Leader, Intellectual Property

Priority may be given to the following designated employment equity groups:
Indigenous Peoples* (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), persons with disabilities and racialized persons*.

The Employment Equity Act, which is under review, uses the terminology Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities.

Candidates are asked to self‑declare when applying to this hiring process.

City: Ottawa

Organizational Unit: Client Agreements and Intellectual Property

Classification: RCO

Tenure: Continuing

Language Requirements: Bilingual Imperative CBC/CBC

Work arrangements: Due to the nature of the work and operational requirements, this position may be eligible for a limited hybrid work arrangement (combination of working onsite and telework). At the NRC, we recognize that Indigenous candidates may have important connections to their communities and you may be eligible for an exception to this work arrangement. Alternative work arrangements may also be considered to accommodate candidates as required.

We are looking for a Leader, Intellectual Property (IP) to support our Client Agreements and Intellectual Property (CAIP) Branch. The Leader, IP will lead NRC’s intellectual property activities, including:

• Developing overarching IP policies and frameworks
• Overseeing NRC’s patenting activities and associated decision‑making process
• Managing technology licence agreements
• Optimizing IP processes
• Ensuring strong IP governance and reporting
• Advising research programs on intellectual property strategy
• Providing expert guidance to the CAIP NRC executives, researchers and research managers

This position reports to the Executive Director, Client Agreements and Intellectual Property.

• A university degree in law, business, or a related field.
• A master’s degree would be considered an asset.
• Holding a patent agent licence in good standing would be considered an asset.
• For information on certificates and diplomas issued abroad, please see Degree equivalency.

• Significant (2 to 6 years) and recent (within the last five years) experience in managing a team and planning team activities and priorities.
• Significant and recent experience in the management of intellectual property in a science or technology environment.
• Significant and recent experience in overseeing a budget / financial forecasting and reporting.
• Significant and recent experience in advising internal clients and senior management on intellectual property matters.
• Significant practical experience in the negotiation and drafting of licensing agreements, and/or IP‑related provisions in collaboration agreements and research services agreements would also be considered an asset.

Secret clearance. A thorough security clearance process will be applied. For a Secret Clearance, verification of background information over a period of 10 years is required. Individuals must have lived in Canada for a sufficient period of time to enable the security screening process.

Bilingual Imperative CBC/CBC. Information on language requirements and self‑assessment tests.

• Solid knowledge of policies and sound practices related to IP management, contract management, financial management, human resources management, and procurement management.
• Knowledge of the NRC, its mandate and programs and awareness of the characteristics of scientific and/or technology research environments.
• Solid knowledge of the IP protection processes in Canada, the United States, Europe and via the PCT.
• Knowledge of the markets for inventions and the financial and technical constraints affecting their commercialization.
• Ability to develop and implement IP strategies.
• Ability to assess, manage and mitigate risk in a business environment.

• Management services
  - Client focus (Level
  3)
• Management services
  - Communication (Level
  4)
• Management services
  - Conceptual and analytical ability (Level
  3)
• Management services
  - Initiative (Level
  3)
• Management services
  - Results orientation (Level
  3)
• Management services
  - Self‑knowing and self‑development (Level
  3)
• Management services
  - Teamwork (Level
  3)

This position…