About this role
WELCOME TO BASF Our legal teams operate work where entrepreneurial vision meets responsibility. We ensure legal certainty and clarity with our many international partners, and thus keeping BASF on course for success in the future. With us, you can You combine legal excellence with pragmatism, team spirit, and a passion for innovation.? Join our legal teams at BASF. Become part of our success story. Then you are exactly who we’re looking for. Welcome to the team! WHAT THIS ROLE IS ABOUT The primary purpose of the Intellectual Property is to safeguard the organization's technological innovations and competitive advantages by managing the full lifecycle of patent rights, IP agreements, and related legal instruments across its global chemical, materials, and agricultural business portfolio. This is achieved by providing expert in-house legal counsel on patentability, freedom-to-operate, and IP strategy, while prosecuting patent applications, negotiating licensing arrangements, and conducting proceedings before patent offices and courts worldwide. WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT Patent applications covering chemical processes, formulations, materials science, and agricultural innovations are prepared, filed, and prosecuted before national and international patent offices including the EPO and USPTO. IP agreements including patent licenses, cross-licenses, technology transfer agreements, trademarks, design rights, and domain name arrangements are structured and negotiated to support business objectives across all divisions. Legal opinions on patentability, freedom-to-operate, patent validity, and infringement risk are delivered to R&D, business units, and senior management to guide product development and commercialization decisions. Appeal proceedings, opposition proceedings, and interference actions before patent offices and courts are managed to defend or challenge patent rights in strategically relevant technology fields. IP portfolio strategy is developed and maintained in alignment with the organization's R&D pipeline and business priorities, ensuring comprehensive protection of innovations in chemicals, materials, surface technologies, and agricultural solutions. WHAT EXPERTISE YOU BRING A law degree with specialization in intellectual property law is required, complemented by a technical or scientific degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, or a related discipline. Qualification as a European Patent Attorney (EQE) or equivalent national patent attorney certification, and/or admission to the bar as a patent lawyer, is expected. Demonstrated experience in patent prosecution and IP portfolio management within the chemical, specialty materials, or life sciences industry is essential, including familiarity with EPO, USPTO, and PCT procedures. Proficiency in English is mandatory for international filings and cross-border negotiations; additional language skills, particularly German, are advantageous given the organization's headquarters and primary Verbund sites. Ability to collaborate effectively with global R&D teams, business unit managers, and external patent firms across multiple jurisdictions, including virtual collaboration across time zones and cultures, is required. WHAT DO WE OFFER? BASF is committed to pay transparency practices. The competitive pay range for this role is [[salary minimum]] to [[salary maximum]]. Actual pay will be determined based on education, certifications, experience, and other job-related factors permitted by law. [add here regional benefits, with bullet points] HOW TO APPLY OR CONTACT US? [Insert here contact details and information on recruiting process] ABOUT US [Insert here information about the OD/ company and details and information on the location] Stay alert for possible recruitment fraud! This can include fake websites; fake job offers or contact from a person falsely claiming to represent BASF. We take security & data privacy very seriously. We will never request financial information of any kind via email, private text message or direct message on any social medial platform or job board. Furthermore, we will never send a candidate a check for equipment or request any type of payment during the job application process. If you suspect recruitment fraud and BASF is mentioned, please contact our regional HR team at BASF: APAC-HR team / EMEA: [email protected] / South America: XXX Diversity is our greatest strength — and the foundation of our innovation. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome all qualified applicants to join a global team that values diverse perspectives and fosters an environment where everyone can feel they belong and thrive. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and experiences regardless of race, age, citizenship, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, disability status, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law—ensuring equal opportunities for all. Become part of our Winning Team. #belongatBASF