Licensing Manager– Engineering and Material Science

Summary:

The VCU Office of the Vice President for Research & Innovation along with the Office of Innovation Gateway invites interested candidates to apply for a Licensing Manager– Engineering and Material Science position.

Successful candidates will join a dedicated group of colleagues who promote the development of current and emerging leaders in academic institutions, other public, private, and nonprofit organizations, and communities through leadership training and public policy research.

The Licensing Manager in Engineering and Material Science position will fill in a critical gap in the infrastructure of the VCU Innovation Gateway by developing and implementing commercialization strategies for engineering and material science inventions developed at VCU. General duties include:
Conduct technical, commercial and patentability due diligence, including prior art searches and market analyses for new invention disclosures.
Prepare non-confidential summaries of invention disclosures for technology marketing.
Conduct market research to identify potential licensees and/or strategic industry partners.
Identify prospective licenses and market university inventions and research capabilities to industry contacts, entrepreneurs and investors.
Draft and negotiate intellectual property related agreements, including licenses, options, inter-institutional, collaborations agreements.
Identify strategic industry partners and organize campus visits and reverse pitches to appropriate faculty.
Develop strategic research interactions and collaborations with regional and national companies to enhance the university’s research enterprise.
Participate in faculty outreach programs and external marketing efforts of VCU Innovation Gateway.
Manage filing and prosecution of patent application with outside counsel.
Maintain and manage existing agreements, input information and assist with the maintenance of existing invention disclosures and licenses.
Provide assistance and guidance to VCU researchers and administrators in promoting VCU’s intellectual property, technology commercialization, and start-up creation.
Manage and facilitate technology validation and maturation efforts such as the VCU Commercialization Fund.
Develop and implement a strategy to secure external funding for proof-of-concept grants.
Assist faculty with proof-of-concept applications and introduction to new funding sources.
Assist the AVP for Innovation and the Licensing Director as needed and perform other duties as assigned.
Manage and mentor junior team members.
Perform other duties as needed.

Minimum Qualifications:

Master’s Degree or Bachelor’s degree in material sciences or engineering with combination of training and experience is required.
Candidates should have one/two years of experience in academic technology licensing or related experience in industry.
Candidates should have experience in marketing of early-stage technologies and negotiation of licenses, options, inter-institutional and other commercialization agreements.
Working knowledge of contract, intellectual property and patent law.
Evaluating patent landscape and market potential for projected products and developing commercialization strategies.
Ability to process multiple projects and triage activities and to work with outside patent counsels to file patent applications.
Excellent time management and prioritization skills and the ability to manage a large portfolio of cases independently.
Superb judgment and interpersonal skills are essential to communicate with diverse constituents.
Outstanding writing and oral communication, planning and organizational skills are also required.
The candidate should have demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff and student environment or commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU

Preferred Qualifications:

Ph.D. degree or similar advanced degree in material sciences or engineering is preferred.
An MBA degree and/or CLP certification will be a plus.
Candidates should have three years of experience in academic technology licensing or related experience in industry.
Hands-on experience of managing relationships with licensees, addressing contract compliance matters and other aspects of relationships with licensees.
Experience in developing commercial strategies for early-stage university inventions.
Experience in project management and marketing of technologies.

Emotional Demands:
E Fast Pace
M Average Pace
E Multiple Stimuli
E Frequent change
E Intense customer interaction

Physical Demands and Activities:
NA Light lifting (<20 lbs.)
NA Moderate lifting (20-50 lbs.)
NA Heavy lifting (>50 lbs.)
NA Pushing/pulling
NA Walking
NA Standing
NA Climbing
NA Sitting
NA Reaching
NA Repetitive motion
NA Bending

Mental/Sensory Demands:
E Memory
E Reasoning
E Hearing
E Reading
E Analyzing
E Logic
E Written communication
E Verbal communication

Environmental Conditions:
N/A Extreme heat/cold
N/A Fumes
N/A Extreme noise
N/A Mists/gases
N/A Vibrations

Salary Range: 80,000 - 105,000



Position Details:

Department: Office of Research
Employment Type: UF - University Employee FT
Restricted Status: Yes
FTE: 1
Exemption Status: Exempt



UAP Position


Job Family - Legal, Audit and Compliance

Job Code - Administrator LG 25911 - 25913

Exempt

Restricted Position

ORP Eligible - YES