Company Description

By 2050, the planet could be using twice as much electricity compared to today. Are you interested in contributing and helping to shape the future of the world’s energy? If so, read on.

Fusion, the process that powers the Sun and Stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs.

UKAEA leads the way in realising fusion energy, partnering with industry and research for ground-breaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid, supported by tomorrow's power stations. In pursuit of our mission, UKAEA embraces core values: Innovative, Committed, Trusted, and Collaborative.

Job Description

As an employee of UKAEA you will benefit from:

• Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme, details of which can be found at the end of this advert.
• Corporate bonus scheme up to 7% and a Relocation allowance (if eligible).
• Flexible working options including family friendly policies and the right to request flexible working from the start of your employment. 
• Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders, 
• Generous annual leave allowance starting with 25 days, plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, in addition to UK bank holidays
• Wide range of career development opportunities
• A vibrant culture committed to equality and being fully inclusive

The salary for this role is £82,815 (inclusive of a Market Premium Payment (£7,400 MPP)) market premium payment is non-contractual and non-pensionable . 

Please Note: Hybrid work offered, possibility to be primarily remote with onsite presence as needed.

The Role

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to make a difference? In this role you will lead Intellectual Property activities at UKAEA and join a dynamic team supporting the commercialisation of fusion energy. This is an opportunity to dive into a huge breadth of technical and commercial areas, from Plasma Physics to Robotics and from Advanced Computing to Material Science. You will be working with departments and programmes across UKAEA, such as the ambitious STEP programme targeting 2040 to deliver a prototype fusion power plant.  

You will lead the IP team which is responsible for ensuring the IP strategy and implementation supports UKAEA in achieving its goals. The role has a strong focus on collaborating with technical and business colleagues, external patent attorneys and external partners to accelerate the exploitation of IP. This role is an opportunity to expand experience and knowledge in both technical and commercial areas and to develop a team in the same way. This role will help lead the development of an innovation pipeline to create impact including commercialisation from the fantastic ideas and technologies being developed to solve fusion challenges.  

Additional Responsibilities

• Working with Directors and Programme leads across the business to help set IP strategy, strengthening the overall business and devising asset-specific protection strategies.  
• Have responsibility for the management of a broad and technically diverse IP portfolio (activities include leading on patent and trademark prosecution).  
• Responsible for Corporate IP risks and mitigations.  
• Lead the IP team directing work and prioritise where needed and provide line management to the members of the IP team.  
• Manage the resolution of IP disputes with third parties. 
• Advising teams across the business on IP terms in third party agreements.  
• Raising IP awareness in the organisation by creating the strategy for and delivering training.  
• Utilise technical background for reviewing invention disclosures and advising on best protection strategies.  
• Apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to conduct focused and comprehensive searches for prior art.  
• Direct and conduct high-quality patent landscape investigations and inform on potential IP risks and opportunities.    

Qualifications

Essential Requirements

• Experience managing an IP team in a technical environment and with a broad IP portfolio.  
• Strong communications skills to engage with stakeholders from scientists to executive members and external parties.  
• Self-motivated with the ability to motivate a dynamic team.  
• Significant experience with reviewing and strategically advising on IP terms in contracts.  
• Experience supporting patent prosecution and Office Action activities.  
• Ability to manage a wide range of activities and prioritise according to business need.  
• Significant demonstrable experience of patent searching.  
• Familiarity with different patent analytics tools and platforms.   
• Strong technical background with a degree in Scientific or Engineering discipline.  

Additional Information

A full list of our benefits can be found here https://careers.ukaea.uk/life-at-ukaea/employee-benefits/

We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particularly individuals from black and other ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities, and women. Our Executive team, supported by our 'Equality, Diversity and Inclusion' (EDI) Partner and Inclusion Ambassadors, actively promotes EDI and takes steps to increase diversity within our organization. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success.

Please note that vacancies are generally advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if we receive a large number of applications.