Agent Qualification (mandatory)</li><li>PRC Legal Professional Qualification (Bar) is a strong plus</li></ul>Experience<ul><li>8+ years of patent prosecution and portfolio management experience, preferably with a combination of law firm and in‑house biopharmaceutical experience</li><li>Proven track record of managing global patent filings (CN, US, EP, and PCT routes)</li><li>Experience in FTO analysis, patent due diligence, and BD transaction support</li></ul>Technical & Language Skills<ul><li>Strong technical understanding of biopharmaceutical frontier technologies (e.g., mRNA, gene therapy, ADC, etc.)</li><li>Excellent English proficiency - able to directly review and comment on foreign counsel work product and legal opinions without translation dependency</li><li>Strong drafting skills in both Chinese and English</li></ul>Soft Skills<ul><li>Strategic thinker with commercial awareness - able to align IP strategy with business objectives</li><li>Excellent cross‑functional communication skills - able to effectively coordinate across R&D, BD, and external counsel</li><li>Self‑motivated, detail‑oriented, and capable of managing multiple workstreams simultaneously</li><li>Pragmatic and business‑focused - comfortable operating in a fast‑paced, matrix environment</li></ul>What We Offer<ul><li>Competitive compensation package (base salary + performance bonus)</li><li>Opportunity to build and shape the IP function at a growing biopharma company</li><li>Exposure to high‑value BD transactions and cross‑border deal work</li><li>Direct access to scientific leadership and business decision‑makers</li><li>Autonomy to design and implement IP processes and policies</li><li>Collaborative, science‑first culture with minimal bureaucracy</li></ul>By clicking 'apply', you give your express consent that Robert Half may use your personal information to process your job application and to contact you from time to time for future employment opportunities. For further information on how Robert Half processes your personal information and how to access and correct your information, please read the Robert Half privacy notice https://www.roberthalf.cn/en/privacy-statement. Please do not submit any sensitive personal data to us in your resume (such as government ID numbers, ethnicity, gender, religion, marital status or trade union membership) as we do not collect your sensitive personal data at this time.<hr />点击"申请"，即表示您明确同意 Robert Half 可以使用您的个人信息来处理您的工作申请，并不时与您联系以获得未来的就业机会。如需进一步了解 Robert Half 如何处理您的个人信息以及如何访问和更正您的信息，请阅读 Robert Half 隐私声明<a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https://www.roberthalf.cn/en/privacy-statement&data=05|01|[email protected]|45960615caf741a897da08db12e2448b|16532572d5674d678727f12f7bb6aed3|0|0|638124535281002861|Unknown|TWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0=|3000|||&sdata=txey6FkFkoVyheBOucHzeYO1yTcFywlr7N4oX7M8axY=&reserved=0">https://www.roberthalf.cn/en/privacy-statement</a> 。请不要在您的简历中向我们提交任何敏感的个人数据（例如身份证号码、种族、性别、宗教、婚姻状况或工会会员身份），因为我们此时不收集您的敏感个人数据。 <img src="https://counter.adcourier.com/d2lsbC5xaWFuLjY1NDg5LjEwOTIxQHJoaWNuLmFwbGl0cmFrLmNvbQ.gif">
2026-07-23T02:46:34Z

Patent/IP Counsel Job in Shanghai | Robert Half