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Director, Program Development
WiLAN
Ottawa, ON, Canada
Posted on Sep 18, 2025
About Us
Built on 25 years of Intellectual Property acquisition and monetization experience, WiLAN is focused on investing in and licensing innovative technology. We’re a team of highly knowledgeable, skilled professionals, with extensive industry experience, each of whose work and decisions have a direct impact on the company’s success.
Opportunity
WiLAN is excited about investing in IP and this role will play a vital part in supporting the technical review of prospects and determining which opportunities have the most potential to provide value to the business.
We’re looking for a highly skilled and technical professional, eager to jump in and be an integral part of the WiLAN success story.
What we offer
- An opportunity to explore a breadth of interesting and exciting opportunities.
- A chance to take the lead and showcase your skills.
- A flexible and autonomous working environment.
- A chance to travel and expand your network, while doing work that excites you.
- The opportunity to gain knowledge and insights from highly skilled colleagues who are experts in their fields.
- Rewarding compensation and a robust group benefits plan.
- A chance to be an integral part of the WiLAN success story.
JOB TITLE Director, Program Development
REPORTS TO Vice President, Program Development
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
Internal: Business Development, Licensing Teams, Legal dept., Market Research
External: Owners, Client companies, Outside Counsel, Consultants
POSITION SUMMARY
Lead the assessment and due diligence of portfolios for acquisition, including development of claim charts, validity analysis, business case development, and work on other IP-related issues facing the company.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or Computer Engineering (or another engineering discipline).
- Minimum 5 years demonstrated professional experience in a corporate environment with a focus on patent diligence, assertive patent licensing and/or patent litigation.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Experience within a patent team – or demonstrated aptitude for or interest in doing so.
- Understanding of world-wide patent law, with a particular focus on US and European law, impact of existing licensing agreements, patent pool membership, and license on transfer agreements.
- General understanding of business case development and patent valuation techniques.
- Sound technical competence including general knowledge of telecommunications technology, semiconductor manufacturing, software, AI and consumer electronics.
- Self-motivated, initiative, resourceful, and effective organizational abilities.
- Able to advocate positions in an adversarial context.
- Computer skills including Microsoft 365, and effective web-based research.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, meet deadlines, and maintain a high-quality work product.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead and conduct analysis, working with outside counsel and technology experts to create potential infringement claim charts on prospective licensee products.
- Lead and conduct prior art searches working with outside counsel and technology experts.
- Lead and conduct due diligence investigations, evaluating claim strength in view of potential prior art, and understanding of claim construction.
- Meet with IP suppliers and conduct due diligence interviews to determine the value of potentially acquired IP.
- Study and analyze scientific/technical/patent documents, to assess innovation.
- Advise on chances of success of asserting intellectual property rights.
- Willingness and ability to travel worldwide (up to 20%) is required.
WiLAN is committed to treating all people in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We believe in integration and equal opportunity.
Accommodation is available upon request for all applicants with a disability throughout the recruitment process. Please contact Human Resources at hr@wilan.com if you require accommodation. We will work with all applicants to accommodate their individual accessibility needs.