Roche

Patent Attorney

Basel Full time

At Roche you can show up as yourself, embraced for the unique qualities you bring. Our culture encourages personal expression, open dialogue, and genuine connections,  where you are valued, accepted and respected for who you are, allowing you to thrive both personally and professionally. This is how we aim to prevent, stop and cure diseases and ensure everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Join Roche, where every voice matters.

The Position

Within Group Legal at the Roche Headquarters in Basel, the Patent Function is responsible for patenting inventions out of our research as well as for maintaining and enforcing Roche patent rights for our products.

The Opportunity

As a member of the patent team, you will give guidance to our scientists and business on the patentability of inventions in this field. You will secure patent protection and freedom to operate for our products in close collaboration with the ​partners of all functions involved. You will bring your business insight and enterprise thinking skills to different teams across the whole value chain in the organization.

Your further roles and responsibilities:

  • Pro-actively harvesting inventions, drafting and filing patent applications together with our scientists

  • Reviewing planned publications

  • Responsibility for patent prosecution, maintenance, defense, and enforcement of patent rights

  • Advising management on patent strategies for development products

  • Patent portfolio management, supporting the decision-making process for worldwide filings, maintenance and abandonment of patent filings from cradle to grave

  • Performing freedom to operate analysis

  • Evaluate contract terms related to IP and coordinate with the Legal and Licensing departments on the drafting and negotiating of the same

Who you are

You’re someone who wants to influence your own development. You’re looking for a company where you have the opportunity to pursue your interests across functions and geographies. Where a job title is not considered the final definition of who you are, but the starting point.

You have an advanced degree in biology, biomedicine, biochemistry, biotechnology, genetics, life science, biophysics, preferably with a PhD, and a broadly based curiosity in science and pharmaceutics. You bring experience in a corporate industrial setting, preferably related to biology, cell therapy, gene therapy, biotechnology, or equivalent field. Experience in patenting of inventions in these areas is an advantage.

You are a fully qualified European Patent Attorney, ideally with more than two years post EQE experience, knowledge of US patent law is a plus.

In addition, you bring the following skills and qualifications:

  • A sophisticated understanding of a global patent prosecution strategy and process, particularly relating to drug discovery and development. You identify risks and provide counseling toward efficient commercial exploitation, strategic development, and effective protection of our company’s intellectual property assets

  • A strong curiosity about international IP/patent laws and interdisciplinary matters with a desire to broaden horizons in this field and take pleasure in a variety of intellectually stimulating work

  • Excellent written and oral communication skills and ability to moderate. Shown English language skills; knowledge of additional languages, in particular German will be an advantage

  • Finely honed interpersonal skills, including the ability to give and receive feedback in a constructive manner. Resilience, humility, problem-solving attitude, and self-reflection.

  • Ability to work collaboratively in self-organized teams and become comfortable with making decisions on the spot and dealing with ambiguity

  • A well-structured, reliable and detailed style of work and a strong eye for business. You bring well-developed analytical and writing skills and you are able to work to tight schedules and handle several projects simultaneously.

Join our Patent team in Basel, Switzerland, apply now !

Who we are

A healthier future drives us to innovate. Together, more than 100’000 employees across the globe are dedicated to advance science, ensuring everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Our efforts result in more than 26 million people treated with our medicines and over 30 billion tests conducted using our Diagnostics products. We empower each other to explore new possibilities, foster creativity, and keep our ambitions high, so we can deliver life-changing healthcare solutions that make a global impact.


Let’s build a healthier future, together.

Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.