EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Previous experience (at least 2 years) of leading a small team managing and delivering patent searching, landscaping and competitor intelligence activities in a corporate FMCG business.
• Previous experience (at least 5 years) of advanced searching, analysing patent landscape searches and identifying trends.
• Commercially astute with a clear understanding of FMCG businesses and proven ability to understand and support strategic aims.

TECHNICAL / FUNCTIONAL / LEADERSHIP SKILLS REQUIRED

Functional/Technical Skills

• Excellent patent searching and analysis skills, including the ability to conduct pre-filing novelty, FTO, invalidation and landscaping searches and provision and communication of results accurately, clearly and in a user-friendly manner.
• Ability to assimilate and undertake analysis of large and complex data sets to spot trends and patterns and develop commercially relevant insights at both granular and macro level.
• Detailed knowledge of and experience in using a range of software to assist in analysis, including AI-based analysis.
• Ability to converse readily and knowledgeably with project leaders in R&D to gain a full understanding of the technical aspects of the inventions/technology platforms to be the subject of the searching.
• Previous experience leading a team in a large FMCG corporate.

Leadership Skills

• Skilled in engaging and communicating in simple, clear and coherent manner.
• Good interpersonal skills, sound judgement, good decision making and the ability to inform and influence at a range of levels both internally and externally.
• Ability to manage priorities and meet commitments with a track record of successfully completing projects.
• Ability to work across functions, building consensus and support.

EDUCATION / QUALIFICATIONS / CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• Physics/Chemistry/Engineering degree (Class I or II/i) as a minimum.
• MSc in Intellectual Property or equivalent (very good knowledge of patent law basics and practical aspects of drafting and prosecuting patent applications).

WHY JOIN BAT?

We’re one of the few companies named as a Global Top Employer by the Top Employers Institute – certified in offering excellent employee conditions.
At BAT, we champion collaboration, inclusion, and partnership as the bedrock of our values. We wish to foster an environment where every individual can thrive, irrespective of factors such as gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, skills, experience, education, socio-economic and professional background, as well as diverse perspectives and thinking styles. We recognise that our strength lies in embracing talent from all walks of life, empowering us to develop our culture of inclusivity and better achieve our business objectives.
We view career breaks not as obstacles but as opportunities and encourage everyone, without hesitation, to apply. Through our Global Returners program, we provide support to professionals seeking to re-enter the workforce after an extended absence, be it for family care, parental leave, national service, sabbatical, or starting their own venture.
Come bring your difference and see what is possible for you at BAT. Learn more about our culture and our award winning employee experience here.
We take pride in being a Disability Confident Employer. If you need any reasonable adjustments or accommodations to be made during the recruitment process to support you performing at your best, please inform the recruitment partner who will be in touch should your profile be selected for the role you applied for. We are wholeheartedly committed to optimising your prospects of success by making suitable arrangements so that you may showcase your full potential

o Direct, co-ordinate and supervise the team’s searching and analysis work through the effective management and supervision of direct reports.

• Lead, train and educate direct reports through constant and effective communication and feedback to ensure the reports have full alignment with the business needs and provide high quality, solution orientated and value-added output.
• Provide commercially focussed insights on competitor patents in a straightforward and compelling way directly to internal stakeholders, enabling the business to deliver results whilst managing legal risk.
• Develop and manage relationships with key external IP service providers to ensure high quality, efficient and value for money service, seeking efficiencies and opportunities for standardisation where possible.
• Cultivate a network of collaborative relationships at all levels within BAT which are based on mutual trust to ensure the best outcome for BAT as whole.
• Create a healthy, engaged and inclusive working environment for the team.
• Manage performance and development reviews of team members on an active basis, ensuring regular meetings with direct reports to ensure strong motivation and development.
• Take responsibility for the execution and delivery of searching & analysis processes, protocols and governance as allocated by Patent Intelligence Manager.
• Promote risk management and compliance culture ensuring consistency in application of IP policies and procedures on a global level within BAT

WHAT ARE THE KEY OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTATIONS FROM THIS ROLE?

Providing patent intelligence through searching and analysis of third-party patents to enable the Patents Team to support and execute Group Patent legal strategy to inform business decisions and maximise commercial opportunities, whilst ensuring legal compliance and mitigating business risk.
Responsible for undertaking pre-filing novelty searches, FTO searches and invalidation searches, patent landscape searches, and monitoring of new patent publications.

As a member of the BAT Group Patents team, you will be expected to contribute to and execute all aspects of the work in a manner which:

• provides a value-added service to central management functions and relevant business units;
• delivers high quality, solution-orientated output and management on all aspects of work;
• manages costs appropriately including, but not limited to, reducing reliance on outside vendors as appropriate; and
• fully utilises the expertise and resource available in the Patents team to the benefit of the BAT Group.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE:

• Undertake and deliver high-quality pre-filing novelty searches, FTO searches and invalidation searches. Communicate outcomes simply, effectively and quickly.
• Provide effective support to R&D, Competitor Intelligence, Patents team and BTV by 1) sharing insights derived from patent landscape searches performed by the team and 2) on-going monitoring of new patent publications, to help inform R&D innovation strategy and patent prosecution.
  o All communications to be simple, effective and tailored to the audience.

o Provide meaningful, commercially relevant insights from the patent landscapes.

• Education of R&D on how to use the landscapes effectively in their Discovery work.
• Implementing new tools for the automation and enhancement of the team’s patent searching and analysis capabilities.
• Deliver a capability within the team to identify potential partners/acquisition targets via searching for patent applications covering technologies where there are no in-house technical capabilities.
• Lead a small team within Patents ensuring the team is, at all times, optimally structured and operating to meet business priorities.

o Direct, co-ordinate and supervise the team’s searching and analysis work through the effective management and supervision of direct reports.

• Lead, train and educate direct reports through constant and effective communication and feedback to ensure the reports have full alignment with the business needs and provide high quality, solution orientated and value-added output.
• Provide commercially focussed insights on competitor patents in a straightforward and compelling way directly to internal stakeholders, enabling the business to deliver results whilst managing legal risk.
• Develop and manage relationships with key external IP service providers to ensure high quality, efficient and value for money service, seeking efficiencies and opportunities for standardisation where possible.
• Cultivate a network of collaborative relationships at all levels within BAT which are based on mutual trust to ensure the best outcome for BAT as whole.
• Create a healthy, engaged and inclusive working environment for the team.
• Manage performance and development reviews of team members on an active basis, ensuring regular meetings with direct reports to ensure strong motivation and development.
• Take responsibility for the execution and delivery of searching & analysis processes, protocols and governance as allocated by Patent Intelligence Manager.
• Promote risk management and compliance culture ensuring consistency in application of IP policies and procedures on a global level within BAT.