Patent Attorney II

Job Description Summary

#LI-Hybrid

Location: Cambridge, United States or Basel, Switzerland (see separate posting)

Ready to shape the future of innovation at Novartis? As a Patent Attorney II, you will play a pivotal role in protecting groundbreaking scientific discoveries and enabling life-changing medicines to reach patients worldwide. Partnering closely with R&D teams, you will drive strategic intellectual property decisions, build robust patent portfolios, and navigate complex legal landscapes to safeguard innovation across the product lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide clear, strategic, and business-focused counsel to Novartis R&D clients on invention protection, portfolio development, publication strategy, and third-party risks.
• Build and manage patent portfolios for Novartis R&D projects by identifying inventions and preparing, prosecuting, maintaining, and defending patent filings across areas such as new molecular entities, processes, manufacturing, platforms, technologies, and clinical developments.
• Render legal opinions on patentability, validity, and freedom to operate, and develop patent strategies that strengthen IP positions, support freedom to operate, and enable effective IP defense.
• Apply deep knowledge of national patent law and practice, including relevant legal developments and patent trends, to shape strategy and advice.
• Understand and apply other forms of exclusivity protection, as appropriate.
• Communicate effectively with colleagues and leaders across the legal, IP, and R&D organizations.
• Build and manage relationships with outside counsel and collaborators, including extensive interaction within a multicultural global patent function.
• Conduct due diligence and provide counsel based on those assessments, including freedom-to-operate, infringement, validity, risk evaluation, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Provide IP support for transactional matters, including M&A, research collaborations, and in-licensing opportunities, with advice on contract drafting and negotiation
• Ensure high-quality, timely delivery of work aligned with business goals and budgets

Essential Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree with admission to at least one state bar, and registration to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
• Advanced degree in chemistry or related field, with strong preference for a doctoral degree
• Significant experience as a patent attorney within a law firm or pharmaceutical or biotechnology environment
• Strong technical expertise in chemistry, preferably including experience with small molecules, synthesis, or pharmaceutical development.
• Expertise in U.S. and PCT patent law, filing processes, and prosecution practice, with a detailed understanding of European patent law and other major global patent systems
• Proven ability to partner with scientific and business stakeholders to deliver strategic intellectual property advice
• Strong analytical, communication, and decision-making skills with high attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple priorities effectively within a fast-paced, global environment

Benefits & Rewards

• The salary for this position is expected to range between $185.500 and $344.500 per year.
• The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically.
• Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors.

Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards. US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits.

In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.

Benefits and Rewards

Read our handbook to learn about all the ways we'll help you thrive personally and professionally:

Skills Desired

Adaptability, Business Acumen, Critical Thinking, Curious Mindset, Decision Making, Freedom to Operate Analysis, Intellectual Property Law, Negotiation, Patentability, Patent Drafting, Patent Law, Patent Litigation, Patent Portfolio Management, Patent Prosecution, Persuasion, Planning, Problem Solving, Relationship Building, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Thinking