Licensing Manager

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Job Summary

Venture Partners at CU Boulder is excited to announce an opening for a collaborative team member with a passion for innovation! The Licensing Manager is responsible for managing innovations and their intellectual property (IP) from world-leading scientists and engineers and is a central figure in the CU Boulder entrepreneurial ecosystem. The contributions of the Licensing Manager are integral to Venture Partners' mission to translate research innovation into positive social and economic impact.

The Licensing Manager catalyzes the commercialization of research innovations. To promote successful commercialization, this role requires an entrepreneurial approach and skills to guide the inventors through entrepreneur education and funding resources, as well as building startup or industry partnerships. This position requires confidence and interpersonal skills vital to connect with senior-level faculty, administration, and industry partner executives, and the ability to build relationships within the campus and ecosystem.

This position uses standard processes to ensure IP strategy and related transactions meet high-quality professional criteria including all pertinent policies, regulations, and laws associated with the management of IP.

The Licensing Manager reports to the Senior Director at Venture Partners.

The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

Venture Partners at CU Boulder is a key catalyst for innovation. Venture Partners' mission is to translate breakthrough inventions from the University to society. Our work is exciting, fast-paced, and multidisciplinary, bringing together the domains of business, science, and law. We work with university researchers and external business partners to commercialize new products and form new startup companies. CU Boulder is consistently among the top US universities for translating research innovations into new startup companies.

CU Boulder is situated in one of the most innovative communities in the country. Boulder has been ranked by Forbes as the best city in America in which to start a business, and as the top city in America by Bloomberg's Brain Concentration Index.

Venture Partners is part of the Research & Innovation Office (RIO). RIO is the central point for support and advocacy for CU Boulder's world-class scholarship, creative work, and growing research enterprise. We are focused on creating global impact by cultivating and supporting collaboration, transformation and leadership. At the heart of this focus are the diverse contributions of a wide range of world-class experts, working together to accelerate ideas throughout the entire innovation lifecycle. We endeavor to embody CU Boulder's dedication to exemplify excellence through diversity by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment, enhancing the success and inclusion of all students, staff and faculty, and deepening our ability to share and engage with diverse perspectives.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• Manage a portfolio of inventions in various areas of engineering and physical sciences.

• Build strong relationships with faculty, graduate students and post-doctoral inventors.

• Solicit and assess early inventions, including analysis of the potential value proposition, intellectual property (IP), and technology readiness.

• Implement IP strategies for the protection, prosecution, and enforcement of patent and other IP rights within a portfolio.

• Liaise with and advise the CU Boulder contracts and grants unit to ensure IP strategies align with IP terms in sponsored research contracts.

• Interface closely with Venture Partners' team members and resources for advancing innovations.

• Prioritize portfolio assets and make optimal referrals to resources for inventor education, mentorship, funding, licensee identification, and startup formation.

• Provide portfolio expertise for ecosystem partners such as accelerators, incubators, and investors.

• Draft, negotiate, and manage a variety of IP agreements, including options, licenses, and joint-owner management plans.

What You Should Know

• This position offers a hybrid modality with three days in the office and two days of remote work per week.

What We Can Offer

The hiring range for this position is $95,800-$110,000 annually. Relocation is available for eligible candidates.

Benefits

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder.

Be Statements

Be diverse. Be inspired. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or physical sciences from an accredited institution and 5 years of experience in technology and IP management, licensing and/or innovation commercialization roles.

• An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.

What You Will Need

• A creative and entrepreneurial approach.

• Ability to identify the needs of early-stage innovations, and the tenacity to pursue the right connections for those needs.

• Impeccable professionalism, communication, and relational maturity in all interactions with faculty and business leaders.

• Ability to thrive within a team environment.

• Excellent organization and attention to detail for a large portfolio and high deal volume.

• Positive demeanor with the ability to adapt to new situations.

• Collaborative and problem-solving approach.

• Sensitivity to and appreciation of cultural, political and geographical differences, with ability to work well with faculty, staff and students from around the world.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Graduate degree in engineering, physical sciences, or advanced professional degree, such as an MBA or JD, or equivalent combination of experience and education.

• 5 years of commercialization experience of deep tech innovation including management of a large invention portfolio.

• Experience managing a large portfolio of inventions and patents.

• Experience leading the negotiation and execution of IP agreements.

• Startup, entrepreneurial experience, and/or corporate experience.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

• A current resume.
• A cover letter that specifically addresses how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications and responsibilities of the position.

You will not be asked to upload references at this time.

Please apply by 6/24/24 for consideration.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.

Posting Contact Information

Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources

Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu