Lead Patent Counsel - Digital & AI

Patent Counsel Digital & AI

Location: Vevey, Switzerland, with regular travel to Orbe and other Nestlé R&D sites
Work model: Full-time, 100%
Contract type / duration: Permanent
Closing Date: 15th September 2026

As a Patent Counsel for Digital & AI, you will enable and protect Nestlé’s digital, AI-driven, and electronics-enabled innovations. You will act as the go-to Legal R&D partner for Digital & AI across the Nestlé R&D ecosystem, ensuring the IP strategy for these cutting-edge technologies aligns with business goals and drives competitive advantage.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and deliver the IP strategy for digital, AI and electronics-enabled innovations, in close partnership with the R&D teams, the patent team, R&D Counsels and IP Analysts.
• Lead business-driven patent drafting and prosecution, and contribute to FTO assessments and oppositions.
• Manage your patent portfolio with strong business alignment and rigorous cost management.
• Advise on IP aspects in R&D collaborations and partnerships, including in the Digital & AI space.
• Develop and deliver tailored IP training and awareness sessions to R&D and business stakeholders.
• Monitor the competitive IP landscape and translate insights into actionable IP strategies.
• Manage outside counsel and external IP service providers to ensure high quality and efficient delivery.
• Support the Head of Patent Unit and the broader IP team in strategic projects and initiatives.

What will make you successful

• European Patent Attorney qualification (or equivalent national qualification) with a background in a relevant technical field such as computer science, electronics, physics, or a related discipline.
• More than 6 years of experience as a patent attorney in a law firm and/or an IP department of a company, with significant experience in patent drafting and prosecution in the digital/AI/electronics space.
• Strong expertise in patenting software-implemented inventions and AI-related innovations before the European Patent Office and in other key jurisdictions.
• Solid experience in managing patent portfolios and in providing strategic IP advice to business and R&D stakeholders.
• Experience with FTO analyses, freedom-to-operate assessments, and patent oppositions is a plus.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence and build trust with diverse stakeholders.
• Fluent in English; any additional European language is an asset.

We look forward to receiving your application! At Nestlé, we value and welcome applications from all qualified candidates, and we believe that diversity is a key source of innovation and creativity. We offer a dynamic, inclusive, and international working environment, with many development opportunities.

All information will be treated confidentially.