Head of Intellectual Property

Exeter, England, United Kingdom

SENISCA is seeking to recruit a Head of Intellectual Property & Licensing to join our expanding team. This is an exciting new opportunity to join us as we enter a rapid phase of R&D and organisational growth.

About SENISCA:

SENISCA is focused on the development of therapeutics that target cellular ageing (senescence; senotherapeutics). Cellular senescence, the process during which cells exit the cell cycle and gain additional functionality, is a major driver of systemic ageing and disease. Underpinned by 15yrs+ of pioneering research, SENISCA has identified a new and druggable molecular cause of cellular senescence: the dysregulation of alternative RNA splicing.

SENISCA is developing oligonucleotide senotherapeutics that target splicing regulation and result in cellular reprogramming and disease modification by attenuating senescence. With very broad applicability, this approach enables SENISCA to target the causes, rather than the consequences, of cellular ageing. To this end, SENISCA has developed a therapeutic pipeline targeting specific age-related diseases with clear unmet medical need.

The role presents an excellent opportunity for a dynamic individual with significant biopharmaceutical experience in patent portfolio management, the development and implementation of intellectual property (IP) and licensing strategies and the capability to lead our industry-specific relationships and partnerships.

The suitable person will also be able to quickly develop an advanced understanding of SENISCA’s R&D capabilities and assets to identify, protect, market, and commercialise SENISCA’s intellectual property in the biotech and pharma sectors.

Responsibilities include:

Defining and implementing the Company’s IP strategy, ensuring that SENISCA’s IP strategy aligns with business goals, and overseeing the management of SENISCA’s IP portfolio. SENISCA’s Head of IP and Licensing will:

Exercise high-level professional expertise in working with SENISCA’s R&D team to protect the company’s IP assets and generate value through industry partnerships and licensing, requiring a substantial degree of intellectual property knowledge, independent problem-solving, commercial, and legal responsibility, and stakeholder management.

Manage the IP portfolio (Patent portfolio, Trademark portfolio, Trade Secret) and commercial deal-making.

Establish a Trade Secret policy and contribute to setting up a Trade Secret safe platform.

Negotiate and draft or, where appropriate supervise the outsourced creation of, legal agreements including licenses and collaboration agreements, company articles and shareholders agreements, consultancy agreements between the SENISCA and third parties.

Lead on intellectual property and commercial inputs to translational grant applications and contracts.

Advise SENISCA’s Board and senior management team regarding IP decisions.

Champion IP governance and fostering a culture of IP awareness across the organization, ensuring alignment with national and international best practices.

Drive initiatives for the creation and extraction of maximum value from IP.

Network and build relationships internally and externally with a variety of stakeholders exerting influence at a senior level, to enhance delivery of SENISCA’s partnership and licensing activities.

Perform due diligence on business development opportunities and support licensing and strategic partnering activities.

You’ll have:

A demonstrated understanding of IP principles and a strong biopharmaceutical industry background in all major IP and licensing-related matters with experience in business development, handling pharmaceutical patent portfolios, and working with external patent attorneys.

Strong core oligonucleotide and/or small molecule patent prosecution skills in multiple markets and jurisdictions.

Experience in licensing an oligonucleotide and/or small molecule portfolio (3 years experience is ideal).

Demonstrated expertise in the negotiation of contracts including licence and industry collaboration agreements/co-development partnerships.

Experience in leading external legal (patent and trademark) service providers.

An excellent degree in chemistry, biochemistry, or biological science.

A high level of integrity and motivation, ability to work independently.

The ability to balance multiple tasks and projects with constantly evolving priorities.

Demonstrated skills in managing and influencing multi-stakeholder complex projects and achieving outcomes against deadlines.

The ability to be an enterprise leader for the organization.

Nice to have:

Ph.D. level or equivalent in a relevant discipline.

Significant industrial experience in biotech and/or pharma in developing either oligonucleotide and/or small molecule therapeutics; ideally both modalities.

At least three years of relevant experience in life science patent prosecution with global portfolios

Background in ageing or senescence biology.

Your Benefits:

Market rate salary

Pension; discretionary performance-related bonus

Ample opportunity to grow with the company as we scale.

This is a part-time role - we are flexible on 2 or 3 days per week.