Want to disrupt one of the largest industries in the world? Fortera is a Materials Technology Company headquartered in Silicon Valley that has created a new low-cost, low CO2 cement that can reduce cement emissions by 60% and global CO2 emissions by 5%. The technology is inspired by nature and directly converts CO2 into a replacement for ordinary cement, turning a problem into a product. With over ten years of testing and 100,000 hours of R&D backing the technology, Fortera is ready to grow the team and begin commercial production of this exciting new product. Be on the ground floor of a carbon-to-value movement that will impact millions for generations to come. We are looking for passionate thinkers, doers, and problem-solvers who share our vision that big challenges are big opportunities for change. Visit www.ForteraUSA.com for more information.
POSITION OVERVIEW:
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the General Counsel and Vice President of Intellectual Property will be a critically important and integral member of the leadership team and be responsible for management of customer contracts, strategically protecting intellectual property, as well as ensuring legal compliance in major corporate transactions and compliance with corporate governance.
As a member of the leadership team, the General Counsel and Vice President of Intellectual Property will be responsible for establishing and maintaining a work environment focused on quality and that fosters learning, respect, open communication, collaboration, integration, and teamwork consistent with the Company's core values.
To ensure success the applicant needs to have sound knowledge and understanding of applicable laws and regulations, and the ability to make prudent legal decisions. Top candidates will be team players with outstanding advocacy and people skills.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Manage Company's corporate legal matters, including corporate governance, general securities matters, intellectual property, business development activities including licensing and acquisitions, employment laws, litigations, regulatory, compliance, commercial, and privacy.
- Efficiently guide the company's legal activities and minimize risks for the business, developing functional plans for managing legal matters, including activities to be performed in-house or through third-party providers.
- Represent Fortera in interactions with regulatory authorities and other global agencies, as appropriate, that may affect the company's development and commercialization plans.
- Lead all IP related activities for Fortera including conducting preliminary patent searches, identify potentially patentable subject matter, draft, file and prosecute patent applications (in house or with outside counsel), and perform freedom to operate analysis and related client counseling for all teams.
- Review, interpret, and analyze IP agreements, advising on IP rights and responsibilities related to those agreements.
- Manages and provides counseling on trade secret and confidentiality-related matters.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Juris Doctor degree from accredited law school plus bar admission in current good standing to the California Bar.
- 10+ years of relevant intellectual property experience in a law firm, corporate law department in pre-IPO stage companies.
- Significant experience handling patent prosecution.
- Substantial experience in drafting and negotiating IP provisions in various technology agreements, including IP licenses, technology transfer agreements, consulting, professional, and other complex global technology agreements.
- Experience advising c-suite executives and board members on a variety of legal matters.
- Good business judgment, and a demonstrated ability to think strategically and creatively about proposed resolutions to legal problems and balancing of risk.
- Comfort working in a changing organization and industry and able to excel by operating from first principles with a sense of urgency while remaining flexible, open-minded and adaptable.
COMPENSATION:
The compensation package for this role includes a competitive base salary commensurate with experience of $250,000 - $300,000, well as an annual bonus and pre-IPO incentive stock options.
PERKS AND BENEFITS:
We know that happy employees are productive employees, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
- 100% company-funded Medical, Dental, Vision, Life & Disability coverages for employees
- Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options
- Tax deferred & Roth 401k
- Paid vacation days (increased with tenure), 12 paid holidays, and unlimited PTO for exempt employees
Fortera is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other status protected by applicable law. Diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.