Assistant General Counsel – Patents, Group Leader Vision

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com

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The Johnson & Johnson Global Legal Organization is recruiting for an Assistant General Counsel – Patents, Group Leader Vision to support the Vision business of Johnson & Johnson MedTech. The position will report to the Global Patent Lead – J&J MedTech and can be based in Jackson, FL, Irvine, CA, New Brunswick, NJ, or at another major Johnson & Johnson MedTech R&D site.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of patent attorneys and professionals supporting the Vision business.

• Drive high performance and meaningful professional development for team members in alignment with J&J’s performance philosophy.

• Assess patent resource needs and lead recruitment and onboarding of new team members.

• Provide comprehensive patent support, including:
    - Patent preparation and prosecution
    - Freedom-to-operate analyses (e.g., infringement and validity)
    - Strategic client counseling

• Draft and negotiate complex agreements, including licensing and research collaborations.

• Support business development through due diligence activities.

• Develop deep knowledge of Vision technologies, commercial models, competitive strategies, and the patent landscape.

• Support U.S. and international litigation, including enforcement of patent rights.

• Manage relationships with external counsel and partners.

• Deliver presentations and training to senior business partners on IP, contracts, and due diligence.

• Collaborate closely with R&D and commercial leaders to influence strategic decisions.

• Mentor and guide other patent professionals within the IP department.

• Work cross-functionally with non-patent legal team members to deliver integrated legal advice.

Qualifications

Education:

• Undergraduate or advanced degree in engineering or science

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school

• Admitted to the USPTO and licensed to practice in at least one U.S. jurisdiction

Experience:

• Minimum 15 years in a law firm and/or corporate patent department

• People leadership experience preferred

• Strong expertise in patent law, including strategy, portfolio management, and competitive analysis

• Independent experience in patent prosecution and freedom-to-operate studies

• Due diligence experience required

• Background in Vision care or medical device technologies required

Skills:

• Strong communication and presentation skills

• High emotional intelligence and a collaborative, positive attitude

• Ability to thrive in a matrixed, fast-paced business environment

The base pay range for this position is $173,000 to $275,000.  The Company maintains highly competitive, performance-based compensation programs.  Under current guidelines, this position is eligible for an annual performance bonus.  The annual performance bonus is a cash bonus intended to provide an incentive to achieve annual targeted results by rewarding for individual and the corporation’s performance over a calendar/performance year.  Bonuses are awarded at the Company’s discretion on an individual basis.  Employees may be eligible to participate in Company employee benefit programs such as health insurance, savings plan, pension plan, disability plan, vacation pay, sick time, holiday pay, and work, personal and family time off in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.  Additional information can be found through the link below.

Information on benefits can be viewed by following this link:  https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. 

Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, please contact us via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers or contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.

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