Director, Intellectual Property

Company: IDEAYA Biosciences
Location: South San Francisco
Posted on: February 7, 2026

Job Description:

Non-Solicitation Policy and Notice to Agencies and Recruiters: IDEAYA's Non-Solicitation Policy strictly prohibits agencies and recruiters from any contact and communication with IDEAYA employees, managers, and leaders to submit unsolicited candidate resumes and/or to solicit business partnerships . Submission of unsolicited candidate resumes by agencies or recruiters with or without a contract in place with IDEAYA Biosciences Inc. will not create any implied obligation. Failure to comply with this policy will result in disqualification from current and future business opportunities with IDEAYA Biosciences. All recruiting and talent agency decisions are strictly managed by the internal IDEAYA Human Resources function. All communication by external agencies and recruiters must be directed to humanresources@ideayabio.com. We ask that you only email your interest once. Job Summary About IDEAYA Biosciences: IDEAYA is a precision medicine oncology company committed to the discovery, development, and commercialization of transformative therapies for cancer. Our approach integrates expertise in small-molecule drug discovery, structural biology and bioinformatics with robust internal capabilities in identifying and validating translational biomarkers to develop tailored, potentially first-in-class targeted therapies aligned to the genetic drivers of disease. We have built a deep pipeline of product candidates focused on synthetic lethality and antibody-drug conjugates, or ADCs, for molecularly defined solid tumor indications. Our mission is to bring forth the next wave of precision oncology therapies that are more selective, more effective, and deeply personalized with the goal of altering the course of disease and improving clinical outcomes for patients with cancer. When you're at IDEAYA, you will be in the midst of brilliant minds working on precision medicine therapies to help cancer patients. We are passionate and committed about being on the forefront of oncology medicine, which means we all have a high internal drive that is at the very core of every person at IDEAYA. We are inquisitive, ask deep questions, and are data-driven innovators who like to collaborate and use team work to move science forward. For more information, please see www.ideayabio.com. Location: South San Francisco Position Summary: IDEAYA Biosciences is seeking an experienced Intellectual Property (IP) Attorney. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Intellectual Property, this role will support the Company’s intellectual property function to protect the Company’s small molecule product candidates. The ideal candidate will enjoy working collaboratively with inventors across various departments, senior scientific leaders, and the legal team. This position is based in our South San Francisco headquarter offices and required to be onsite four days per week per our company policy. Job Description What you'll do: Global IP portfolio management, including preparing and prosecuting patent applications focused on small molecules, and developing IP strategy Partner with cross-departmental teams to understand project technology, identify patentable inventions, and implement protection strategies Identify and evaluate complex risks (e.g., patentability, infringement, validity) and develop business-focused mitigation strategies Conduct freedom-to-operate reviews, analyze third-party patent positions, and guide overall IP strategy Perform IP due diligence and provide support for business development opportunities Manage external legal counsel and ensure compliance with global IP laws and regulations Coordinate and manage patent filings and strategy with collaborators and licensors Assist in building IP department infrastructure and policies, and provide internal IP training Monitor and assess competitive IP landscape and industry trends for risk and opportunity analysis Job Requirements: Ph.D. in Chemistry, preferably Organic Chemistry, or Master’s in Organic Chemistry Juris Doctorate from an ABA credited law school and a member in good standing of the California Bar, or the ability to qualify as California Registered In-House Counsel Registered before the United States Patent and Trademark Office Minimum 7 years of experience in providing IP counsel and support in the pharmaceutical small molecules (patent preparation and prosecution, life cycle management, opinion, and IP strategy), including preferably 2-3 years in-house experience Proven track record developing and implementing patent strategies with demonstrated success securing meaningful patent protection for products and related technology Demonstrated ability to work independently and cooperatively in a fast-paced start up environment with internal teams and to respond in a timely and effective manner Must have strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret complex scientific and legal information Proficiency in using scientific and IP databases Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills and attention to detail All employees are expected to act with integrity and in full compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and IDEAYA policies, including IDEAYA’s Code of Conduct.Employees must demonstrate good judgement and ethical behavior in all business activities, maintain patient and product safety as a top priority, and report any suspected violations of law or Company policy through appropriate channels Total Rewards Along with our inspiring mission, and highly collaborative and inclusive environment, IDEAYA offers a competitive total rewards package that reflects our pay-for-performance philosophy where employees are eligible to be considered for merit-based salary increases, company discretionary short-term incentive plan participation, and company discretionary stock option awards (based on board approval). Our comprehensive benefits package includes, but is not limited to, medical/dental/vision coverage (100% company paid for employees and 90% company paid for dependents), 401k, ESPP, and wellness programs. The expected salary range for the roleof Director, Intellectual Property is $238,000- $294,000. The final salary offered to a successful candidate will depend on several factors that may include but are not limited to the office location where this open position is located, the final candidates’ experience within their profession, experience in the disease areas we are striving to make an impact in as a company, length of time within the industry, educational background, and performance during the interview process. The Company complies with all laws respecting equal employment opportunities and does not discriminate against applicants with regard to any protected characteristic as defined by federal, state, and local law. This position requires you to work onsite in the office at the Company’s facilities for training & meetings, with work-from-home flexibility, and the Company requires that all employees working in its facilities be fully vaccinated (except as required by applicable law). Therefore, this position requires you to be fully vaccinated from COVID-19, subject to reasonable accommodations for medical or religious reasons, and/or as otherwise required by applicable law. The Company considers you fully vaccinated once 14 days have passed since you received either the second dose in a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series or a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine must have been FDA approved, have emergency use authorization from the FDA, or, for persons fully vaccinated outside of the U.S., be listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization. IDEAYA is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with applicable law, IDEAYA does not discriminate in hiring or otherwise in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status. EOE/AA/Vets.

Keywords: IDEAYA Biosciences, San Mateo , Director, Intellectual Property, Science, Research & Development , South San Francisco, California