Patent Information Analyst

Please Note: The deadline for applying is 23.59 the day before the job posting end date.

Location: Port Sunlight R&D

Company Overview: Established over 100 years ago, we are one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies. We are known for our great brands and our belief that doing business the right way drives superior performance. Our products are sold in over 190 countries, and, on any given day, 3.4 billion consumers worldwide use them. We own some of the best known and best loved brands, including Dove, Persil, Axe, Cif, Comfort, Dermalogica, Hellmann’s, Knorr TRESemmé and Vaseline. In order to unlock our full potential and accelerate business performance, Unilever has set out a Growth Action Plan. It outlines the steps we are taking to deliver faster growth, drive productivity and simplicity, and dial up our performance culture. Our 30 Power Brands are front and centre of our Growth Action Plan, as is unmissable brand superiority across and accelerating science and technology. We are at the forefront of innovation and digitalisation with GenAI tools, data and digital shaping the future of how we work. Patent Group is part of Unilever's legal team which has recently been awarded Most Innovative In-House Legal Team in Europe and In-House Legal Team using GenerativeAI.

JOB PURPOSE: The role of the Legal Group is to protect Unilever and help it to win. This role reports into a Senior Patent Attorney and provides support for our global R&D function and the wider business in ensuring protection of our products and technology to deliver unmissable superiority. Patent Group is co-located with R&D in the UK, USA, The Netherlands, India and China and is composed of Patent Attorneys, Patent Information Analysts and support staff. This is an exciting opportunity to join Unilever at a pivotal moment for the company. In order to deliver the ambitions of Unilever’s Growth Action Plan, Unilever R&D will need to create differentiated products and packs that stand out on shelf. This role will be responsible for protecting that differentiation through searching, analysis, mapping and reporting of patents, utility models and designs.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for carrying out opposition/validity, and freedom to operate searches.
• Efficiently use a variety of patent office databases, commercial patent databases, technical literature databases, and state of the art search tools as well as when needed, support developing new and advanced search and analysis tools for the Patent Group.
• Apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to conduct focused and comprehensive searches for new inventions and cutting-edge technologies.
• Deliver and communicate analysed search reports timely and efficiently to the patent attorneys.
• Support identification, evaluation and deployment of analytics tools for technology to ensure data enabled insights.
• Identify and develop patent landscapes where necessary, providing unique and broad challenges.
• Work in a team to provide information on recently published patents and applications, provide education on the use of end-user patent databases.

ALL ABOUT YOU:

• Self-motivated to work effectively and efficiently.
• Attention to detail and ability to meet challenging deadlines.
• A degree or strong technical understanding in chemistry or biochemistry, life science, food science, biotechnology or related fields.
• An ability to quickly grasp Unilever technologies in Home Care, Beauty and personal care & food and refreshment sectors.
• Problem solving skills in constructing and conducting search and analysis of patent and non-patent literature using various search engines.
• Experience in the area of IP analytics, patent landscaping and/or patent searching.
• A talent for languages (English is essential, Chinese/Japanese is desirable).

Where appropriate, on-the-job training will be provided as well as external courses on the specific aspects of patents and patent searching.

What we offer: Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all. Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to present your best self.