As soon as possible I Location Darmstadt

ABOUT WELLA

Together, WE enable individuals to look, feel, and be their true selves.

Wella Company is one of the world’s leading beauty companies, comprised of a family of iconic brands such as Wella Professionals, Clairol, OPI, Nioxin and ghd. With 6,000 employees globally, presence in over 100 countries, Wella Company and its brands enable consumers to look, feel, and be their true selves. As innovators in the hair and nail industry, Wella Company empowers its people to delight consumers, inspire beauty professionals, engage communities, and deliver sustainable growth to its stakeholders.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

As part of the Wella Intellectual Property Department, we are looking for the future Senior Manager of Innovation and Patents, based in our global R&D headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced patent manager professional to support a global hair and beauty business on a positive journey of evolution and development. The role demands sound judgment, strategic insight and the ability to seamlessly lead and handle significant demands in a fast-paced environment. Well-developed ability to understand and explain risks including analysis, mitigation opportunities and strategic options is key.

This role will report into the Technical R&D Vice President, also based in the global R&D headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany, with a dotted reporting line to the Vice President of Intellectual Property located in the US and will include direct interactions with the other members of the R&D and legal teams worldwide.

The duties of the Senior Manager of Innovation & Patents will include:

• Establish and further develop intellectual property protection for a continuous innovation process
• Create and maintain IP strategies per specific technology categories
• Collaborate with R&D teams to further define the novelty and inventiveness of new technologies in comparison to the prior art and maximize IP protection
• Identify potential cooperation partners (e.g., universities, research institutes, start-ups) and ensure legal safeguards are in place with NDAs
• Manage the prosecution of the patent docket to ensure all deadlines are met with internal and external patent counsels
• Manage the Freedom to Practice portal by working with R&D team members to capture enough details for internal and external patent counsels to provide a clearance opinion
• Manage the Invention Record portal by working with R&D team members to capture enough details for internal and external patent counsels to draft needed patent applications
• Conduct initial investigations into the competitive patent landscape, for competitive technologies, products, and IP
• Contribute to the determination and payment of the German employee inventor remuneration.

QUALIFICATIONS

• University degree in Chemistry, PhD preferred
• Certificate in patent law management desired but not required
• 3+ years’ experience in IP management with a focus on patents and designs in an international context
• Experience as an in-house patent coordinator or patent manager
• Experience in building an IP portfolio for long term strategy in comparison to the business context
• Ability to function autonomously, yet understands necessity of advising management of work progress and any unusual situations
• Ability to work independently and efficiently under time pressures and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work with cross-functional teams in an international R&D and business environment
• Must be fluent in English (written and spoken), fluency in German a plus
• Prior knowledge or work experience in the field of beauty, specifically in hair care and/or hair color is a plus

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT AT WELLA

• Attractive compensation package and benefits
• Support during the internship and the opportunity to take on responsibility at an early stage.
• A collegial working atmosphere at an employer with an appreciative corporate culture.
• Flat hierarchies, open communication and an international as well as diverse environment in which the "WE" is in the foreground!

Become a part of the "WELLA- family" and participate in the rebuilding of our independence. We live our values! #wellafamily

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

We offer equal employment opportunity to qualified individuals without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Wella Company complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities.

#WellaCareers