Job Description
Welcome to FSC!
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a globally recognized non-profit organization at the forefront of promoting sustainable forestry. With over 150 million hectares of certified forests and a trusted reputation among NGOs, consumers, and businesses, FSC is leading the way in ensuring the long-term health and resilience of the world's forests.
FSC is an internationally operating NGO with more than 1.200 members in over 93 countries from the environment, social rights and business communities. It holds presence with business activities in over 40 countries worldwide. FSC works to take care of our forests and those who rely on them by protect-ing plant and animal species, Indigenous Peoples' rights, forest workers' safety and much more, on a global scale. We achieve this, inter alia, through FSC certification, ensuring forests around the world are responsibly managed. This goal requires, inter alia, a successful licensing business with a rigid protection of FSC's trademarks and a risk management with suitable compliance tools. For more in-formation on FSC, visit our website at www.fsc.org.
To effectively meet the challenge of protecting the world's forests, we are committed to have the world's most skilled people working with us. We are currently looking for an engaged Trademark Portfolio Manager with passion for FSC's mission to join our multinational team.
The Legal Department supports all legal and compliance aspects of the FSC Group and advises FSC's management and its specialized units in their daily operations. As a member of the intellectual property and trademark team inside the legal team, you will be managing FSC's portfolio of trademarks and other brands and thereby helping to protect and secure FSC's portfolio. In this function you will also contribute to trademark protection strategies and support trademark enforcement activities. Moreover, the scope entails conducting recurring trademark audits, the engagement and supervision of external counsels and close cooperation with other members of the legal team.
Main Roles & Responsibilities
You will focus on IP and especially trademark related aspects concerning the FSC Group with a direct reporting line to the Programme Manager & Senior Trademark Counsel. Your role will entail:
- Leading global trademark filing and prosecution, namely preparing and filing trademark applications as well as corresponding with and instructing outside counsel.
- Coordinating global trademark clearance investigations, which entails performing and analyzing trademark searches.
- Managing and executing trademark renewals, declarations, and affidavits of use.
- Managing global evidence of use, including the implementation of strategies to gather such evidence.
- Advising internal colleagues and FSC's network on intellectual property procedures, guidelines and practices.
- Supporting various legal aspects of FSC's domain name portfolio, including domain acquisitions and UDRPs.
- Analyzing risks and safeties associated with new trademark laws, regulations and related enactments including the preparation of trainings.
- Developing and implementing yearly trademark audit projects.
- Assisting in the development of yearly trademark prosecution strategies.
- Tracking budgets, expenses and reconciliation of partnered costs.
- Maintaining an international list of external legal experts and updating contact information, power of attorneys and letters of engagement.
- Cooperating closely with other IP and Legal Counsels in the team on IP and trademark enforcement activities including related process management as well as reviewing trademark watch notices, coordinating trademark oppositions and cancellations.
• Education and Training:
o A master degree in IP or trademark law or equivalent.
o Strong intellectual property background with knowledge of IP portfolio and trademark enforcement management database(s) and systems.
• Working Experience, Style and Skills:
o At minimum five (5) years of practical experience, preferably in-house in a globally oriented organization and/or international law firm.
o Experience required in international trademark portfolios with specific experience in trademark clearance, prosecution, investigations, and enforcement work.
o Experience in the licensing business is valuable.
o Strong organizational and time management skills: ability to handle and prioritize multiple tasks and projects in a structured way, while delivering high quality of work.
o Service and detail oriented with a proactive work method.
o Ability to represent FSC through his/her work with exemplary personal and professional attitude and conduct, including a friendly and self-confident appearance.
• Languages:
o Fluency in English (spoken and written) is required.
o Fluency in German and/or Spanish and/or French and/or Chinese (spoken and written) is a very valuable plus.
• Computer Skills – good skills in the use of/experience with:
o Standard software packages, in particular MS Office 365, Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Experience with Dynamics 365, MS SharePoint, MS Vision and MS Project is helpful.
o Trademark Portfolio Database Management Platforms is very helpful.
o Contract Database Management platforms is an asset.
• Communication Skills:
o Exemplary verbal and written communication skills.
o Ability to establish and maintain positive interpersonal relations.
• Others:
o Commitment to FSC's mission and values, including cultural awareness.
o Ability to represent FSC through his/her work with exemplary personal and professional authority and conduct.
- Be part of a globally recognized organization at the forefront of sustainable forestry and contribute to the mission to help protect the world's forests.
- Play an active role in the FSC global community of 400+ forest stewards who come together in-person at least once a year.
- Benefit from cross-cultural collaboration and networking opportunities by working in a dynamic, inclusive, and diverse international culture with over 60 nationalities represented under one roof.
- Benefit from work-life balance with our hybrid working structure.
- 30 vacation days yearly.
- Regional transportation ticket.
- Breakfast bars, coffee, tea, water.
- Take part in learning lunches.
- Celebrate together festivals from different cultures.
The Fine Print
Ready to make a difference? Join FSC and help shape a sustainable future. Don't delay - apply now!
- Location: Bonn, Germany.
- Working Hours: Full time - 40 hours per week.
- Duration of Employment: Temporary contract – 2 years (extension possible, subject to satisfactory performance).
- Starting Date: As soon as possible.
Please do not send any photos of yourself.
For FSC, inclusiveness and diversity are important values. As such, we welcome and encourage applications from all backgrounds and are entirely committed to consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age and disability.
We will confirm receipt of your application. Should you not receive a confirmation of receipt please check your spam filter and if you cannot find it there contact us at [email protected]
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We are looking forward to your application! View More