Senior Patent Attorney - Volvo Cars HQ Gothenburg

Who are we?
Volvo Cars is a company on a mission; to bring traditional car manufacturing into a connected, sustainable and smart future.
Since 1927, we have been a brand known for our commitment to safety, creating innovative cars that make life less complicated for our consumers. In 2010, we decided to transform our business, resulting in a totally new generation of cars and technologies, as well as steady growth and record sales. Today, we’re expanding our global footprint in Europe, China and the US, and we’re on the lookout for new talent.

What you will do

Volvo Cars is looking to recruit an experienced Senior Patent Attorney to be part of the Global IP team. You will be working closely with our groundbreaking R&D teams to protect our inventions, maximize patent protection and manage risks effectively.  You will have the responsibility and strategic oversight for a significant part of the patent portfolio and will be mentoring and providing guidance to junior colleagues.

Key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

•    Fostering a culture of innovation and providing guidance, advice, and training to the R&D teams  
•    Developing and implementing IP strategies in close collaboration with the R&D teams and being the thought leader in your areas of exclusive responsibility 
•    Facilitating ideation sessions with engineering teams and thought leaders to capture inventions 
•    Participation in management meetings and committees in R&D where innovation and future technology road maps are discussed 
•    Identifying and assessing patent-related risks and counseling on freedom-to-operate in an increasingly competitive environment
•    Supervising the drafting and prosecution of applications and the management of opposition and appeals proceedings to maximize the value of the patent protection
•    Taking responsibility for our external costs by ensuring we obtain high-quality work and value for money from external attorneys
•    Advising on licensing and contractual matters and reviewing IP clauses and license agreements
•    Handling patent disputes and litigation
•    Handling IP matters independently and assuming full responsibility in relation to relevant stakeholders throughout the business organization
•    Providing guidance and support to other team members

Finally, you will translate IP law principles into actions that deliver business value and tangible benefits and support increasing IP awareness and driving the strategic IP agenda.

All this includes close interaction with the Global Intellectual Property team at HQ as well as in the US and in China, as well as the other parts of Group Legal & Corporate Governance, R&D, Design, Procurement, and many other parts of the organization and related entities.

Truly Global, Proudly Scandinavian

We’re at the forefront of the mobility revolution, growing fast and bringing together forward-thinking minds from all over the world. Volvo Cars’ headquarters is located in Gothenburg, but the company has offices and plants across the globe. You will be interacting and collaborating with a diverse and international team of colleagues on initiatives influencing many aspects of the business.

This means that we are looking for someone who - on a personal level - shares our values. Being enthusiastic, curious, collaborative, and interested in business and technology with high integrity and a pragmatic approach towards things goes a long way.

Who you are

You are an experienced and skilled patent attorney with solid communications skills and the ability to work effectively and collaboratively throughout the company. Other qualifications include: 

•    Admission as a European and/or national patent attorney
•    At least 8 years of patent experience at a law firm or in-house IP department preferably, with expertise in both software implemented and mechanical inventions.
•    Expert knowledge of patent law and practice of major jurisdictions, including obtaining and defending patent rights and challenging third-party patent rights. 
•    With this also goes proven analytical skills and experience in making decisions, negotiating, and developing solutions or judgments within relevant IP areas.  You view IP as a strategic business asset, anticipate future business and legal risks and seek creative solutions and opportunities

As a person, you are business and service-minded, structured, detail-oriented, and have a focus on getting things done. You enjoy identifying improvement areas and embrace change and you meet deadlines and are fine to work under time pressure from time to time.

You are a true team player and enjoy supporting colleagues. Because the Intellectual Property teams manage very strategic and sensitive matters, integrity is natural for you. You also must be excellent at working and writing in English.

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