IP Counsel Innovation & Technology

Intellectual Property (IP) Counsel

• Join our global leading business offering outstanding personal development & global career opportunities 
• Excellent work environment where people are valued and respected
• Permanent role based in Salt Lake City, Utah

About the role

Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs.

We are looking for an IP Counsel to support the Rio Tinto Group by providing high quality, independent and timely Intellectual Property legal advice and ensuring appropriate governance and controls to ensure Rio Tinto meets its legal and regulatory obligations effectively, manages risk, and protects Rio Tinto’s people, assets and reputation.

We are an open, connected international team. From mine to market, behind each of our operations and projects are technological innovations and data science that are driving new industry standards in mining and metals. With a clear focus on values, performance and strong leadership, you get to grow with an organization that values your work and rewards you accordingly.

Reporting to the Principal IP Counsel and as part of the Innovation & Technology Legal Team you will have the following responsibilities:

• IP portfolio building
  • Review and evaluate invention disclosures; recommend appropriate action to management.
  • Prepare and prosecute patent applications for new inventions. 
  • Manage engaged law and attorney firms in a variety of jurisdictions.
  • Pre-transaction due diligence
• IP protection
  • Help to maintain trade secret protection.
  • Raise IP awareness.
  • Train employees and managers regarding protection of IP and related company policies.
  • Monitor IP activity of competitors and advise management.
  • Perform fact gathering for right-to-use, infringement, and validity opinions.
  • Analyze and review agreements to provide advice in relation to ownership and licensing of IP, and confidentiality and data management and protection.
  • Drafting and negotiating non-disclosure, research and development, technology joint development, IP and technology licenses, technology services and other IP related agreements with varying degrees of complexity.

What you will bring

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team
• Academic background preferably in chemical, biochemical or metallurgical engineering. Prior knowledge or experience in mining also useful.
• USA patent attorney or agent certification or equivalent.
• Qualifications as a lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction
• 4-8 years PQ experience in IP, gained in industry or private practice
• English essential, French preferable
• Self-starter who can proactively identify gaps, legal needs and propose solutions to address them
• Excellent inter-personal and organizational skills.
• Ability to work in a team.

What we offer

Be recognised for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped the world progress

• A work environment where safety is always the number one priority
• Competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with an annual incentive bonus
• Access to top-tier family-friendly health programs including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, and various voluntary benefits
• Excellent retirement plan including up to 6% defined company contribution; Generous 401k matching program
• Attractive share ownership plan
• Comprehensive leave policies which cover all the moments that matter in life: PTO (paid time off), paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave
• A generous parental leave policy, which ensures you’re able to spend quality time with your new family
• Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to Virgin Pulse with incentives supporting your wellbeing
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which provides confidential counselling or expert guidance for you and your family to help get through life’s challenges

Where you’ll be working

The role will be based in Salt Lake City in the United States and support a variety of Rio Tinto Group projects including Nuton, which is a Rio Tinto venture in the copper product group with the purpose of commercializing proprietary copper bio-heap leaching technologies.

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminium, critical minerals, and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive.

We have been mining for 150 years and operate with knowledge built up across generations and continents. Our purpose is finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs – striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce materials with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards. But we can’t do it on our own, so we’re focused on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win-win situations and meet opportunities.

Every Voice Matters

At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, women, the LGBTQ+ community, mature workers, people with disabilities and people from different cultural backgrounds.

Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V
Rio Tinto participates in E-Verify to confirm work authorization.  Please visit http://www.uscis.gov/ for more information.

We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard, all cultures respected and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome – they are essential to our success. We treat each other fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or anything else that makes us different.