Director Intellectual Property Jobs in Minnesota

We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on - 28 Aug 2026

Careers that change lives start here. Medtronic is a global leader in healthcare technology with a Mission to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life. Our 95,000 employees work across more than 150 countries to put patients first - developing innovative medical technologies that improve the lives of 72+ million patients each year. Your unique talents will help shape the future of healthcare while building a career grounded in purpose, growth, and impact.

A Day in the LifeAt Medtronic you can begin a life-long career of exploration and innovation, while helping champion healthcare access and equity for all. You'll lead with purpose, breaking down barriers to innovation in a more connected, compassionate world.

The Senior Principal IP Legal Counsel will become a member of the Medtronic IP Mergers & Acquisitions Center of Excellence ("IP M&A COE") legal team, which leads and sets best practices for IP-related transactions and due diligence processes across the enterprise. The position will provide IP advice and support to the Corporate Development and Ventures teams, as well as operating unit legal teams, in connection with M&A projects, divestitures and structured investments. The position reports to the IP Senior Director of the IP M&A COE.

The ideal candidate is a highly motivated self-starter with strong leadership skills who is comfortable advising senior executives and proactively providing strategic IP counseling in support of complex, high-stakes M&A deals in a fast-paced environment. The role focuses on assessing IP landscapes to provide counseling on early-stage opportunities, implementing and executing IP-specific strategies for due diligence investigations and contract provisions for business development and M&A transactions and assists in managing transactions to reach strategic objectives within budget. This work primarily involves partnering closely with outside and in-house M&A counsel and operating unit IP counsel; engaging in and driving early evaluation and resolution of IP issues uncovered in due diligence for transactions; reviewing, revising and negotiating IP-related provisions of M&A transactions; providing advice and counsel to operating units and business development teams on issues related to IP risk assessment and mitigation through effective contracting.

We believe that when people from different cultures, genders, and points of view come together, innovation is the result - and everyone wins. Medtronic walks the walk, creating an inclusive culture where you can thrive.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Negotiate, draft, analyze and revise complex IP and technology agreements, including licenses, joint ventures and collaborations, as well as IP-related provisions of M&A and divestiture agreements.

• Evaluate and analyze intellectual property portfolios, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets of target companies.

• Identify and analyze potential IP litigation and other IP risks related to the potential transaction, with proactive counseling on mitigations in view of the same

• Advise senior legal leadership, business development teams and operating unit business leaders on IP risks and issues, including infringement, validity, freedom-to-operate and ownership.

• Collaborate with other attorneys (including operating unit IP and commercial attorneys, COE attorneys and outside counsel) and professionals in cross-functional teams to support M&A and business development activities and procedures at Medtronic.

• Forge strong relationships with deal teams and other clients across Medtronic by proactively providing strategic, business-oriented IP advice and services.

• Manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize tasks effectively to achieve key deliverables on time and on budget.

• Monitoring changes to the evolving competitive landscape for medical device and healthcare technology.

• Model the Medtronic Mindset - act boldly; compete to win; move with speed and decisiveness; foster belonging; and deliver results the right way.

• Up to 10% travel is required for this role.

Must Have: Minimum Requirements

• Juris Doctor from a recognized, accredited U.S. Law School.

• Licensed to practice in at least one state or the District of Columbia.

• 8+ years of relevant in-house and law firm experience in intellectual property law, including substantial experience conducting and/or overseeing IP due diligence assessments, as well as drafting and negotiating IP-related provisions of M&A transactions and license agreements.

NICE TO HAVE:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in engineering or other technical or scientific field.

• Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (not essential, but strongly preferred).

• Broad intellectual property experience, including patent prosecution, litigation, trademark, contracts, freedom-to-operate, opinion preparation, licensing, and intellectual property negotiations.

• IP M&A transactional experience that includes:

  • critically evaluating contractual changes proposed by another party and devising responses that protect client interests and achieve business objectives;

  • tailoring IP-provisions of M&A agreements to mitigate IP risks or otherwise account for relevant findings from due diligence investigations;

  • experience with effectively conducting negotiations including advising clients on negotiation strategies; and

  • knowledge of IP issues that typically arise in connection with M&A transactions and common ways to resolve them.

• Experience working with clients in the medical device industry.

• Both in-house and law firm experience

• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and client service mindset.

• Excellent judgment, strong strategic and analytical thinking, and ability to work independently and collaboratively on multiple projects at the same time in a face-paced environment.

• Excellent written, verbal and listening communications skills, including the ability to develop compelling presentations, engage senior leaders with confidence, and distill complex technical and legal information into business language.

• Experience in managing a significant workload, with the ability to juggle multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize across multiple tasks while remaining organized.

About Medtronic
Together, we can change healthcare worldwide. At Medtronic, we push the limits of what technology, therapies and services can do to help alleviate pain, restore health and extend life. We challenge ourselves and each other to make tomorrow better than yesterday. It is what makes this an exciting and rewarding place to be. We want to accelerate and advance our ability to create meaningful innovations - but we will only succeed with the right people on our team. Let's work together to address universal healthcare needs and improve patients' lives. Help us shape the future.

Physical Job Requirements

The physical demands described within the Responsibilities section of this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. For Office Roles: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to be independently mobile. The employee is also required to interact with a computer and communicate with peers and co-workers. Contact your manager or local HR to understand the Work Conditions and Physical requirements that may be specific to each role. (ADA-United States of America).A commitment to our employees lives at the core of our values. We recognize their contributions. They share in the success they help to create.

We offer a wide range of benefits, resources, and competitive compensation plans designed to support you at every career and life stage. Learn more about our benefitshere.This position is eligible for a short-term incentive plan. Learn more about Medtronic Incentive Plan (MIP)here.

The provided base salary range is used nationally (except in certain CA locations).The rate offered is compliant with federal/local regulations and may vary by experience,certification/education, market conditions, location, etc.Base pay is based on numerous factors and may vary depending on job-relatedknowledge, skills, and experience.

For Baccalaureate degrees earned outside of the United States, a degree that satisfies the requirements of 8 C.F.R. 214.2(h)(4)(iii)(A) is required.

Physical Job Requirements

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this position, but they are not an exhaustive list of all the required responsibilities and skills of this position.

The physical demands described within the Responsibilities section of this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. For Office Roles: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to be independently mobile. The employee is also required to interact with a computer, and communicate with peers and co-workers. Contact your manager or local HR to understand the Work Conditions and Physical requirements that may be specific to each role.

U.S. Work Authorization & Sponsorship

At Medtronic, we are committed to fostering an environment where employees can thrive and make a meaningful impact. In alignment with our enterprise-wide workforce planning approach, U.S. work authorization sponsorship (H-1B, TN, J, etc.) is offered exclusively for Principal-level roles and above, where specialized expertise aligns with long-term business needs. Roles below the Principal level require candidates to possess unrestricted U.S. work authorization at the time of hire and for the duration of employment.

Recruitment Fraud Alert

We are aware of phishing scams targeting job seekers. Please keep the following in mind:

Apply only through official Medtronic channels. All legitimate Medtronic recruiting communications come from approved Medtronic platforms and official @medtronic.com email addresses.

Medtronic will never ask for payment or sensitive personal information (such as bank account or Social Security details) during early stages of the hiring process. Any such requests are not legitimate.

If you receive a suspicious message claiming to be from Medtronic, do not respond, click links, or open attachments.

If you have any questions, concerns regarding the authenticity of a communication alleged to have been made by or on behalf of Medtronic, please contact us immediately at AskHR@medtronic.com.

Benefits & Compensation

Medtronic offers a competitive Salary and flexible Benefits Package
A commitment to our employees lives at the core of our values. We recognize their contributions. They share in the success they help to create. We offer a wide range of benefits, resources, and competitive compensation plans designed to support you at every career and life stage.

Salary ranges for U.S (excl. PR) locations (USD):$199,200.00 - $298,800.00This position is eligible for a short-term incentive called the Medtronic Incentive Plan (MIP).This position is eligible for an annual long-term incentive plan.The base salary range is applicable across the United States, excluding Puerto Rico and specific locations in California. The offered rate complies with federal and local regulations and may vary based on factors such as experience, certification/education, market conditions, and location. Compensation and benefits information pertains solely to candidates hired within the United States (local market compensation and benefits will apply for others).

The following benefits and additional compensation are available to those regular employees who work 20+ hours per week: Health, Dental and vision insurance,Health Savings Account,Healthcare Flexible Spending Account,Life insurance, Long-term disability leave,Dependent daycare spending account,Tuition assistance/reimbursement, andSimple Steps (global well-being program).

The following benefits and additional compensation are available to all regular employees:Incentive plans, 401(k) plan plus employer contribution and match,Short-term disability,Paid time off,Paid holidays,Employee Stock Purchase Plan,Employee Assistance Program,Non-qualified Retirement Plan Supplement (subject to IRS earning minimums), andCapital Accumulation Plan (available to Vice Presidents and above, or subject to IRS earning minimums).

Regular employees are those who are not temporary, such as interns. Temporary employees are eligible for paid sick time, as required under applicable state law, and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Please note some of the above benefits may not apply to workers in Puerto Rico.

Further details are available at the link below:

Medtronic benefits and compensation plans

It is the policy of Medtronic to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Medtronic will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

If you are applying to perform work for Medtronic, Inc. ("Medtronic") in any position which will involve performing at least two (2) hours of work on average each week within the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, you can findhere a list of all mat...