Northrop Grumman (“Northrop” or “Company”) has exclusively engaged Major, Lindsey & Africa to conduct the search for an Assistant General Counsel – Intellectual Property to be located in Northrop’s Falls Church, VA headquarters. Interested candidates, please respond to the MLA recruiter who contacted you about this search or by submitting your resume to AGCIP@mlaglobal.com. Please do not contact the company directly; all resumes sent to Northrop Grumman will be routed to MLA for handling and will create delays.

Company Overview: Northrop Grumman solves the toughest problems in space, aeronautics, defense and cyberspace to meet the ever-evolving needs of its customers worldwide. Its 90,000 employees define possible every day using science, technology and engineering to create and deliver advanced systems, products, and services.

Position Overview: Northrop Grumman is currently seeking an Assistant General Counsel – Intellectual Property (IP) who will be responsible for leading and managing the IP group within the Law Department.

Our Office of the General Counsel is currently seeking an Assistant General Counsel – Intellectual Property (IP) who will be responsible for leading and managing the IP group within the Law Department.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Providing senior level IP expertise, driving the development and implementation of IP strategies in collaboration with senior leaders, technologists, engineers and multi-disciplinary teams, as well as ensuring that all IP-related activities are conducted in conformance with the Company’s principles and values.
• Translating key operational and technology strategies into actionable steps to create and continuously strengthen the enterprise’s IP position to support the Company’s competitive advantage in both US and global markets.
• Leading IP transactions, including providing analysis and counseling with respect to IP related issues and agreements with both government and commercial customers globally, providing risk assessments, leading negotiations on strategic IP issues, and partnering with the Law Department’s litigation group on IP litigation.
• Supervising and leading a team of attorneys and professionals in managing the Company’s IP portfolio, including maintenance of existing patents/trademarks, oversight of the patent/trademark program for the development and prosecution of new patents/trademarks, protecting trade secrets and other confidential information.
• Interfacing with US Government, commercial and international customers on IP transactional issues and in partnering with the Company’s Government Relations team to shape the regulatory landscape as it relates to IP used and generated in performance of US Government contracts.
• Developing and maintaining the IP Group’s budget, developing and growing focused relationships with outside counsel and other strategic service providers and implementing tools and processes to more efficiently manage the Company’s IP portfolio.
• Developing and maintaining deep knowledge of the Company’s business strategy and IP issues as well as continuously learning about current and historic technologies.

Key traits include:

• Extensive experience addressing legal issues for operations and activities in multiple international jurisdictions.
• Superior oral and written communication skills.
• Exceptional integrity, outstanding analytical skills and strategic thinking, exceptional judgment and a record of managing complex legal matters.
• Exceptional ability for collaboration, team work and motivation of others through thought leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to balance multiple, competing priorities, organize and lead teams, utilize diplomacy, program management and interpersonal skills to accomplish objectives and partner with other organizations and councils, inside and outside the company.
• Managerial experience, particularly in an international company with a substantially sized corporate legal department.

Location: Falls Church, VA.

Experience:

• 15 years + years directly related, broad-based experience in a law firm or as in-house counsel, with broad-based and deep knowledge of IP issues, and FAR/DFARs provisions applicable to IP use and exploitation in US Government contracts.
• A Juris Doctorate and active state bar membership.
• Registration to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of global IP protection and enforcement issues, especially in Europe, the Middle East, Japan, and Korea.
• Leadership experience in one or more relevant professional organizations.
• Substantial experience with intellectual property legislative and policy issues, particularly those applicable to U.S. Government contractors.
• Experience across the entire spectrum of intellectual property issues, including identification, protection, strategic management, negotiating and closing transactions, and enforcement, both domestically and internationally.
• General knowledge and exposure across a broad spectrum of legal disciplines.

Compensation: Competitive base and bonus.

Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO/AA and Pay Transparency statement, please visit www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for most positions.