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Kimberly-Clark · 1 month ago

Intellectual Property Patent Technical Leader

Neenah, WI

Full-time

Onsite

Mid, Senior Level

$128K/yr - $158K/yr

7+ years exp

Kimberly-Clark is a global leader in consumer goods, known for its well-established brands like Huggies and Kleenex. The Intellectual Property Patent Technical Leader role involves driving the corporation's intellectual property strategy, collaborating with global teams, and fostering an inventive culture to enhance patent protection and innovation. This position is crucial in managing intellectual assets and influencing business strategies to support Kimberly-Clark's growth and innovation initiatives.

ManufacturingProduct DesignWholesale

H1B Sponsor Likely

Responsibilities

Drive the corporation's intellectual property strategy across Global Personal Care (with focus on Baby and Child Care Research and Development) to inspire where the organization needs to evolve -

Ensure all key projects/programs have active IA strategies and guide the team(s) on protection plans

Work effectively with global inventors to strengthen Kimberly-Clark patent estates, helping to identify what should be added or adjusted within invention disclosure submissions to obtain the best and broadest protection possible

Assess differentiation between invention disclosures and prior art, the technical merits of inventions, and level of fit with the technology and business strategy, to drive recommendations regarding disposition of invention disclosure submissions

Proactively identify opportunities for new patents and IP protection

Identify and monitor Kimberly-Clark and competitor patent portfolios to understand competitive technology investment and to identify and help close gaps in Kimberly-Clark patent portfolio related to Kimberly-Clark technology investment

Drive an inventive culture and mindset –

Establish standard metrics for Kimberly-Clark globally and keep leadership abreast of key work through quarterly updates

Strategize with the R&D teams on how to define inventions to enable the broadest protection for the business

Share best practices broadly within IA and R&D community for continued progress

Develop a culture of understanding and importance around IA and establish formal and informal processes for recognition of IA achievements

Maintain a working knowledge of Kimberly-Clark products, manufacturing processes, Kimberly-Clark patent estate, and competitive patent estates

Interact with a Globally Diverse team –

Work directly with attorneys, subject matter experts, global R&E team members and business leaders to make and implement intellectual asset decisions

Facilitate patent filings, patent estate maintenance decisions, foreign filing decisions, competitive patent reviews, publication and trade secret processes

Foster Partnerships –

Be the primary R&E contact with the legal team ensuring all timelines are met for proper decision making

Work with peers from other functions to drive standardization and alignment to ownership of broader Kimberly-Clark initiatives

Provide technical guidance to the Intellectual Property Patent Facilitator role on the team for growth/development

Drive Big Innovations –

Manage prioritization and execution of IA development with the most strategic FEI programs

Influence learning plans when needed to create data needed to support invention disclosures and stronger patent applications

Foresee barriers to IP procurement and maintenance and to develop strategies to overcome those hurdles

Influence Business Strategies –

Leverage IA related insights to influence action and project decisions with brand teams

Support competitive assessments by connecting trends with patents, trademarks, etc. with product and other publicly available information

Support Third Party Agreements –

Maintain a working knowledge of contracts with IA obligations or impacts

Ensure third party agreements are considered early with IA strategies to maximize Kimberly-Clark’s position and prevent inadvertent public disclosures

Qualification

Intellectual Property StrategyPatent Law KnowledgePatent AnalysisIA/IP ManagementANAQUA SystemCollaboration SkillsCommunication SkillsTechnical GuidanceInfluencing SkillsGlobal Patent ExperienceIdeation ProcessesFDA Regulations Knowledge

Required

A bachelor's degree or preferably an advanced degree in a technical discipline (e.g. Chemical, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering)

7+ years of global patent experience, IA/IP law, IA/IP management or related experience

Demonstrated working knowledge of IA/IP law, and an IA/IP management system (i.e. ANAQUA) and external Patent & Trademark Office processes for protection of Kimberly-Clark inventions

Demonstrated competence in searching and analyzing patent art with ability to effectively summarize and draw conclusions from large amounts of patent data

Experience with ideation processes which lead to invention disclosures

Competency and experience in understanding the issues and aspects associated with developing and obtaining patents and enabling inventors to create intellectual property

Strong collaboration, decisiveness, and communication skills required to interact effectively and independently with all levels of the enterprise and across the globe

Model Kimberly-Clark's leadership behaviors and the ability to influence without direct authority

Global patent experience

Preferred

Experience with ANAQUA IA/IP Management System

Familiarity with Personal Care related products, processes and materials including experience with intellectual assets for FDA regulated medical devices

Working knowledge of the Kimberly-Clark Personal Care Global organizational structure as it relates to managing IA decisions

Advanced education with Patent Law

Benefits

Great support for good health with medical, dental, and vision coverage options with no waiting periods or pre-existing condition restrictions.

Access to an on-site fitness center, occupational health nurse, and allowances for high-quality safety equipment.

Flexible Savings and spending accounts to maximize health care options and stretch dollars when caring for yourself or dependents.

Diverse income protection insurance options to protect yourself and your family in case of illness, injury, or other unexpected events.

Additional programs and support to continue your education, adopt a child, relocate, or even find temporary childcare.

Company

Kimberly-Clark

Glassdoor4.0

Kimberly-Clark ranked among the top 10 World's Best Multinational Workplaces by Great Places to Work Institute for the third year in a row.

Founded in 1872

Irving, Texas, USA

10001+ employees

http://www.careersatkc.com

H1B Sponsorship

Kimberly-Clark has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)

Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship

Represents job field similar to this job

Trends of Total Sponsorships

2025 (38)

2024 (14)

2023 (31)

2022 (24)

2021 (10)

2020 (8)