Opportunity
The Assistant General Counsel (AGC) & VP, IP, Technology, and Privacy is a key member of the legal and compliance leadership team, reporting directly to the Chief Legal Officer (CLO). This role is responsible for setting and executing the enterprise-wide IP strategy across patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrights, while also leading the company’s privacy and technology legal portfolio, supporting advertising review and ecommerce, as well as additional law department management responsibilities as assigned by the CLO. The role is highly cross-functional, partnering closely with global product innovation, engineering, brand, marketing, digital, and IT teams to drive innovation, protect business-critical assets, and manage legal risks in a fast-paced global manufacturing environment.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead Global IP Strategy and Portfolio ManagementDevelop and execute a forward-looking, business-aligned global IP strategy to protect the company’s innovations, brands, and technology investmentsOversee global patent and trademark portfolios, including filing, prosecution, enforcement, licensing, and monetization strategies.Serve as a trusted advisor to innovation, engineering, marketing, digital, and IT teams to identify and protect innovations early in the development lifecycle.Identify and mitigate IP risks across the enterprise, including clearance, litigation, competitor activity, and third-party claims.Provide IP and privacy due diligence and integration support for mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic partnerships.Lead or supervise IP litigation and enforcement activities globally in collaboration with outside counsel and business stakeholders.Promote a culture of innovation across the enterprise by working with inventors and engineers to foster invention disclosure and protection.Navigate complex international IP, privacy, and regulatory frameworks in a diverse operating environment with manufacturing and commercial operations worldwide.Collaborate with legal, compliance, regulatory, government affairs, and business unit leaders to align IP and privacy strategies with company goals.
Privacy and Technology Leadership:
Oversee global privacy and data protection programs, including compliance with GDPR, CCPA, and other global data protection regulations.Advise on legal issues related to digital transformation, artificial intelligence, IoT, data security, SaaS/cloud services, and software development.Develop and maintain global privacy policies, training programs, and compliance frameworks.
Law Department Management
Assist the CLO with the strategic management of the legal department, including budgeting, staffing, and resource allocation.Supervise and mentor a team of attorneys, IP professionals, and support staff, fostering professional development and growth.Develop and implement legal department policies, procedures, and best practices to improve efficiency and service delivery.Manage department budget, external counsel spend, and vendor relationships to ensure cost-effective and high-quality legal services.Assist in leading various leadership workstreams across the function.