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$43K

$113.2K

$194.5K

How much do director of intellectual property jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for director of intellectual property in the United States is $113,162.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $74,500.00 and $145,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Director Of Intellectual Property vs Patent Counsel?

AspectDirector Of Intellectual PropertyPatent Counsel
CredentialsJD or technical degree, IP certificationsJD, patent bar admission, technical background
Work EnvironmentCorporate legal/IP departments, R&D firmsLaw firms, corporate legal teams, patent offices
Industry UsageTechnology, pharmaceuticals, manufacturingTechnology, biotech, engineering sectors
Primary FocusOverseeing IP strategy, managing portfoliosDrafting, prosecuting, and litigating patents

The main difference is that the Director Of Intellectual Property manages overall IP strategy and portfolios within a company, while Patent Counsel focuses on patent prosecution, drafting, and legal advice related to patents. Both roles require legal and technical expertise but serve different functions in the IP lifecycle.

How does a director of intellectual property typically collaborate with R&D and legal teams to protect innovations?

A Director of Intellectual Property works closely with both research and development (R&D) and legal teams to ensure that new inventions and technologies are properly identified, evaluated, and protected. This involves regular meetings with R&D to stay updated on ongoing projects, assessing patentability, and guiding scientists or engineers on documentation best practices. The Director also coordinates with legal counsel to draft, file, and prosecute patent applications, manage IP portfolios, and address potential infringements or disputes. Effective communication and cross-functional teamwork are essential in this role to maximize the organization's IP assets and minimize risks.

What does a director of intellectual property do?

A Director of Intellectual Property oversees an organization's intellectual property (IP) strategy, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. They work to protect and manage the company's innovations and creative assets, ensuring legal compliance and maximizing commercial value. This role involves collaborating with legal teams, R&D, and business units to identify, secure, and enforce IP rights. Additionally, they may handle IP litigation, licensing agreements, and monitor competitive IP activity to support business objectives.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director of intellectual property?

To thrive as a Director Of Intellectual Property, you need extensive knowledge of IP law, patent and trademark prosecution, and typically a law degree with relevant bar admission. Familiarity with IP management systems, docketing software, and international IP databases is crucial. Strong leadership, negotiation, and strategic thinking abilities set top candidates apart in this role. These skills are vital to protect organizational assets, ensure compliance, and drive innovation in a competitive legal landscape.
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Director Of Intellectual Property jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Of Intellectual Property job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, and 10% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $113,162 per year, or $54.4 per hour.

Executive Director, Intellectual Property

Kardigan

Princeton, NJ • Hybrid

Full-time

Re-posted 19 days ago

Job description

Position Title: Executive Director, Intellectual Property 

Department: Legal 

Reports To: Vice President, Intellectual Property 

Location: South San Francisco, CA or Princeton, NJ - On-site 4 days per week (Mon to Thurs) 

Job Overview 

The Executive Director of Intellectual Property (IP) is a highly experienced, strategic, and driven intellectual property attorney who can provide advice and counseling to the business on a broad range of scientific and IP legal issues. This key member of the legal team will report to the Vice President, Intellectual Property and will be responsible for providing IP legal support to a number of different programs at various stages of development. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of patent law, Orange Book listings, ANDA litigation and bring creative and strategic approaches to protecting Kardigan's efforts. 

This position is hybrid and will be primarily located in South San Francisco, CA or Princeton, NJ.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

  • The Executive Director of Intellectual Property will be able to conceptualize, develop, implement and manage intellectual property portfolio strategies worldwide to maximize value and utility of IP assets for current and future commercial assets 
  • Independently provide expert IP advice to senior scientific and business leaders and demonstrate thoughtful risk management in decision making 
  • Responsible for identifying preparation of patent applications, patent prosecution, and annual patent portfolio management to ensure the efficient use of our resources
  • Collaborate with various functions within Kardigan to foster a science-driven and innovative environment that ensures that IP is effectively identified, captured and filed
  • Oversee strategies for addressing competitor IP, including administrative proceedings such as oppositions, post-grant reviews, inter-partes reviews, and re-examinations
  • Provide IP transactional support for business transactions, clinical agreements, collaborative research agreements, and license and acquisition agreements
  • Manage the relationships and agreements with external legal counsel, and vendors

Qualifications and Preferred Skills 

  • Advanced degree in chemical sciences with synthetic laboratory experience is required (Ph.D. organic chemistry is beneficial) 
  • Law degree from an ABA-accredited law school 
  • Admitted to the bar of at least one U.S. State or the District of Columbia 
  • Registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) 
  • 15 - 25 years of professional legal experience as a patent professional (e.g., patent agent or patent attorney, etc.) 
  • Prior experiences as a member of an in-house legal team in a pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, or biotechnology company, including management of complex patent portfolio and pharmaceutical product support
  • Experience supporting a clinical asset from phase 3 through product launch is strongly preferred
  • Direct experience in supporting ANDA litigation is also preferred
  • Experience in proprietary name selection and trademark clearance is a plus 

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