Vice President, Inventions & Patents

If you’re looking for a career that will help you stand out, join HSBC, and fulfil your potential - whether you want a career that could take you to the top, or an exciting new direction, we offer opportunities, support and rewards that will take you further.

We’re one of the largest banking and financial services organisations in the world, with a network that covers more than 50 countries and territories. We aim to be where the growth is, enabling businesses to thrive and economies to prosper, and, ultimately, helping people fulfil their hopes and realise their ambitions.

We are currently seeking an experienced Vice President, Inventions & Patents.

You will lead HSBC’s enterprise-wide Inventions and Patents Programme.  The role sits within the Group Innovation and Digital Partnerships team, which leads the Group-wide approach to innovation. You will have end-to-end accountability for the programme, from invention discovery and assessment through to filing, portfolio governance, inventor engagement, recognition and marketing.  You’ll set the programme’s strategic direction, raise the patent portfolio quality and turn complex, cross-functional processes into a trusted enterprise capability. You will also lead Inventions and Patents as part of the Strategic Innovation Big 5, and may contribute to the wider agenda, including Innovate at Pace, Innovation Tooling Spine, Strategic Partnerships and Next Generation Innovation & Disruptors.

As an HSBC employee in the UK, you’ll have access to tailored professional development opportunities and a competitive pay and benefits package. This includes private healthcare for all UK-based employees, enhanced maternity and adoption pay and support when you return to work, and a contributory pension scheme with a generous employer contribution.

In this role you will:

• Lead programme governance and portfolio management, setting the strategy, operating model and roadmap, maintaining clear controls, budget and supplier accountability, and actively shaping portfolio quality, prioritisation and value realisation
• Build a high-quality invention pipeline by mobilising engineering, product, research, innovation and business leaders around priority technologies and enterprise needs
• Lead rigorous disclosure decisions across legal, technical, strategic value and relevant tax considerations, ensuring pace, consistency and constructive inventor feedback
• Drive approved inventions through drafting, inventor review, filing and portfolio milestones with Legal, external counsel and inventors
• Build and sustain a visible community of inventors through targeted campaigns, leadership engagement, success stories, events, communities of practice, recognition and reward, fostering participation, collaboration and technical excellence across the Group
• Lead the Inventions and Patents objective within the Strategic Innovation Big 5 and contribute to Innovate at Pace, the Innovation Tooling Spine, Innovation Partnerships, and Next Generation Innovation & Disruptors where they create clear enterprise value

To be successful in this role you should meet the following requirements:

• Enterprise governance, programme and portfolio leadership: A strong track record of leading complex enterprise programmes across functions and geographies, with clear accountability for outcomes. This should include establishing effective governance and controls, setting strategy and roadmaps, managing budgets and suppliers, prioritising investment, tracking risks and milestones, and demonstrating benefits and value realisation
• Inventions and patents experience: Credible experience in inventions, patents, intellectual property or a comparable technology innovation environment
• Senior stakeholder influence and executive communication: Proven ability to influence senior leaders and mobilise Legal, Technology, Risk, Finance, HR, Communications and external partners without relying on formal authority. Strong executive communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to make complex topics clear, build commitment and constructively challenge specialists
• Strategic judgement: Demonstrated judgement across technical, strategic, commercial and risk considerations, including the ability to make sound decisions based on incomplete or competing evidence
• Technology and innovation: A strong understanding of emerging technology and financial services innovation, combined with pace, curiosity, sound judgement and attention to detail

Opening up a world of opportunity.

Being open to different points of view is important for our business and the communities we serve. At HSBC, we’re dedicated to creating diverse and inclusive workplaces - no matter their gender, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic background or age. We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring careers at HSBC are inclusive and accessible for everyone to be at their best. We take pride in being a Disability Confident Leader and will offer an interview to people with disabilities, long term conditions or neurodivergent candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the role.

If you have a need that requires accommodations or changes during the recruitment process, please get in touch with our Recruitment Helpdesk via hsbc.recruitment@hsbc.com.