Associate Director of Licensing and Commercial TransactionsJob no: 498341
Position type: Staff Full Time
Benefit Status: Benefited-Union
Campus: UMass Lowell
Department: Office Tech Commercialization
Salary: Salary commensurate with experience and grade/range
Applications Open: Mar 21 2019
Applications Close:

General Summary of Position:

The Associate Director of Licensing and Commercial Transactions is responsible for input, development and negotiation of a broad variety of agreements with both industry and other non-profit institutions related to University intellectual property; proactively develops and maintains internal and external relationships that lead to technology licensing; and manages IP transactions. The Assoc. Director is responsible for fostering collaborative working relationships with the OTC and New Venture Development staff, the Office of Research Administration and the related business development and corporate relations staff, and Office of General Counsel to identify transaction opportunities, engage external stakeholders, and ensure the timely and successful negotiation of agreements relating to IP and licensing. The Associate Director further maintains licensing relationships and is responsible for license compliance and performance reviews.

1. Business Development:

• Contribute to building and developing networks of industry contacts to facilitate collaboration and technology transfer; identify potential licensees and initiate contacts; prepare and distribute promotional materials; coordinate meetings/presentations
• Work with the Office of Research Administration (ORA), New Venture Development (NVD), Core Research Facilities (CRF), and Office of Institutional Compliance (OIC) to develop suitable IP terms in research agreements with industry and other institutions.
• Provide IP and licensing support for UMass economic development and entrepreneurship initiatives, with an emphasis on encouraging start-up cultivation and strategic partnerships.

2. License Operations and Contract Negotiation:

• Be responsible for drafting reviewing, editing and negotiation of license, option, inter-institutional, material transfer, confidentiality, and other technology transfer agreements.
• Work closely with ORA or other UML departments to negotiate IP terms in sponsored research agreements and related supporting agreements.
• Be responsible for monitoring compliance and performance of licensees with regard to payment of fees, milestones, royalties, etc. including monitoring reimbursement of expenditures related to the preparation, filing, and prosecution of patents relating to UML discoveries.

Commercialization Strategy Development for Licensing:

• Identifying potential option and licensees of University intellectual property, and following any leads identified by self or provided by PIs/others;
• Assist the Executive Director in the development of strategies for commercialization of university innovations.

4. Post Agreement Management:

• Once a formal optionee/licensee relationship is established, working with the company, PIs, patent counsel and other relevant stakeholders to ensure a successful execution and continuation of the contractual relationship;
• Internal communication and collaboration with administrative management and PIs on the status of contract negotiations and to obtain consensus among University stakeholders throughout the process;
• Managing the distribution of option/license income according to policy and accepted procedures; and
• Managing the payment and reporting obligations of agreements.
• Performing regular agreement due diligence.

Other job Duties - Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director, Commercialization & New Ventures.

Minimum Qualifications (Required):

• Masters degree required
• Demonstrated understanding of technologies in physical sciences
• The ability to manage a revenue-generating, entrepreneurial operation within the context and culture of an academic environment is critical
• Four to seven years of relevant industry or academic experience in technology marketing, IP protection, and licensing as well as experience in negotiating, drafting, and executing agreements
• Three or more years of demonstrated agreement negotiation and creative problem solving
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team
• High degree of technical and business expertise as well as a solid understanding of the legal, financial, and entrepreneurial issues involved in the protection, licensing, and commercialization of intellectual property
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills and a high level of energy
• Candidates for this position must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents

Preferred Qualifications:

• Preference given to candidates with a technical Bachelor’s (preferably in materials or electrical engineering) and an MBA

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Only Internal Professional (SEIU 888 Professional Union) Bargaining candidates will be considered during the first 10 business days of the posting. All other candidates will be considered after that period.

Initial review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. However, the position may close when an adequate number of qualified applications are received.

Please include a resume and cover letter with your application. Names and contact information for three references will be required at the time of application.