Senior Intellectual Property (IP) Research Scientist

The Hershey Company•Lower Swatara Township, PA

About The Position

This position is responsible for undertaking and executing advanced patent- and IP-focused research in support of the Company’s intellectual property strategy. The role performs rigorous prior art, freedom-to-operate (FTO), and patent landscape research, translating complex patent and technical information into clear, defensible insights for R&D and IP stakeholders. The position operates as part of a highly specialized intelligence and IP function and emphasizes disciplined search methodology, analytical rigor, and professional research standards. By providing high-quality IP research support, this role enables senior IP leadership to focus on strategic IP development, risk assessment, and portfolio-level decision-making.

Requirements

Demonstrated expertise in advanced patent and prior art research, including patentability, FTO, or clearance-related work.
Strong command of patent search logic, classification systems, and iterative search refinement.
Ability to critically evaluate search results, identify gaps, and articulate confidence levels and limitations.
High level of analytical rigor, attention to detail, and comfort working with ambiguous or complex technical information.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical IP findings for non-IP audiences.
Proven ability to manage multiple research projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
Experience with patent and IP databases and platforms (e.g., Patbase, PatSnap, Derwent, Orbit, Espacenet, Google Patents, or similar).
Proficiency with standard office and analytical tools/software.
Master’s degree in Library & Information Science (MLS/MLIS), Information Science, Information Studies, or a related field is strongly preferred, reflecting the role’s emphasis on advanced search design, source evaluation, and analytical synthesis.
Candidates with other advanced degrees (e.g., science, engineering, or technical disciplines) will also be considered if they demonstrate deep, hands-on experience in patent-focused research and analysis.
5–8+ years of professional experience conducting patent or IP-focused research in a corporate, legal, or R&D-intensive environment.
Direct experience supporting invention disclosure evaluation, prior art searches, patent landscapes, or freedom-to-operate activities is required.

Responsibilities

Conducts advanced prior art, patentability, and clearance-related searches to support invention disclosures and IP risk evaluation.
Designs and executes complex patent search strategies across multiple jurisdictions and classification systems (e.g., CPC, IPC).
Applies deep understanding of patent structures, claims, and citation networks to identify relevant art.
Analyzes and synthesizes patent search results into clear written reports, summaries, and visual outputs tailored to R&D and IP stakeholders.
Develops patent landscapes and technology overviews to support strategic understanding of competitive and white-space dynamics.
Communicates findings, assumptions, and limitations in a transparent and defensible manner.
Utilizes and helps optimize patent and IP information tools, databases, and workflows to improve search quality and efficiency.
Contributes to the development of best practices, templates, and guidance for IP research and analysis.
Maintains awareness of evolving patent search methodologies, tools, and data sources.
Partners closely with internal IP Legal, R&D, and technical stakeholders to clarify research objectives and deliver actionable insights.
Supports knowledge sharing and capability building related to patent searching and IP intelligence within the broader Technical Intelligence function.
Performs special projects as assigned by the Technical Intelligence manager.