The Role

Patent Searcher & Data Analyst

Bristol 

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 over 27,500 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. Our agility and entrepreneurial spirit, alongside award winning development programmes, enable innovation and success while creating exciting and rewarding career choices. As we move forward, our customers will be at the heart of what we do, evolving to needs and expectations and committing to a more meaningful contribution to harm reduction by building a successful NGP business. Integral to our long-term success is our sustainability strategy, behaving responsibly and supporting our ambitions, all underpinned by high governance. 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.

The Role

We are looking for a patent searcher/analyst to join our Group Legal function based in our Bristol or Liverpool office, reporting to Senior Patent Counsel. 

The successful candidate will be able to efficiently perform and manage search projects and present patent information to the Group clearly and effectively.

The role is suited to a patent searcher/analyst with excellent communication and presentation skills who would enjoy working with a diverse group of stakeholders (including technical experts and legal professionals) on a wide range of areas, including technology landscaping, competitor intelligence, portfolio analysis and management, IP due diligence & process optimisation.

Principle Accountabilities

• Perform or manage patentability, freedom-to-operate (FTO) and invalidity patent searches to support the Group IP team and key business stakeholders
• Undertake, and/or analyse output from, patent landscape searches and communicate conclusions
• Manage search projects to support R&D projects, product launches and acquisitions
• Communicate patent information, including competitor insights, to relevant stakeholders throughout the business to help inform innovation and/or FTO activities
• Optimise and harmonise the presentation of patent information, including creating standardised formats, to ensure patent information is easy to understand and is tailored to the needs of the business
• Work closely with other members of Group IP on patent filings, FTO analyses, oppositions, due diligence exercises, and other matters as needed
• Manage external search providers, including on quality and costs
• Work with other members of the Group IP team to optimise and maintain fit-for-purpose patent processes to support the needs of the business
• Work closely with IP Paralegal to manage and optimise the patent portfolio aspects of the Group’s IP management software/ database, including monitoring data accuracy and reporting patent portfolio information upon request

Key Relationships

Internal

• Group Legal.
• Innovation and R&D.
• Global Consumer Officer teams, including Product category teams.
• Manufacturing & Supply Chain

External

• Close working relationship with external patent attorneys and lawyers

Key Skills, Education & Experience

Essential

• Experience of patent searching and managing patent information
• Technical background with ability to understand a broad range of technologies
• Strong knowledge of patents including patent laws and process, and the ability to understand and analyse patent documents
• Ability to assimilate and analyse large volumes of data, spot trends and emerging technologies, generate insightful reports and communicate conclusions in a concise and user-friendly manner
• High levels of organisation, accuracy, and attention to detail
• Analytical thinking and good problem-solving skills
• Strong written, graphic, and spoken communication skills
• Excellent relationship-building skills and ability to work with teams and across multiple disciplines and cultures
• Good knowledge and experience in using a range of software applications

Desirable

• Knowledge and experience of commercial patent databases
• Degree in technical subject
• Experience working in-house or directly with attorneys/lawyers and/or innovation teams

What We Offer

Competitive salary, bonus scheme, pension, and 25 days holiday (with an additional 4 days on top to cover the Christmas period, and bank holidays), flexible working policy, corporate discounts, Health Cash Plan, and other wellbeing initiatives.

Next Steps

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply, highlighting their suitability to the above post.