Licensing Officer

Job Description

The Licensing Officer will be housed within Virginia Tech’s LINK LICENSE LAUNCH center to support the university’s mission to connect faculty talent and university capabilities to a global innovation ecosystem, including fostering partnerships with outside agencies and businesses, with a focus on licensing of intellectual property. In this role, the Licensing Manager will manage an intellectual property portfolio, connect with potential licensees, negotiate agreements, and ensure licensing of technologies to commercialization partners and entrepreneurs.
Reporting to the Director of Technology Commercialization, the Licensing Manager will:

• Effectively manage a portfolio of technologies, from disclosure through negotiation and licensing.

• When deemed appropriate, seek patent protection and manage IP through prosecution (?) in conjunction with staff from Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties and outside patent counsel.

• Negotiate licenses and options, including equity terms and conditions. In some cases, work independently and in others, support the Director and Associate Directors.

• Educate stakeholders about the full commercialization process. For example: i) when research should be protected and marketed, ii) appropriate license terms and conditions, iii) the process of transitioning the technologies with industry partners.

• Create non-confidential technology briefs, prepare marketing packages and distribute via both passive and active means: (1) passive efforts might include posting them on relevant websites, including the Virginia Tech Intellectual Property website; (2) active efforts might include direct connection to targeted commercialization partners.

• Manage on-going patent prosecution with patent counsel to assure the patent strategy is followed, and intellectual property rights are appropriately protected.

• Work with staff to improve and maintain procedures for administrative efficiency, develop internal forms and systems as needed, and implement service with quick turn arounds.

• Maintain productive relationships with all campus and external organizations that play a role in technology transfer and enterprise creation.

• Ensure compliance with Virginia Tech, State and Federal laws, regulations and policies applicable to technology transfer and intellectual property.

• Be an active member of the Virginia Tech community of practice for technology transfer and commercialization, by providing guidance and serve as a resource to other community members, including researchers, management, and other licensing staff members.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree and significant relevant university technology commercialization/transfer experience.

• Degree or proven professional experience in science, engineering and/or technology fields

• Experience/knowledge in key functional areas, such as intellectual property, licensing, commercialization, and deal structuring

• Ability to manage a complex portfolio of diverse technologies and carry multiple, extended projects concurrently through to completion, with respect to technology development, milestones, and non-financial terms of the licenses

• Demonstrated experience in drafting and negotiating agreements for licensing and transfer of materials with understanding and experience of marketing technologies

• Excellent interpersonal skills; a flexible outlook and ability to handle peak stress periods with logic and a calm demeanor

• Team player with proven analytical and strategic capabilities

• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present written or oral materials in a concise and professional manner

Preferred Qualifications

• Preferred Education: Doctorate or Master’s degree (including science, engineering, business, or law)

• Previous experience in a complex, research-driven environment, as well as demonstration of effective collaboration with a wide variety of industry and legal professionals

• Proven success in building productive relationships and facilitation with senior executives, administrators, key business leaders, faculty, staff, institutional boards, volunteers, and/or donors

• Previous business development/strategy experience developing progressively complex strategies and using data analytics, technical/domain knowledge and information, and competitive/market intelligence to guide decision making

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

Commensurate with experience

Review Date

September 4, 2020

Additional Information

The successful Candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges , a school of medicine , a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School , and Honors College . The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers . A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Lynn Byrd at byrd@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

Advertised: August 5, 2020
Applications close: