Global Head of Intellectual Property — Sonova
- Location
- Staefa
- Contract
- other
- Posted
- 14 days ago
Role overview
Sonova is a global leader in innovative hearing care solutions, dedicated to improving lives through technology.
Intellectual Property is a critical strategic asset that underpins our innovation leadership, competitive differentiation, and long-term business success.
We are seeking a Global Head of Intellectual Property to lead Sonova's global intellectual property strategy and governance framework.
- Sonova is a global leader in innovative hearing care solutions, dedicated to improving lives through technology.
- Intellectual Property is a critical strategic asset that underpins our innovation leadership, competitive differentiation, and long-term business success.
- Key Responsibilities Enterprise IP Strategy & Leadership
- Define, develop, and continuously evolve Sonova's global intellectual property strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives, innovation priorities, and market positioning.
Main responsibilities
- Key Responsibilities Enterprise IP Strategy & Leadership
- Define, develop, and continuously evolve Sonova's global intellectual property strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives, innovation priorities, and market positioning.
- Serve as the principal advisor to the General Counsel, Executive Committee members, R&D leadership, and senior business leaders on intellectual property matters.
- Own enterprise-wide IP governance, risk management, and strategic decision-making across patents, trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, and related intellectual property assets.
- Lead and develop senior IP professionals while fostering a business-oriented and strategically focused IP culture.
- Shape the future evolution of Sonova's IP function, capabilities, operating model, and external partnerships. Strategic Partnership with R&D
Company and context
- The successful candidate will lead a global IP organization through experienced team leaders and external partners while serving as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on matters that impact innovation, competitive positioning, and enterprise value creation.
- Serve as the primary strategic interface between the Legal and R&D organizations on all intellectual property matters.
- Ensure IP strategy is embedded throughout innovation processes, technology planning, product development, and long-term technology roadmaps.
- Maintain a permanent strategic presence within innovation planning and technology governance forums to identify and protect key innovations at the earliest stages of development.
- Guide strategic decisions concerning patents, trade secrets, design rights, publication strategies, open innovation initiatives, and alternative protection mechanisms.
- Partner closely with R&D leadership to ensure effective operation of invention harvesting processes, IP stage-gates, freedom-to-operate reviews, and technical risk assessments. Portfolio Strategy & Investment Governance
- Establish the strategic direction for Sonova's global patent and design portfolio.
- Ensure portfolio investments are aligned with business priorities, technology trends, and competitive differentiation objectives.
- Oversee portfolio development, prosecution strategy, maintenance decisions, and lifecycle management through experienced internal teams and external counsel.
- Regularly assess portfolio strength, geographic coverage, white-space opportunities, competitive positioning, and emerging risks.
Additional details
- Key Responsibilities Enterprise IP Strategy & Leadership
- Shape the future evolution of Sonova's IP function, capabilities, operating model, and external partnerships. Strategic Partnership with R&D
- Partner closely with R&D leadership to ensure effective operation of invention harvesting processes, IP stage-gates, freedom-to-operate reviews, and technical risk assessments. Portfolio Strategy & Investment Governance
- Identify opportunities for portfolio strengthening, strategic acquisitions, partnerships, licensing opportunities, and risk mitigation. Licensing, Partnerships & Value Creation
- Ensure alignment between litigation strategy, portfolio development, and broader business objectives. Governance & Enterprise Risk Management
- Ensure effective utilization of external counsel, service providers, and supporting resources.
- Proven experience managing complex cross-functional stakeholder environments.
- Experience partnering closely with engineering and R&D organizations in highly innovative environments.
Notes and original content
- Key Responsibilities
- Enterprise IP Strategy & Leadership
- Shape the future evolution of Sonova's IP function, capabilities, operating model, and external partnerships.
- Strategic Partnership with R&D
- Partner closely with R&D leadership to ensure effective operation of invention harvesting processes, IP stage-gates, freedom-to-operate reviews, and technical risk assessments.
- Portfolio Strategy & Investment Governance
- Identify opportunities for portfolio strengthening, strategic acquisitions, partnerships, licensing opportunities, and risk mitigation.
- Licensing, Partnerships & Value Creation
- Ensure alignment between litigation strategy, portfolio development, and broader business objectives.
- Governance & Enterprise Risk Management
Questions about this listing
What salary does Sonova offer for this role?
Sonova lists CHF 101'500 - 154'000 gross per year for this position in Staefa. This is the salary published in the original listing (or, when the employer omits a figure, a realistic estimate for the role and sector) — the calculator on this site converts it to your actual net take-home once cross-border tax and social contributions are applied.
Is this a full-time role, and what type of contract does Sonova offer?
This listing is a full-time position. The contract type shown here comes directly from the employer's original posting; always confirm exact hours, notice period and probation length with Sonova during the application process, since these details can vary by role even within the same contract category.
Do I need a cross-border work permit for a role in Zürich?
EU/EFTA residents living in the border zone of the country adjoining Canton Zürich can apply for a G permit; the Swiss employer files it with that canton's migration office after the contract is signed. Border-zone rules and processing times vary by neighbouring country and canton, so confirm the specifics with Zürich's cantonal migration office or with HR during the application.
How do I apply for this position at Sonova?
Use the "Apply now" button on this page — it links directly to Sonova's original listing at jobs.sonova.com, so your application goes straight to the employer's own applicant-tracking system. Frontaliere Ticino does not collect or forward applications itself.
