Associate General Counsel

Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that marshals some of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions. We thrive on finding and cultivating talented people who are passionate about what they do. Join us and be a part of the diverse Caltech community.

Caltech is an independent and privately supported research university located in Pasadena, California. Caltech has a student body of approximately 2500 students with more than 300 professorial faculty and approximately 2500 employees.

Caltech's Office of General Counsel (OGC) is seeking an experienced and highly versatile attorney to advise Caltech on a wide range of sophisticated legal matters and complex issues. In addition to the Campus, Caltech's OGC provides legal counsel and advice to Caltech's affiliated organizations, including the Jet Propulsion Laboratory ("JPL"), which is NASA's federally funded research and development center ("FFRDC"). The successful candidate will embrace Caltech's commitment to expand human knowledge and benefit society through research integrated with education in a collaborative, collegial, and innovative environment.

As part of Caltech's OGC, the successful candidate will serve as an integral part of Caltech's community of bright, curious, and passionate professionals. They will be part of a supportive, independent, committed, and collaborative group of professionals in which teamwork and building strong relationships with colleagues and clients is a priority.

Essential Job Duties:

• Provide advice and counsel to clients at both Caltech and JPL in multiple legal and policy subject areas that impact both a research university and JPL as an FFRDC with a focus on intellectual property, technology transfer, research, and compliance matters.
• Support the Office of Technology Transfer and Corporate Partnerships with advice and counsel on patent matters, including licensing, prosecution, material transfer agreements, infringement analyses, and other issues that arise in connection with the licensing and commercialization of intellectual property owned by Caltech.
• Oversee and support litigation relating to the relevant practice areas, including patent litigation.
• Provide advice and counsel to management, faculty, leadership, and other key stakeholders on a wide range of research, technology, and intellectual property matters.
• Support the Office of Research Compliance and Security on matters involving academic freedom, authorship, and compliance with research policies and procedures.
• Provide advice and counsel to Institutional research and safety committees.
• Provide counsel and support to the export compliance offices on the Caltech and JPL campuses.
• Provide advice and counsel to the Office of Sponsored Research and six Academic Divisions on sponsored research agreements, research collaborations, and international agreements.
• Support the Office of Strategic Communications on various matters, including publications, performing arts, and filming.
• Provide advice and counsel on records management and Freedom of Information Act requests.

Basic Qualifications:

• J.D. degree from an ABA accredited law school.
• Registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
• Member of California State Bar or able to attain admission within 1 year of hire.
• 10+ years of relevant legal experience, and a proven record of accomplishment.
• Prior patent litigation experience as a registered patent attorney.
• Experience advising on intellectual property matters, including copyright and trademark issues.
• Excellent judgment and decision-making skills; ability to assess and balance the interests of the Institute, stakeholders, and costs and benefits when considering options and potential actions to pursue.
• Effective oral and written communication skills; ability to communicate information and ideas clearly and persuasively.
• Ability to work collaboratively with peers and be a valuable and contributing member in a diverse and supportive team environment.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and clients in a manner that builds trusting relationships.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills with ability to be creative, flexible, and innovative in finding solutions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Equivalent of a BS or higher degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
• Experience working in higher education, research, and/or technology transfer areas.
• Familiarity with legal and policy issues relating to an FFRDC.
• Prior experience in the aerospace industry.
• Familiarity with the regulations, laws, policies and practices, and industry standards relevant to higher education and FFRDCs.