Chief Intellectual Property (IP) Counsel - Chicago, IL

Chief Intellectual Property (IP) Counsel, Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) 
Reports to: SVP, General Counsel & Secretary ADM
Location: Chicago or Erlanger, KY

Position Summary:
The Chief IP Counsel is responsible for supervising the work of ADM’s IP legal function in the US and overseas.  This function handles patent prep and prosecution primarily in the areas of biochemistry and molecular biology; and advising, negotiating and drafting collaboration agreements, sponsored research agreements and other transactions where potentially patentable intellectual property will be developed.  The Chief IP Counsel will advise senior scientists and business executive on issues of non-infringement and patent invalidity and may draft memoranda related to the same.  She or he will also manage outside patent counsel in all of the above where outside counsel is engaged, including managing patent litigations that may be district court or administrative procedures. As mentioned, the Chief IP Counsel reports to the Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary of ADM.  Ideally, the candidate will be located in Chicago or Decatur, Illinois, but a location in the Cincinnati, Ohio, area is also possible.  This position will be a member of the Legal, Audit, Regulatory and Compliance (LARC) global leadership team.

Candidate Profile and Core Competencies:

• The ideal candidate will have at least 15 years’ experience as a registered patent attorney in the US and have extensive experience in handling patents, trade secrets, and IP transactions in the US and abroad.
• The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in preparation and prosecution of patent applications in the fields of biochemistry and/or molecular biology in the US, and foreign jurisdictions. In addition, as this is a leadership role within ADM, it requires commitment to integrity, safety, diversity, quality with the following competencies: 1) Excellent influencing, communication and presentation skills 2) business acumen 3) time management and organization skills and an ability to multitask 4) comfortable working in matrix and entrepreneurial environments  with an ability to manage through influence and building relationships with key partners across other areas of ADM.

Education and Experience:

• In addition to a law degree, an advanced degree in the same or closely related scientific discipline is strongly preferred.  
• Experience preparing invalidity and non-infringement memoranda and opinions, and drafting scientific collaboration agreements and sponsored research agreements with third parties, is required. 
• Excellent communication skills to advise business executives and senior scientists on legal issues related to patents, trade secrets, and the protection of intellectual property is required.   
• Demonstrated experience managing outside counsel and patent litigation a plus.

Excited about this role but don’t think you meet every requirement listed? We encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings.

ADM requires the successful completion of a background check. 

REF:96187BR
About ADM

At ADM, we unlock the power of nature to provide access to nutrition worldwide. With industry-advancing innovations, a complete portfolio of ingredients and solutions to meet any taste, and a commitment to sustainability, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional challenges of today and tomorrow. We’re a global leader in human and animal nutrition and the world’s premier agricultural origination and processing company. Our breadth, depth, insights, facilities and logistical expertise give us unparalleled capabilities to meet needs for food, beverages, health and wellness, and more. From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the solution, we enrich the quality of life the world over. Learn more at www.adm.com.

#IncludingYou

Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are cornerstones of ADM’s efforts to continue innovating, driving growth, and delivering outstanding performance. We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce and create welcoming, truly inclusive work environments — environments that enable every ADM colleague to feel comfortable on the job, make meaningful contributions to our success, and grow their career. We respect and value the unique backgrounds and experiences that each person can bring to ADM because we know that diversity of perspectives makes us better, together.

We are committed to ensuring all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in our industry, as we strive to ensure our workforce represents the world that we help to feed: people of color, women, gender non-conforming, LGBTQIA+, veterans and persons with disabilities. For more information regarding our efforts to advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging, please visit our website here: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | ADM.

Benefits and Perks

Enriching the quality of life for the world begins by taking care of our colleagues. In addition to competitive pay, we support your diverse needs with a comprehensive total rewards package to enhance your well-being, including:

• Physical wellness – medical/Rx, dental, vision and on-site wellness center access or gym reimbursement (as applicable).
• Financial wellness – flexible spending accounts, health savings account, 401(k) with matching contributions and cash balance plan, discounted employee stock purchasing program, life insurance, disability, workers’ compensation, legal assistance, identity theft protection.
• Mental and social wellness – Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Colleague Giving Programs (ADM Cares).

Additional benefits include:

• Paid time off including paid holidays.
• Adoption assistance and paid maternity and parental leave.
• Tuition assistance.
• Company-sponsored training and development resources, such as LinkedIn Learning, language training and mentoring programs.

*Benefits may vary for bargained locations, confirm benefit eligibility with your recruiter.


Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours.

If hired, employees will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

The pay range for this position is expected to be between: