Sr. Counsel, Patents

About the Role

The Senior Counsel, Patents serves as a strategic legal advisor to The Hershey Company and plays a critical role in protecting, strengthening, and leveraging our global patent portfolio. This position partners closely with R&D, innovation, digital, and business teams to protect innovations across food products, packaging, manufacturing processes, and emerging technologies, including AI-enabled solutions. The role helps drive business growth through proactive intellectual property strategy, risk management, and stakeholder education.

Responsibilities

• Lead identification, protection, prosecution, and maintenance of patentable inventions across products, packaging, manufacturing processes, and emerging technologies.
• Conduct patent landscape analyses, freedom-to-operate reviews, and competitive intelligence assessments to support innovation and mitigate risk.
• Draft, review, and negotiate patent-related agreements, including technology transfer, joint development, research collaboration, and IP licensing arrangements.
• Manage patent disputes, oppositions, and litigation activities in partnership with external counsel.
• Develop and deliver patent and intellectual property training for employees, driving compliance with global patent laws and company policies.
• Oversee a global patent portfolio, including budget management and outside counsel/vendor relationships.
• Provide strategic legal guidance that influences enterprise-wide innovation, intellectual property, and risk management decisions.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) required.
• Admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania or ability to obtain a limited corporate counsel license in Pennsylvania.
• USPTO bar registration required.

Experience

• Minimum 8 years of progressive patent law experience, including patent prosecution, enforcement, and portfolio management.
• Experience within a corporate legal department and/or law firm environment.
• Experience supporting consumer packaged goods (CPG), food, manufacturing, or related industries preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in global patent laws, patent portfolio strategy, and intellectual property risk management.
• Knowledge of food regulatory and compliance requirements preferred.

Benefits

• Health & Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus wellness programs that support your physical and mental health.
• Financial Security: Competitive pay, annual incentive opportunities, and a 401(k) with company match.
• Time Off & Flexibility: Paid time off, company holidays, and flexible ways of working where applicable.
• Growth & Development: Career development programs, learning opportunities, and internal mobility.

Benefits may vary based on role, location, and eligibility.

Posted Date: Aug 7, 2026