Sr. Director, Licensing

About InterDigital

InterDigital is a global research and development company focused primarily on wireless, video, artificial intelligence ("AI"), and related technologies. We design and develop foundational technologies that enable connected, immersive experiences in a broad range of communications and entertainment products and services. We license our innovations worldwide to companies providing such products and services, including makers of wireless communications devices, consumer electronics, IoT devices, cars and other motor vehicles, and providers of cloud-based services such as video streaming. As a leader in wireless technology, our engineers have designed and developed a wide range of innovations that are used in wireless products and networks, from the earliest digital cellular systems to 5G and today's most advanced Wi-Fi technologies. We are also a leader in video processing and video encoding/decoding technology, with a significant AI research effort that intersects with both wireless and video technologies. Founded in 1972, InterDigital is listed on Nasdaq.

InterDigital is a registered trademark of InterDigital, Inc.

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Summary: 

The successful candidate is a proven strategic leader and will join a dynamic, professional, and respected Licensing team aspiring to grow the licensing business of the company. This Senior Director role will be instrumental in helping shape the direction of the licensing business with specific emphasis on patent royalty revenue in the smartphone market. Through industry thought leadership and executive-level engagement, the Senior Director will positively influence the global licensing ecosystem while guiding and enhancing the Licensing team's performance and cross-functional execution.

This role requires a global mindset and demonstrated experience operating at the intersection of legal, business, and technical disciplines. The successful candidate will lead complex negotiations and drive strategic outcomes across multiple licensing programs and verticals but mostly focusing on smartphone. They will work in close coordination with Legal, Corporate Development, Research and Innovation, Government Affairs, Communications, and Finance—functions that collectively include over 450 professionals worldwide and hold deep expertise in licensing standard essential patents (SEPs) and implementation patents and managing FRAND compliant licensing programs.

Reporting to the Chief Licensing Officer, the Senior Director will play a key role in managing the licensing strategy for wireless and video SEPs and related technologies. The ideal candidate will bring deep experience in patent licensing, particularly across international markets, with a demonstrated ability to structure, negotiate, and close high-value IP transactions. They will possess the strategic acumen to work with cross-functional teams and influence decision-makers at all levels—internally and externally.

Responsibilities: 

• Drive high-value licensing negotiations, managing the end-to-end process from strategy development through execution and post-deal integration.

• Prepare and review complex financial models and deliver executive-level presentations to internal stakeholders and external partners.

• Lead the review, structuring, and strategic input into licensing agreements, coordinating closely with the legal licensing team and Finance.

• Guide the development of licensing strategies to optimize IP monetization and enforce IP rights.

• Work with Corporate Development to identify licensing opportunities and build program strategies.

• Work with Legal and outside counsel to support litigation efforts, including reviewing of pleadings and economic reports and development of litigation strategy.

• Oversee identification of patents to assert, potential licensees, and negotiation approach.

• Shape internal best practices and improve licensing operational models, templates, and governance processes.

• Provide strategic input on M&A opportunities and cross-border IP transactions, including valuation, due diligence, and risk assessment.

• Represent the company at industry conferences and forums to elevate its position as a licensing thought leader.

Education:

• J.D. from an accredited law school required.

• Degree in engineering and either an MBA or strong understanding of finance preferred.

Qualifications: 

• 8+ years of experience in patent licensing, IP transactions, or related fields, with increasing levels of responsibility and leadership.

• Extensive experience in SEP licensing, particularly within mobile, wireless, video, or semiconductor industries.

• Relevant licensing experience, reviewing and negotiating a wide variety of intellectual property transactions, with emphasis in patent license agreements.

• Strong working knowledge of global IP trends, licensing law, and SEP valuation methodologies.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with ability to engage confidently at C-suite and senior executive levels.

• Strong financial modeling skills in Microsoft Excel is required.  This includes: (a) DCF-based non-litigation IP valuation experience, including presentation/defense of positions taken and final work product to external audiences; (b) calculating economic damages in IP litigation matters, including in high-tech technology areas, such as mobile, IoT, video and semiconductors; and (c) experience in using Monte Carlo simulation techniques to account for uncertainty in financial models.

• Significant experience in developing and using patent analytics to formulate IP strategies such as: (a) identifying in-bound and outbound licensing opportunities; (b) finding white-space available for patenting, understanding the patent landscapes in various technology areas; and (c) improving operational excellence within the Licensing Team.

Skills and Additional Qualifications:

• Visionary leader with strong executive presence and strategic decision-making capabilities.

• Outstanding interpersonal and collaboration skills; adept at influencing without authority across matrixed environments.

• Excellent business judgment and ability to synthesize complex legal, technical, and financial information into actionable insights.

• Comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, global business environment.

• Background in telecommunications, wireless technologies, or video codecs preferred.

Other: Domestic and foreign travel required.

Location: Conshohocken, PA or other US InterDigital location

InterDigital is an equal employment opportunity employer. InterDigital will not engage in or tolerate unlawful discrimination with regard to any employment decision, policy or practice based on a person's sex, gender, pregnancy (including childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), age, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, military status, veteran status, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local  law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, training, assignments, evaluations, coaching, promotion, discipline, discharge and layoff.