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Be an essential element to a brighter future. We work together to transform essential resources into critical ingredients for mobility, energy, connectivity and health. Join our values-led organization committed to building a more resilient world with people and planet in mind. Our core values are the foundation that make us successful for ourselves, our customers and the planet. Job Description Job Description Albemarle's Research & Technology (R&T) team is seeking an experienced cross-functional Intellectual Capital Manager (ICM) to guide innovation, create intellectual property (IP) strategies, manage patent portfolios, and protect Albemarle's patent and trade secret assets. In this role, you will support a global R&T organization with significant operations globally including North Carolina, Louisiana, Chile, Germany and China. The role will be based either in North Carlina, at our global headquarters in Charlotte or our Kings Mountain Technical Center, or in Louisiana at our Research Center in Baton Rouge. You will be expected to be on-site at least 3 days a week. This position will report directly to the Vice President of Core Technology. The role requires both a strong technical background in materials science/chemistry/engineering and a deep understanding of intellectual property law. Your primary responsibility will be to create, develop, and maintain IP strategies in close collaboration with our research scientists, legal team and commercial functions. You will help shepherd new inventions into patents and trade secrets, and conduct landscape analyses of technologies and competitors. You will also support new business development and commercialization efforts. You will be the point of contact for the R&T organization for various legal and contractual matters related to IP, including on external collaborations. Effective collaboration and seamless communication across diverse teams and geographies are essential in this role. Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Collaborate closely with the R&T team to identify, develop and protect intellectual property (IP) to maximize technology and commercial success.
- Conduct patent and prior art searches to assess patent landscapes, patentability, and strategic opportunities.
- Work with internal and external attorneys to prioritize patent applications, establish inventorship, and coordinate Office Action responses.
- Implement a competitor monitoring program and incorporate real-time competitive intelligence into IP strategy. Perform technical analysis of third-party patents and activities to identify and develop competitive intelligence.
- Engage in-house and outside counsel to develop freedom to operate, infringement, and validity opinions.
- Manage the patent portfolio to align with business strategy and technology trends.
- Develop, implement and continuously improve a comprehensive framework for managing trade secrets that promotes internal and external collaboration while protecting high-value assets.
- Educate R&D staff on how to anticipate and recognize the creation of IP, how to best protect IP, how to write strong patents, how to understand patents, how to maximize success of the patenting process, and how to navigate prior art and the patent landscape.
- Guide innovation by meeting with project teams, conducting 1-on-1 meetings with scientists/engineers, and participating in R&T portfolio and Stage Gate reviews.
- Communicate summaries and updates regarding the IP portfolio to the R&T organization and to executive leadership.
- Work with the R&T and commercial organizations to identify and pursue monetization opportunities where relevant.
- Support contractual negotiations for external agreement, including non-disclosure agreements, memoranda of understanding, joint development agreements, IP licensing agreements, and strategic commercial agreements. Also support mergers and acquisition activities, including IP due diligence.
- Stay up to date on developments in patent law and Albemarle's technologies.
Required Qualifications
- BA/BS degree and 10 years of industry technical experience in chemistry, materials science, physics, chemical engineering, or related field. Candidate must be able to demonstrate mastery of technical fundamentals within their field.
- At least 5 years of experience working closely in/with an intellectual property team performing patent prosecution, drafting, strategy and/or competitive analysis in a materials/specialty chemicals-related field. Candidate should have a strong working knowledge of patent and trade secret law and patent prosecution tactics.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills to both technical individual contributors and leadership.
- Meticulous attention to detail, with strong organization and time management skills.
- Curiosity and a passion for innovation
- Strategic mindset
Desired Competencies
- PhD in a relevant technical discipline (chemistry, materials science, physics, chemical engineering, etc) and/or law degree
- Direct experience working in an industrial research environment.
- Experience as a Patent Attorney, Registered Patent Agent, Patent Liaison or Patent Engineer.
- Prior experience in a commercial or marketing organization would be a plus.
- Strong understanding of technologies for lithium-ion batteries, polymers, and/or flame retardants.
- Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally between research, legal and business organizations.
Physical Requirements
- Must be able to relocate to Charlotte, NC or Baton Rouge, LA
- Must be able to travel domestically at least once a quarter for up to 1 week for face-to-face interactions with stakeholders. The role will also require periodic international travel.
Benefits of Joining Albemarle
We are partners to one another in pioneering new ways to be better for ourselves, our teams, and our communities. When you join Albemarle, you become our most essential element and you can anticipate competitive compensation, a comprehensive benefits package, and resources that foster your well-being and fuel your personal growth. Help us shape the future, build with purpose and grow together.
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Albemarle Corporation
Apr 17, 2025