The Position:
As Senior Director, Intellectual Property Counsel, you will be responsible for leading the intellectual property (IP) function at Maze Therapeutics, including providing strategic advice and managing day-to-day IP matters. Reporting to the General Counsel, you’ll have the opportunity to influence and educate internal teams across the company and ensure our IP strategy aligns with our scientific work and broader business goals.
Your Impact:
- Lead the intellectual property legal function, serving as a strategic business partner for all IP and related matters
- Collaborate closely with internal teams and external counsel to:
- Develop Maze’s IP strategy
- Identify, develop, expand, and maintain Maze’s IP, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets
- Direct and manage the filing and prosecution of patent, trademark, and copyright applications
- Evaluate and advise on freedom-to-operate, infringement, and validity, and prepare applicable analyses
- Support business activities, including research and clinical development, business development, and diligence activities
- Analyze ongoing business activities to ensure the timely filing of patent applications that cover Maze’s inventions
- Support review, negotiation, and drafting of agreements that impact IP rights
- Review proposed public disclosures, including presentations, publications, abstracts, SEC filings, and press releases, related to IP matters
- Develop and implement policies to protect Maze’s trade secrets
- Build strong partnerships with internal teams and educate them on IP matters
- Advise senior management on IP strategy, risks, and opportunities
- Engage with external partners and vendors on IP matters
- Manage outside counsel and related budgets
- Provide legal advice and support on other corporate matters as needed
As a Senior Director, we also expect our leaders to demonstrate the following Leadership Competencies:
- Communication and Influence
- Role models clear communication and open two-way conversations.
- Reinforces an environment where people feel heard and their opinions are valued.
- Inspires followership despite differing initial opinions.
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Champions collaboration and connection across Maze.
- Establishes team norms and expectations.
- Seeks opportunities to spotlight team and individual contributions in public forums.
- Execution and Results
- Develops recommendations to seize on opportunities and mitigate obstacles that could impact long-term success.
- Coaches others on resource management and work distribution/delegation.
- Aligns work to Maze’s strategy mission and vision.
- Develop Others and Self
- Develops staff capabilities to handle delegation of responsibilities.
- Encourages staff to develop and execute personal stretch goals.
- Identifies and recommends ways to increase inclusive leadership.
Skills and Qualifications:
- J.D. from an accredited law school
- Admitted to practice in CA and in good standing
- Admitted to practice before the USPTO
- Advanced degree in a biochemical science, preferably in a field related to medicinal chemistry
- Minimum 8 years of experience as patent counsel, including patent prosecution, portfolio strategy, and analysis, with at least 3 years in a biotechnology or pharmaceutical company
- Strong client-service attitude to become a trusted business partner and collaborator
- Proven ability to provide high-quality, timely, and practical legal advice and risk assessments
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex legal issues and advise senior management
- Manage outside counsel
- Scientific and technical agility to operate outside of core area of expertise
- Excellent judgment
- Strong negotiation, presentation, and interpersonal skills
- Excellent organizational and project-management skills
- Strong and demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
- Excitement to work at Maze and a commitment to its purpose and core values of “Further Together, Impact Obsessed, Stand True.”
About Maze Therapeutics
Maze Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company that is harnessing the power of human genetics to transform the lives of patients, with a focus on genetically informed therapies for common diseases, such as chronic kidney disease, and seeks to focus expertise and resources towards underserved communities. Maze applies variant functionalization in tandem with advanced data science methods and a robust suite of research and development capabilities to advance a pipeline of novel precision medicines.
Maze has developed the Maze Compass Platform™, a proprietary, purpose-built platform to understand and integrate the critical step of variant functionalization into each stage of drug development. Utilizing the Maze Compass Platform™, Maze is building a broad portfolio of wholly owned and partnered programs. Its two lead programs are focused on Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), a condition that impacts an estimated 37m individuals. The first program in CKD addresses a genetic subset of the common disease that has a disproportionate impact on the Black Community. Maze is based in South San Francisco.
Our People
Maze is comprised of a team of passionate and creative professionals committed to discovering and delivering transformative medicines to patients suffering from both rare and common genetic diseases. We are fostering a culture that encourages vision, initiative, and the development of talent. Our supportive work environment inspires creative thinking and freedom of expression, resulting in a stimulating atmosphere where people enjoy coming to work. While we have a passion for advanced science and pride ourselves on excellence in execution, ultimately, everything we do is about patients.
Our Core Values
Further Together – Our path is paved with challenges, but with resilience and a team-first mentality, we’ll achieve our mission.
Impact Obsessed – We embrace the bold, take calculated risks, and learn from our mistakes to improve the lives of others.
Stand True – Our integrity is foundational; it guides us no matter the obstacle.
The expected annual salary range for employees located in the San Francisco Bay Area is $287,000 - $350,000. Additionally, this position is eligible for an annual performance bonus.Maze performs position-based compensation benchmarking to industry market data to ensure we pay competitive wages. Determination of starting salary will depend upon a variety of job-related factors, which may include professional experience, skills, and job location. The expected salary range for this role may be modified in the future.Maze offers a robust benefits package to our eligible employees including competitive medical, dental, and vision insurance, mental health offerings, equity incentive plan, 401(k) program with employer match and a generous holiday and PTO policy.
