Title:  Vice President of IP

Summary: 

Neptune Medical is a Silicon Valley based, venture capital funded medical device start-up that is designing, building, and commercializing category-defining next-generation manually and robotically operated systems for flexible endoscopy. 

Jupiter Endovascular was spun-off from Neptune Medical in June of 2024.  Jupiter is a Silicon Valley based, venture capital funded medical device start-up that is designing, building, and commercializing category-defining next-generation systems for cardiovascular procedures. 

The two companies work together closely, sharing history, people, technology, and a large IP portfolio.  We have fantastic teams, technology, and investors.  Neptune and Jupiter are now seeking an experienced VP of IP.  This individual will be a core part of the executive team responsible for leading both the maintenance and expansion of the company’s IP portfolio. 

The ideal candidate would display the ability to perform to the below requirements with a high level of individual responsibility.  The ideal candidate would act with passion, intensity, integrity, inventiveness, wisdom, and urgency as the leader of a VC-funded medical device start-up that is fast-paced, collaborative, and driven to change standards for medical care.  For the right person, this position will be a tremendously exciting and career-defining opportunity, making core contributions to a genuinely new type of medical device technology.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Lead the company’s global corporate intellectual property portfolio.
  • Maintain existing patent portfolio and work to continue expanding it.
  • Develop strategies around certain key technology areas to ensure broad ownership.
  • Work closely with engineers to understand key inventions and how to capture their salient ip as part of invention disclosures.
  • Work closely as a team with existing counsel.
  • Work closely with business leaders to understand market and business needs as they relate to ip opportunities.
  • Drive policies that further the company’s culture of innovation.
  • Draft patent applications.
  • Perform FTO searches.
  • Draft office action responses.
  • Conduct examiner interviews.
  • Monitor competitor portfolios.
  • Prepare non-infringement and invalidity opinions.
  • Manage corporate IP opposition procedures and/or litigation.
  • Conduct, evaluates and provide counsel on IP due diligence for business development projects.
  • Represent us WRT IP in acquisition negotiations.
  • Define and manage the budget.
  • Trademarks:  Oversee and manage the global trademark estate.
  • Agreements: Provide strategic input into contracts involving licensing, acquisitions, third party collaborations, material transfer, sponsored research, third party research services, consulting, confidentiality, and related contract matters.  Negotiates and draft patent licenses and other related agreements.
  • Review, provides counsel, and set policy to protect company intellectual property interests in all publications, presentations originating either internally or with third party collaborators, communities and/or suppliers. 
  • Conduct and evaluate literature, patent, and file wrapper searches on all subject matter relevant to the company for patentability, validity, and freedom to operate issues.
  • Establish a rapport and a trusted working relationship with executive management and company personnel at all levels to encourage and continue the proactive use of in-house legal counsel.
  • Provide day-to-day legal advice regarding a wide range of activities and programs.   

Qualifications: 

  • Roll-up-your-sleeves work ethic.
  • J.D. degree, as well as membership in good standing of at least one state bar; and must be admitted, and in good standing, to practice before the USPTO.
  • A bachelors in an engineering discipline, preferably mechanical or electrical.
  • At least 15 + years of related experience, with 10 years in-house legal or related experience and proven track record in IP management of a medical device.
  • Successful management and negotiation skills.
  • Good working knowledge of liability issues.
  • Excellent written and verbal communications skills, including the ability to communicate concisely to scientists and business partners, to integrate legal and business knowledge and to provide balanced advice regarding risks.
  • Experience partnering with and supporting fast-paced internal partners and business development initiatives to complete transactions; strong organizational skills to prioritize and manage multiple time-sensitive projects simultaneously.
  • Experience recruiting, managing, retaining, motivating and leading diverse, high-performance teams.
  • Ability to effectively bring out the best in the team and enhancing a culture where people love to work, grow their capabilities, and do their best work in pursuit of an ambitious vision.
  • Willingness to work hard with a driven outlook and a strong desire to succeed as an individual and as a team leader.
  • Experience with, and comfort within, a fast-growing start-up.

Please Send Us:

  • A short cover letter showing us that you have read this document and are responding to our needs. This really matters! Tell us, briefly, why you could be great in this role.
  • Your resume.
  • Ideally, some samples of your work. This could be a link to a website, a portfolio in PDF or word, some JPGs or whatever you think can give us a sense for what you have done.

Our headquarters is in Burlingame, CA adjacent to the Millbrae BART and Caltrain stations. We are primarily a WFO (Work From Office) company.

The starting base salary for this role is between $215,000 and $250,000 depending on experience. The actual base pay is dependent upon many factors, such as: education, training, transferable skills, work experience, and business needs. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. This role may also be eligible for equity, benefits and 401(K) with matching.

Neptune Medical provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

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