Intellectual Property Manager

We are currently looking for an Intellectual Property Manager (patent attorney/expert) to support and advise the different companies of Picanol Group (Picanol, Proferro, and Psicontrol). 

You will be part of the Picanol R&D department and the Tessenderlo Group IP Community of Practice, and your main task will involve the active management of the IP portfolio of the weaving machines.

The Picanol R&D department is continuously developing new weaving machines and applications in an extremely competitive industrial environment. 

• You will be required to support our design engineers with up-to-date IP information related to freedom to operate, prior art, patentability, etc.
• You will mainly manage the IP portfolio of Picanol, but also support Proferro and Psicontrol in their domains.
• You will need to create IP awareness within the R&D department and the entire company and encourage patent-stimulated innovation.
• You must set up a network within and outside the company to detect potential IP infringements at, for example, international exhibitions, customers, etc.
• You will provide your IP expertise to the R&D and group management on IP opportunities to build, defend, and leverage the group’s IP assets and IP risks and their mitigation actions.
• You will closely work with external patent attorneys with regard to patent drafting and prosecution (or draft yourself) and be a critical challenger to obtain the maximum scope of protection for the business.
• You will be expected to manage and optimize the total cost of IP by setting up an IP strategy and actively monitoring the patent costs (including renewal fees). You will also organize patent portfolio review meetings with R&D and the business to re-align the portfolio to the business goals.
• You will need to increase patent awareness by setting up and coordinating group-wide training programs and sharing best practices across the group.
• You will support and improve the R&D Development Process related to IP, confidentiality, and NDA handling.

You will advise and support the R&D Management Team related to IP-based funding and tax reduction (IID and High-tech status). You will be expected to improve and create standard group and business unit processes to efficiently manage IP and implement the group and business unit policies and guidelines for IP.

You will report to the R&D Manager of Picanol Weaving Machines, with a dotted line to the VP Innovation and IP of Tessenderlo Group.