IP Portfolio Manager-Fonterra, New Zealand

Job Description

We are a Co-operative created and owned by Aotearoa New Zealand dairy farmers. Since our beginnings, collaboration, innovation, and passion have enabled us to share the goodness of our dairy with the world. We’re committed to caring for the land, our animals, and every drop of milk, producing nutritious food with safe, quality ingredients loved here in New Zealand and around the world. As part of the Fonterra Co-op, you’ll be solving for a better future alongside a team connected by solid values as we strive to be a leader in dairy sustainability, dairy innovation and science, with a focus on New Zealand milk. When you join Fonterra, you’ll open yourself to a career of opportunities where you can grow with us by developing your skills, sharing your knowledge, and exploring diverse career paths that ignite your passions.

About the opportunity

Are you a strategic thinker with a passion for intellectual property? Join us as an IP Portfolio Manager and become the cornerstone of our IP protection and commercialization efforts. In this pivotal role, you’ll support every stage of the innovation lifecycle, from ideation to commercialization, ensuring our IP activities drive value for the Group. As an IP Portfolio Manager, you’ll act as a trusted strategic business partner across Fonterra, working closely with teams dedicated to innovation. Your expertise will guide our intellectual property strategy, providing critical advice and operational support to maximize our IP efforts.

You will also

• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders across the business and provide IP support as required.
• Develop IP strategy for specific categories across the business as required.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of integrated IP activities in the Group in compliance with our IP governance framework.
• Work to raise IP awareness and build IP capability across the Group
• Assist to manage the budget for our intellectual property activities.

To note, we are open to an Auckland, Palmerston North or Wellington location.

About you

• You are an accomplished registered trans-Tasman patent attorney, or have similar overseas qualifications, with a relevant tertiary qualification in a scientific discipline such as dairy science, food science, biotechnology or chemistry enabling you to understand the technical science developed at Fonterra.
• With a robust skill set in IP strategy and advice, your expertise in drafting and prosecuting patents is complemented by a deep understanding of trade secret management. You excel at developing and implementing comprehensive IP policies that safeguard and enhance intellectual property assets and mitigate risk.
• Your strategic mindset allows you to navigate complex IP landscapes with ease, providing insightful guidance and support to drive innovation. With a track record of successfully managing and optimizing IP portfolios, you are adept at aligning IP strategies with broader business goals