Intellectual Property Manager

Company: TOMRA
Location: West Sacramento
Posted on: June 26, 2022

Job Description:

Company DescriptionTOMRA Food designs and manufactures sensor-based sorting machines and integrated post-harvest solutions for the food industry, using the world's most advanced grading, sorting, peeling and analytical technology. The company's mission is to enable its customers to improve returns, gain operational efficiencies, and ensure a safe food supply via smart, useable technologies.TOMRA Food is a member of the TOMRA Group founded in 1972 that began with the design, manufacture, and sale of reverse vending machines (RVMs) for automated collection of used beverage containers. Today TOMRA provides technology-led solutions that enable the circular economy with advanced collection and sorting systems that optimize resource recovery and minimize waste in the food, recycling, and mining industries. This person will be operating in the Business Area TOMRA Processed Food within TOMRA Food.Primary Job Functions:The IP Portfolio Manager Food shall be responsible for the day-to-day handling of the TOMRA IP portfolio for TOMRA Food.

• Based in TOMRA Food's Sacramento offices, being the key IP contact for Tomra Food at the R&D sites located in USA, Belgium, Ireland, China and New Zealand.
• Internally working with TOMRA Food R&D/Engineering and Product Management teams to capture innovation ideas, categorize, review potential value and coordinate prior art searches.
• Monitoring and assisting the R&D group with their respective new patent and design filings and prosecution and acting as a liaison with the external IP advisors.
• Assisting the drafting and filing of IP applications.
• Assisting marketing teams with trade mark and associated IP issues.
• Negotiating and advising on IP aspects of contracts, R&D development agreements and licenses for TOMRA Food.
• Responsible for managing third party IP conflicts, IP litigation and FTO analysis for TOMRA Food.
• Due diligence for M&A for new acquisitions.
• Managing external IP legal resources.
• Responsible for preparing cases for the IP Board meetings and documenting decisions and actions.
• Contribute to the respective TOMRA Food IP budgets.
• Managing the TOMRA Food IP management software database, patent search software and IP budget software; including inputting data, creating reports and developing new processes, actions and functions.
• Performing patent searching and patent landscape analysis and monitoring TOMRA's competitor activities.Required Skills/Abilities:
  • +10 years experience as an IP attorney, or an IP advisor in a technology transfer office.
  • Several years of professional high-tech experience ideally in optics and digital innovation.
  • Experience in IP and R&D environments, innovation idea capture, new idea valuation and protection, patent searches and IP litigation.
  • Fluent in English. Physical Requirements:
    • Ability to sit at desk for long periods of time.
    • Kneel, bend, and stand as necessary.
    • Ability to lift 5-10 lbs.Work Environment:
      • Ability to work in a fast-paced and customer-centric environment.Experience:
        • Experience in optics technical area - process machinery, digital and platform technology - Auto industry experience would be great fit
        • Would like experience in an IP Management Software.Education:
          • Technical degree in Physics, Computer Science or Electronic Engineering. Legally qualified as a US patent attorney qualified to practice in patent matters before the USPTO.Travel:
            • This position requires travel on occasion (around 20%).Driving:
              • Ability to drive without restrictions.To ApplyIf this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you!TOMRA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, parental or pregnancy status, marriage and civil partnership, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Reasonable accommodations will be made to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and will be provided as requested by candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Keywords: TOMRA, West Sacramento , Intellectual Property Manager, Executive , West Sacramento, California