Back to jobs

Head of Intellectual Property, Senior Director

South San Francisco, California, United States

About Us 

Kardigan is a heart health company working to make cardiovascular disease preventable, curable and no longer the leading cause of death in the world. It is our mission to develop multiple targeted treatments in parallel that bring people with cardiovascular diseases to the cures they deserve. 

At Kardigan, we are motivated by our values which guide how we work, interact, and achieve our goals. Driven by patients and their families, we are deeply committed to improving the lives of patients and prioritizing their needs above all else. We believe in being authentic—leading with truth to bring out the best in others by creating an environment where every person knows they will be fully accepted. With an eagerness to learn, we encourage the highest levels of curiosity and are open to changing our minds. We are committed to winning as a team with urgency, excellence, and intention, and support each other no matter what role we play or where we sit. Lastly, we strive to enable the impossible because patients are counting on us. We are not afraid to take risks to unlock innovation and advance scientific discoveries.   

These values are the foundation of our work, empowering us to make a real difference, every day.  

 

Position Title: Head of Intellectual Property, Senior Director 

Department: Legal 

Reports To: General Counsel 

 

Job Overview 

Kardigan is seeking an experienced and collaborative Head of Intellectual Property, Senior Director, to lead and manage our global intellectual property (IP) strategy and operations, playing a critical role in our company’s success. As the Head of Intellectual Property, you will oversee the development and execution of the IP strategy, including managing the IP portfolio, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, and ensuring the company’s IP assets are properly protected. This position requires a strong foundation in IP law, patent strategy, portfolio management, and licensing. You will manage the lifecycle of IP assets, establish best practices in IP processes, and ensure compliance with company policies and industry regulations. This is a unique opportunity for building and leading IP strategy at a company with both early and late stage programs.  

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

  • Develop and implement a comprehensive IP strategy that aligns with the company’s business objectives. Manage the global IP portfolio, including patents, trademarks, and trade secrets, ensuring its alignment with strategic goals. Lead efforts to identify, protect, and leverage key IP assets in support of innovation and growth. 
  • Oversee patent filings, prosecutions, and patent portfolio management, including developing strategies for global patent protection for both early and late stage programs. Work with external counsel and internal stakeholders to draft and prosecute patents and ensure timely strategic filings. 
  • Negotiate IP licensing agreements, including in-bound and out-bound licensing, technology transfers, and other IP-related transactions. Work closely with the business development team to structure deals that maximize the value of the company’s IP. 
  • Serve as the key advisor on IP matters to the executive leadership team and board of directors. Regularly report on the status of the company’s IP assets, associated risks, and opportunities, ensuring that IP strategy is aligned with overall business goals. 
  • Partner with R&D, business development, legal, and program teams to ensure IP strategy is integrated into all stages of product development and commercialization.  
  • Develop and implement strategies for identifying and mitigating IP risks and managing disputes that may include litigation, post-grant proceedings, IPRs and oppositions. 
  • Develop and implement training programs to educate internal teams on IP matters, best practices, and legal considerations.  

 

Qualifications and Preferred Skills 

  • JD required with 10+ years of experience in intellectual property law. 
  • Member of a state bar in good standing. 
  • Advanced degree in chemistry, biochemistry or related field required; PhD preferred. 
  • Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office 
  • Proven expertise in patent prosecution, IP licensing, and managing IP portfolios in a global context and for both early and late stage programs. 
  • Strong experience in negotiating and drafting complex IP agreements, including licensing, joint development, and technology transfer agreements. 
  • Demonstrated success in aligning IP strategy with business objectives in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industries. 
  • Proven ability to build and lead a high-performing team, with experience in mentoring and developing IP professionals. 
  • Exceptional communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively with senior leadership and external partners. 
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a focus on risk mitigation and operational efficiency. 
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment. 
  • Self-motivated and results-oriented, with a proactive approach to identifying and addressing issues. 
  • Deep understanding of IP law and practice across multiple jurisdictions. 
  • Strong knowledge of biotechnology, life sciences, and related industries, with a particular focus on clinical trials, product development, and partnerships. 
  • Detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills, able to manage complex IP portfolios and projects effectively. 
  • Understands and supports a “patient-first” mentality. 

 

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Education

Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Kardigan’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.