IP Patent Liaison Officer

Contenuto del lavoro

Umicore’s commitment to creating a sustainable future relies on innovation in all areas of business. As we keep pushing our boundaries and strive to set new industry standards, embracing advanced technologies has never been more essential. By finding these technologies we can navigate challenges and enhance our capabilities. By sharing different ideas, we can develop new business units or establish new divisions within our organisation. This is where contribution and collaboration are the drivers of real change. Where individual thought is identified, incubated and nurtured for growth in years to come. There is still so much potential waiting to be unearthed. Which is where you come in.

With innovation at the heart of our business, there is a need for an experienced and professional IP team to protect and manage Umicore’s intellectual property rights!

In your role as Patent Liaison Officer (PLO) you will be a member of this team and act as an intermediate between scientists, business people and patent attorneys. You facilitate the conversion of inventive ideas into patent applications that are ready to be filed. Your focus is on the scientific and legal background of patents and on the role that inventors have in creating patentable ideas. Therefore, you are skilled to understand the general technology background of the scientists and, in close cooperation- with them, detect, discuss and follow up inventive ideas. You will assist inventors in preparing notification of their inventions and assist patent attorneys in writing patent applications.

In the mid-term, your role as Patent Liaison Officer should evolve to include other IP matters such as gathering technical arguments to invalidate patents, patent searching and freedom-to-operate analysis. In the long term, we would like you to be open to becoming a (junior) patent attorney. For this you will be trained in writing patent applications, defending and attacking patents, using the European Patent Convention. The goal ultimately is to pass the exams to become a qualified European Patent Attorney.

Umicore recognizes the value of IP and the contribution you provide. In return, you will receive some of the most structured career development and professional support available within the industry, values which Umicore believe ensure career longevity!

You will report to one of the Patent Attorneys responsible for battery materials. Your main office location will be Olen with occasional travelling within Belgium (Brussels) and to Asia.

• Your technical background will be a PhD in physics, chemistry or material science
• Knowledge about rechargeable battery materials and their application is definitely a plus for this position
• First experience with IP-related topics is desirable, for example an International Industrial Studies Diploma in Patents (CEIPI – Strasbourg). What matters most though is your eagerness to get deeply involved in IP matters
• You are ambitious to develop your position to a European Patent Attorney? When the time is right, we commit to providing the appropriate internal & external training and time needed for this
• Fluency in English is essential as you engage with multiple nationalities across the globe
• Your ability to analyse numerical data, to assess & summarize information and to share knowledge with others is outstanding
• Needless to say that you are a team player – IP in Umicore is real teamwork involving colleagues from various disciplines
• However, you are also able to work autonomously and to take initiative yourself
• Your communication abilities will be part of your strength as you will be the bridge between scientists, business people and patent attorneys
• Authenticity, open-mindedness, respect and integrity are not just words for you, but part of (y)our very DNA

We aim to lead the way. Not just for our customers, but for our employees too. That is why we strive to create a collaborative environment in which we can all succeed, and a culture through which we can all share ideas, develop our expertise and advance our careers. We engage in building an inclusive work culture that offers equal opportunities for all employees irrespective of their diverse backgrounds. As you would expect from a world-leading organisation, we will also reward your contribution with a competitive salary and benefits. With all this and more, imagine what you could do?