Senior Director, Intellectual Property Strategy

About the role

We are seeking an accomplished and highly strategic patent attorney to lead the strategy for our non-small molecule patent portfolio. This role is designed for a senior expert who can operate at the intersection of sophisticated patent prosecution, patent disputes, and competitive intelligence gathering.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end IP strategy for our biologic patent portfolio, carefully integrating global prosecution and third-party considerations into a cohesive and forward-looking approach to maximize exclusivity positions.
• Provide legal advice to cross-functional R&D and business teams on a variety of IP-related matters.
• Draft, file, and prosecute strategic patent applications worldwide both directly and through management of outside counsel and in-house IP team.
• Play a central role in third-party challenges and challenge preparation, both offensively and defensively, while coordinating with outside counsel, including European oppositions and appeals, US post-grant proceedings (IPRs, PGRs), and litigation (e.g., US, Europe, China).
• Partner with the Chief IP Counsel on broader portfolio-level prioritization and risk assessment, while maintaining primary ownership of patent strategy.
• Drive competitor intelligence efforts and freedom-to-operate analyses, translating insights into actionable IP strategies.
• Identify gaps, risks, and whitespace opportunities across research and development programs, and ensure coordinated coverage and prosecution.
• Collaborate closely with internal subject matter leads and, where appropriate, provide mentorship or direct management to team members aligned with patent workstreams.
• Review manuscripts, presentations, press releases, corporate disclosures and other publication materials for clearance.
• Support business development, due diligence, and executive-level discussions as a subject matter expert in asset IP.
• Manage and direct outside counsel globally to efficiently deliver high-quality, strategically aligned work product.

Requirements

• Hold a Ph.D. in a life science discipline in addition to a J.D. from an accredited US law school and be a member in good standing of a US State Bar.
• Have 15+ years of patent experience in the pharmaceutical/biotech sector, with significant in-house experience within a pharmaceutical/biotech company.
• Deep and creative expertise in patent prosecution strategy and implementation, including in viral gene therapy, protein therapeutics, and antisense oligonucleotide technologies.
• Significant experience with patent disputes, including oppositions, IPRs/PGRs, and/or litigation.
• Strong understanding of global patent systems.
• Demonstrated successful experience advising senior management on complex IP issues, including risk assessment and strategic decision-making.
• Ability to operate as a senior individual contributor and strategic leader, with or without formal people management responsibilities.
• Superb technical, written, and verbal communication skills in English.
• Ability to write well as evidenced by past patent applications and USPTO responses.

Qualifications

• Must hold a Ph.D. in a life science discipline and a J.D. from an accredited US law school.
• Must be a member in good standing of a US State Bar.
• Must have 15+ years of patent experience in the pharmaceutical/biotech sector, with significant in-house experience.
• Must have deep and creative expertise in patent prosecution strategy and implementation, including in viral gene therapy, protein therapeutics, and antisense oligonucleotide technologies.
• Must have significant experience with patent disputes, including oppositions, IPRs/PGRs, and/or litigation.
• Must have a strong understanding of global patent systems.
• Must have demonstrated successful experience advising senior management on complex IP issues, including risk assessment and strategic decision-making.
• Must have the ability to operate as a senior individual contributor and strategic leader, with or without formal people management responsibilities.
• Must have superb technical, written, and verbal communication skills in English.
• Must have the ability to write well as evidenced by past patent applications and USPTO responses.

Skills

• Patent prosecution strategy and implementation, including in viral gene therapy, protein therapeutics, and antisense oligonucleotide technologies.
• Experience with patent disputes, including oppositions, IPRs/PGRs, and/or litigation.
• Strong understanding of global patent systems.
• Ability to advise senior management on complex IP issues, including risk assessment and strategic decision-making.
• Technical, written, and verbal communication skills in English.

Benefits

Insmed offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage and mental health support, annual wellbeing reimbursement, and access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Generous paid time off policies, fertility and family-forming benefits, caregiver support, and flexible work schedules with purposeful in-person collaboration are also provided. The 401(k) plan with a competitive company match, annual equity awards, and participation in our Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), and company-paid life and disability insurance are additional benefits. Current Insmed Employees: Please apply via the Jobs Hub in Workday. Insmed is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact us by email at TotalRewards@insmed.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.