Job Description

Build a career with confidence

Carrier Global Corporation, global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions is committed to creating solutions that matter for people and our planet for generations to come. From the beginning, we've led in inventing new technologies and entirely new industries. Today, we continue to lead because we have a world-class, diverse workforce that puts the customer at the center of everything we do.

Position Summary

The Director, Intellectual Property Counsel Europe will perform, manage, direct, and leverage designated patent and related intellectual property activities for Carrier Innovation Technologies in Lucerne, Switzerland (CIT) and oversee all intellectual property matters for Carrier Climate Solutions Europe (CSE).

Duties & Responsibilities

The role's duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:


1. Oversee and manage the CSE intellectual property issues, including providing effective and timely guidance, with clear and concise communication skills, to senior management and general legal counsel on intellectual property (IP) matters, particularly in the areas of IP agreements, patent, trademark, trade secret, and copyright law, and related litigation. The CSE businesses include Carrier Commercial HVAC, Carrier Refrigeration (Truck/Trailer), and Residential Light Commercial (total ~$4.5B).


2. Draft various internal agreements to support CIT as a technology hub, including R&D service agreements, IP asset transfer agreements, and license agreements.


3. Draft and negotiate various agreements with external parties including development agreements, technical services agreements, university agreements, software licenses, non-disclosure agreements, sports sponsoring agreements, and other miscellaneous agreements and providing counsel to management and general legal counsel on other agreements that include intellectual property components, such as supply agreements, sales and service contracts and acquisition agreements.


4. Work to incorporate CIT into the various Carrier R&D and intellectual property processes and create standard work to document such processes. Communicate effectively and clearly with colleagues and leadership in the Legal Department and IP function as well as the R&D organization. Build and manage external relationships with outside counsel and collaborators, including substantial interactions within a multicultural, global IP Department. Deliver work results on-time, on-target, and within budget.


5. Collaborate with marketing personnel on trademarks matters including overseeing, managing, and making decisions regarding the trademark portfolio owned or licensed by CIT.


6. Build and manage the CIT patent portfolio by preparing, prosecuting, maintaining, and defending patent filings for inventions submitted, including: (1) reviewing and managing outside counsel prepared matters (incl. proposed priority patent applications and downstream prosecution decisions; (2) providing clear, informed and sophisticated counseling to CIT on opportunities to protect their inventions (Invention Harvesting & White Space Analysis), advise on information sharing strategies, mitigate third party risks, and handling of invention disclosure aspects; (3) managing opposition and validity proceedings at the EPO and/or national patent courts, and (4) providing input on and preparing annuities decisions in relation to the CIT patent and trademark portfolios.


7. Support all New Product Development projects for CIT, including: (1) conducting project risk assessments and providing strategic advice and counsel on project related IP requirements, risks and mitigation strategies, as well as general patent law; (2) managing all relevant IP due diligence such as freedom to operate, infringement and validity analyses, including management of relevant third-party service providers; (3) supporting competitive intelligence and IP monitoring activities; and (4) based on department templates, developing and documenting IP strategies for key programs and technologies.


8. Monitoring IP owned by CIT particularly with regard to questions of potential infringement, rendering or consulting on preparation of opinions regarding such intellectual property for the guidance of management, and overseeing and managing any infringement matters.


9. Learning and implementing current intellectual property department tools and processes and working willingly with members of Intellectual Property Department with goal of continuous improvement of department processes.


10. Oversee IP professionals in Europe, providing leadership and guidance on wide range of intellectual property issues.


11. Maintain and apply deep expertise of applicable international, federal, and state Intellectual Property laws and accreditation standards, and monitor advancements and changes in legal and regulatory requirements and technologies to ensure organizational adaptation and compliance across all Carrier business operations in the Europe Region.


JOB LOCATION: This position will be located at Carrier Innovation Technologies GmbH, Am Mattenhof 2D, 6010 Kriens, Switzerland


EDUCATION: Candidate should have expertise and training in technical intellectual property matters and preferably should be either a fully qualified US Patent Attorney or a fully qualified European Patent Attorney.


LANGUAGES: Fluency English required. Strong skills in at least one European language (German or French) are an important plus.


EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS:

Should have substantial several years experience relating to intellectual property law gained in an international law firm and/or in-house. Ability to develop strategies and effectively communicate within all levels of the organization and manage senior relationships across all business and functional areas. Excellent organizational skills and ability to work independently. Highly developed skills in priority setting and alignment of project priorities with the department strategy. Demonstrated ability to manage adversity and challenging situations. Global perspective with the interest and proven ability to work in a multi-cultural and multi-functional environment, develop and maintain internal partnerships, and ability to interact with colleagues at all levels of the organization with credibility, integrity, and respect.

Carrier is An Equal

Opportunity/Affirmative

Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.

Job Applicant's Privacy Notice:

Click on this link to read the Job Applicant's Privacy Notice