Senior Director, Intellectual Property
Sana Biotechnology
| Company | Sana Biotechnology |
| Category | Legal & Compliance |
| Location | Cambridge |
| Remote | On-site (inferred) |
| Employment | Not stated |
| Level | Director |
| Salary | Not stated by the employer |
| Posted | 30 Jul 2026 |
| Last verified | 9 Aug 2026 |
| Source | Employer ATS (greenhouse) |
Description
About the role
Sana Biotechnology is growing, and we are hiring new team members who believe in the potential of engineered cells as medicines, who want to challenge the status quo, and who lead with the desire to work on novel ideas. As a Senior Director you will assist in the implementation of the company’s intellectual property strategy in the cell and gene therapy space, as well as counsel clients, manage patent drafting and prosecution, and assist in patent landscape activities, review publications and support business activities as needed. The Senior Director will be an integral working partner with the company’s research and development (R&D) organization.
What you’ll do
Partner with R&D to develop a deep understanding of the science and technologies at Sana, including work in cutting edge technologies in the cell therapy space
Be the responsible lead IP attorney for certain pre-clinical and clinical programs and leverage knowledge about Sana’s science and technologies to develop patent portfolio strategies
Partner with R&D to identify patentable subject matter and implement patent protection strategies, including drafting, filing and prosecuting patent applications
Conduct or direct patent landscape overviews, freedom-to-operate analyses, validity assessments and patentability assessments
Advise and provide guidance to senior managers on IP-related issues
Develop IP policies and provide IP-related education to the company
Provide direction, strategy, and/or support for third-party IP issues, as needs arise (e.g., oppositions, third-party observations, inter party reviews, litigation, etc.)
Manage external relationships with outside counsel and collaborators
Work on additional legal projects, as needed
What we’re looking for
Bachelors plus at least 12 yrs or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience
J.D. degree
Membership in at least one state bar
Admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
5+ years experience in patent drafting and prosecution, including global portfolios
Experience managing high-volume intellectual property workflow
Intense commitment to high moral standards and business ethics
Strong collaborator who can work successfully and build relationships with internal legal colleagues, internal stakeholders, and external parties to achieve business goals
Excellent oral and written communication skills, articulate, direct and forthright
Be part of a team of business focused, creative, and strategic thinkers with broad perspectives
Strong organizational and administrative skills
Must have attention to detail and excellent drafting skills
Strong ability to adapt to changes and be agile
What will separate you from the crowd
Ph.D. degree in biochemistry, biology, immunology, or another technical field relevant to the biotech industry
Experience managing intellectual property for cellular therapies
Experience both in the law firm and in-house legal department settings
What you should know
The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $275,000 and $325,000/year for Senior Director; however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience
How we work together for patients
Lead from every seat – we seek to understand, act with honesty, and engage in the crucial conversations
Thrive as a team – we hire amazing people, are intensely curious, and cultivate inclusion and personal connectivity
Make it happen – we value vigorous debate, alignment around our decisions, and resilient execution
Get to know us
At Sana, we believe that a workforce with varied backgrounds strengthens us as a company and helps us to achieve our mission to meaningfully change the outcome of many human disea