Assistant General Counsel, IP
5 days ago
Cary
We’re Hiring! Assistant General Counsel, IP At Envu, we partner with our customers to design world-class, forward-thinking innovations that protect and enhance the health of environments around the world. We offer dedicated services in: Professional Pest Management, Forestry, Ornamentals, Golf, Industrial Vegetation Management, Lawn & Landscape, Mosquito Management, and Range & Pasture. Envu brings together a broad range of perspectives to look beyond chemistry and dare to explore new paths forward. Guided by our inclusive culture, we embrace change and flexibility, tackling our customers’ toughest challenges proactively, passionately and with an entrepreneurial spirit. We pursue our ambitions collaboratively because we know that a unified and empowered team is an unstoppable force, allowing us to achieve our vision of healthy environments for everyone, everywhere. Join Us. Envu is proud to be Great Place to Work Certified in the U.S., France and India (June 2025 – June 2026) FUNCTION: CFO LOCATION: Cary, North Carolina JOB TYPE: Permanent JOB GRADE: 8 GET TO KNOW YOUR AREA: • The Assistant General Counsel, Intellectual Property is a strategic leadership role responsible for managing the company's global intellectual property portfolio and licensing operations. This position develops and executes IP strategies aligned with corporate objectives, leads complex licensing negotiations, and partners cross-functionally with Legal, R&D, Business Development, and Finance teams. The role serves as a key advisor to senior leadership on IP risk, opportunity, and compliance. YOUR MISSION WILL BE TO: IP Strategy & Portfolio Management • Develop, implement, and continuously refine the global IP strategy to support business growth and protect competitive advantage., • Manage and optimize the company's patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret portfolio across all relevant jurisdictions., • Conduct freedom-to-operate analyses, patentability assessments, and IP landscape reviews to support product development and business initiatives., • Monitor competitor IP activity and emerging regulatory trends; provide executive-ready insights and recommendations., • Oversee IP docketing, maintenance fees, and portfolio lifecycle decisions including continuation, abandonment, and monetization strategies. Licensing & Commercial Agreements • Lead and manage inbound and outbound licensing negotiations, including technology licenses, patent licenses, brand/trademark licenses, and content licenses., • Draft, review, and negotiate complex IP-related agreements: NDAs, MTAs, SRAs, co-development agreements, supply agreements, and R&D collaboration agreements., • Ensure all licensing agreements align with company risk standards, regulatory requirements, and financial objectives., • Conduct royalty audits, revenue forecasting, and financial impact assessments related to licensing activities., • Manage licensing agreement renewals, amendments, and terminations; maintain accurate and complete records of all transactions. Cross-Functional Collaboration & Advisory • Partner with R&D, Product, Marketing, Finance, and external counsel to align IP activities with business priorities., • Provide expert guidance to senior management and business unit leaders on IP risk, licensing strategy, and enforcement matters., • Support M&A due diligence activities, including IP valuation, risk assessment, and integration planning., • Collaborate with Business Development on partnership structuring, in-licensing opportunities, and strategic acquisitions. Compliance, Risk & Enforcement • Oversee compliance with all IP licensing terms and conditions; develop and maintain internal compliance frameworks., • Lead or support IP enforcement activities including cease-and-desist actions, inter partes reviews, and dispute resolution., • Identify and manage IP-related risks; advise on mitigation strategies and escalate issues as appropriate., • Ensure adherence to export control regulations and applicable IP laws across all operating jurisdictions. Team Leadership & Stakeholder Management • Lead, mentor, and develop IP and licensing professionals within the team, as applicable., • Manage relationships with external IP counsel, licensing agents, and industry associations., • Prepare and present licensing performance reports, IP portfolio updates, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership., • Represent the company at relevant industry forums, conferences, and professional organizations. ARE YOU READY FOR THE ROLE? Main requirements: Required • Undergraduate degree in chemistry, biochemistry, or other life sciences field., • J.D. from an accredited law school., • Licensed, in good standing, to practice law in at least one state., • Licensed, in good standing, at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office,, • 8+ years of progressive experience in intellectual property, licensing, or technology commercialization, including 3+ years in a senior or managerial capacity., • Demonstrated expertise negotiating and drafting complex IP licensing agreements across multiple agreement types (patent, trademark, technology, content)., • Strong command of intellectual property law, including patent prosecution, trademark registration, and licensing compliance frameworks., • Proven ability to manage large, complex IP portfolios across multiple jurisdictions., • Experience conducting IP due diligence in M&A or strategic partnership contexts., • Exceptional analytical, negotiation, and written communication skills; ability to present complex legal and business concepts to executive audiences. Preferred • Experience in a global, matrixed organization operating in the life sciences industry, with preference given to the pest management and environmental sciences industry., • Familiarity with international IP frameworks (EPO, WIPO, PCT) and multi-jurisdictional licensing strategies., • Experience with IP management platforms and docketing systems. Envu is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants, regardless of ethnicity, color, race, religion, origin, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other conditions. And all opportunities are open to people with disabilities. By applying for this position, you agree that your personal data are going to be processed and recorded by Envu for recruitment purposes only. For candidates who are not selected for this position, personal data will be kept for a period of two years and then permanently deleted.