Description:
The Tech Business Development Director is responsible for managing a portion of the University’s intellectual property portfolio with the mission of transferring it to commercial companies for the benefit of society. The Tech Business Development Director will be responsible for handling highly complex license agreements, a large portfolio of IP for the most active faculty, managing a portion of the licensing staff, and training and mentoring trainees. These responsibilities will be completed with minimal direction. The Tech Business Development Director will be expected to direct high-profile initiatives for the benefit of the department. The Tech Business Development Director job is an advanced-level licensing position for the department.
Primary Duties & Responsibilities
- Completes Technology Assessment and Commercial/Patent Reassessment on assigned invention disclosure within established time frames.
- This assessment should include an evaluation of patentability and commercial opportunity.
- Recommendations will be made on appropriate IP protection (patent or copyright) and patent conversions.
- Works with legal counsel to protect intellectual property either through patenting or other proper tactics for assigned portfolio.
- Works directly with patent coordinator and internal legal counsel (OGC) on patent costs and filing tactics with outside patent law firms.
- Develops marketing materials and website information on IP-protected cases.
- Markets IP and establishes contacts with potential licensees.
- Maintains and builds relationships with industry contacts as licensees and/or potential licensees.
- Manages IP portfolio and decisions on future license potential.
- Negotiates key terms and executes complex license agreement with established companies and start-ups.
- Manages a large and complex portfolio of existing licenses with respect to technology development, milestones and non-financial terms of the licensees.
- Responsible for the training, mentoring and evaluation of Technology Transfer Trainees.
- Responsible for managing and evaluating certain members of the licensing team.
- Directs high-profile initiatives as identified by department.
- Communicates with and educates investigators, researchers and students, along with departments and schools in order to better understand the potential for inventions from the research done at WU.