Patent Counsel

The Role

At Imperial Brands, a globally recognised FMCG supported by 25,000 passionate employees worldwide, we are looking for a recently qualified European patent attorney to make a significant impact. We invite you to become a key player in our Group’s patents team, collaborating closely with our innovative IP team, Procurement functions, and external counsel. Your role will be pivotal in efficiently building and managing our patent portfolios while mitigating IP risks.

We seek a commercially savvy individual with excellent communication skills who thrives in a diverse environment. You will work alongside technical experts, project teams, and external counsel on a variety of patent-related tasks, including idea captures, patent filings and prosecution, oppositions, portfolio management, and freedom-to-operate (FTO) exercises.

If you are passionate about intellectual property and eager to contribute to a forward-thinking company, we would love to hear from you!

Principle Accountabilities

• Capture Ideas Efficiently: Secure thorough idea capture from our innovation teams to fuel our patent pipeline.
• Collaborate on Patents: Work closely with the Group IP team and external attorneys on patent filings, prosecutions, oppositions, and FTO matters.
• Maintain Patent Portfolio: Ensure our patent portfolio aligns with the Group’s filing practices and strategy.
• Support R&D and Launches: Assist with FTO exercises for R&D projects, product launches, and acquisitions.
• Conduct Landscape Studies: Manage studies to support discovery and early-stage R&D projects.
• Train and Inform: Provide training on patentability and FTO issues and manage patent information to inform stakeholders and drive innovation.

Skills and Experience Required

• Newly Qualified European Patent Attorney: Bring your fresh expertise and enthusiasm to our team.
• Commercially Savvy: Leverage your business acumen to drive strategic decisions.
• Meticulous and Detail-Oriented: Excel in organisation, accuracy, and attention to detail.
• Responsive and Agile: Adapt swiftly to changing demands and urgent business needs.
• Analytical Problem-Solver: Apply your analytical thinking to tackle complex challenges.
• Excellent Communicator and Team Player: Build strong relationships across diverse teams and clearly convey advice to business managers.

What We Offer

In return for playing your part in building our future, you will receive a comprehensive compensation package with salary, bonus scheme and further benefits as well inspiring places to work and collaborate with purpose. Here at Imperial we will give you the opportunity to grow and learn, innovate at pace and be a part of our purpose to forge a path to a healthier future for moments of relaxation and pleasure for our consumers.

Everyone Belongs

Everyone belongs in Imperial. We are proud of being a truly inclusive organisation. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, nationalities, disabilities, sexual orientation, religions or beliefs and of neuro divergence. We give fair and equal consideration to all our applicants. Please contact us at recruitment@impbrands.com to let us know if we can provide support in helping you complete an application and/or attend an interview.

About Us

We're a truly international company, fourth largest in our industry and operating across 120 markets. An inclusive, innovative global FMCG business supported by 25,000 employees. As we embrace a new era of growth, we are transforming. Our ways of working and culture are driven by a challenger mindset, constantly questioning the status quo where people can bring their best selves to work. Our agility and collaboration are driving our ambitions, innovation and success all supported by our award-winning development programmes that creates exciting and rewarding career opportunities for all.  Encouraging inclusion at local levels and supporting a developing and robust diversity agenda globally, we’re fully committed to creating and maintaining an environment that celebrates and respects difference.

As a matter of policy, Imperial Tobacco or its subsidiaries never requests or requires payment as part of any recruitment process.