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How much do head intellectual property biotech jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for head intellectual property biotech in the United States is $159,999.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $150,000.00 and $170,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Head of Intellectual Property in Biotech, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Head of Intellectual Property in Biotech, you need deep expertise in patent law, intellectual property strategy, and a strong scientific background in biotechnology—typically supported by a law degree (JD), a technical degree (PhD or equivalent), and patent bar registration. Familiarity with IP management software, patent databases, and international filing systems is essential. Exceptional analytical thinking, leadership, and negotiation skills help you guide teams and communicate with inventors, executives, and external counsel. These capabilities are vital to protect innovation, secure competitive advantage, and ensure compliance in a complex, rapidly evolving industry.

What is the difference between Head Intellectual Property Biotech vs Patent Manager Biotech?

AspectHead Intellectual Property BiotechPatent Manager Biotech
CredentialsAdvanced degree in life sciences, law, or IPDegree in science or engineering, often with IP certification
Work EnvironmentStrategic leadership, cross-department collaborationPatent drafting, prosecution, and portfolio management
Employer & Industry UsageBiotech companies, pharma firms, research institutionsBiotech and pharmaceutical companies, law firms

The Head Intellectual Property Biotech typically holds a strategic leadership role overseeing IP portfolios and innovation strategies, while the Patent Manager Biotech focuses more on patent prosecution, drafting, and technical IP management. Both roles require strong technical backgrounds and IP knowledge but differ in scope and seniority.

What does a Head of Intellectual Property do in the biotech industry?

A Head of Intellectual Property (IP) in the biotech industry is responsible for developing and executing strategies to protect a company's inventions, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets. This role involves overseeing IP portfolio management, ensuring compliance with relevant laws, and supporting business objectives through effective IP protection. The Head of IP often works closely with scientists, legal teams, and executives to secure and defend the company's proprietary technologies, helping maintain a competitive advantage in the market.

How does the Head of Intellectual Property in a biotech company typically collaborate with research and development teams?

The Head of Intellectual Property (IP) in a biotech company works closely with R&D teams to identify, protect, and manage innovations at every stage of development. This collaboration involves regular meetings to review ongoing projects, assess patentability, and provide guidance on documenting inventions. By engaging early and frequently, the Head of IP ensures that valuable discoveries are strategically protected, aligns IP strategy with business goals, and helps prevent potential infringement issues. This cross-functional teamwork is essential for maximizing the company's competitive advantage and supporting successful product commercialization.
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Head Intellectual Property Biotech jobs near you
Infographic showing various Head Intellectual Property Biotech job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 2% As Needed, 89% Full Time, 1% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $159,999 per year, or $76.9 per hour.
Head of Intellectual Property and Legal Affairs

Head of Intellectual Property and Legal Affairs

Manifold Bio

Boston, MA • On-site

$260K - $370K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Manifold Bio is a platform biotechnology company pioneering AI-guided protein design and massively multiplexed in vivo screening to unlock tissue-targeted medicines and organism-scale models of living systems. Using proprietary molecular barcoding technology, we screen hundreds of thousands of protein designs simultaneously in living systems, producing in vivo-validated datasets at a scale no one else can match. The datasets power our computational models, which leads to better drug designs, creating a flywheel that gets stronger with every campaign. Our team of protein engineers, biologists, and computational scientists works across this full stack to pursue programs both internally and with leading pharma companies.

Position

We are seeking a head of Intellectual Property and Legal Affairs to lead all aspects of our IP strategy and execution as well as build out and lead the company's transactions and contract management processes. Reporting to the COO, this individual will partner closely with R&D, business development, and executive leadership to build a robust global IP portfolio that secures our platform technologies and therapeutic pipeline while positioning the company for long-term success.

Responsibilities

  • IP Strategy & Leadership
    • Develop and execute a comprehensive IP strategy that protects Manifold's platform technology (protein barcoding, new shuttle technology, screening methods) and therapeutic programs across nucleic acid and protein modalities.
    • Oversee prosecution of patent applications in collaboration with outside patent counsel; manage deadlines, portfolio strategy, and global filing decisions.
    • Perform patentability, validity, and freedom-to-operate analyses and IP diligence for new programs and platform expansions.
    • Build and maintain an IP estate aligned with Manifold Bio's positioning and the competitive landscape, including third party monitoring and landscape assessments.
    • Work closely with Manifold scientists and business leaders to capture IP from ongoing R&D programs on invention disclosure, inventorship, and IP capture from ongoing R&D programs.
    • Collaborate with business development and corporate teams for licensing, collaboration, and partnering efforts by advising on agreement IP provisions.
    • Manage IP due diligence for partnerships and financings.
  • Build our first in-house legal function, standing up a lean legal function as we scale
    • Develop and maintain Manifold's standard contract templates and playbooks; build scalable internal processes for contract intake, review, execution, and archiving.
    • Manage existing executed agreements for compliance, milestone tracking, and exercise of contractual rights.
    • Structure and negotiate CRO, CMO, and vendor agreements with appropriate IP protections, publication rights, and material ownership provisions.
    • Manage our network of external counsel (Intellectual Property, Trademark, Corporate, Transactions).
  • Collaboration & Enablement
    • Establish best practices for company IP and educate and provide education and counsel to the R&D organization and company management teams accordingly.

Required Qualifications

  • JD and PhD, or other advanced degree in life sciences, biotechnology, or a related field, registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
  • 10+ years of IP experience, with significant time in biotech/biopharma experience.
  • Demonstrated expertise in patent law, prosecution, and global IP landscape development and analysis.
  • Proven track record of building and managing IP portfolios that support business growth.
  • Experience negotiating routine biotechnology agreements and IP-related clauses in collaboration and partnership agreements
  • Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain IP strategy to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Prior leadership experience in-house at a biotech or biopharma company strongly preferred.

This role will be leveled between the Senior Director to VP level depending on experience of the candidate.

Base Salary Range: $260,000 - $370,000

This reflects the typical offer range for this role, based on experience, role scope, and internal equity. Final compensation decisions are made using a consistent leveling framework and consider the candidate's experience, and expected impact.

This role is eligible for:

  • Annual performance-based target bonus
  • Stock options
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • 401(k) plan
  • Flexible paid time off and holidays
  • Perks including on-site gym, onsite lunch, and commuter support

Our compensation ranges are reviewed annually to ensure alignment with market trends and internal equity.

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