The USC Stevens Center for Innovation seeks an outstanding candidate for the position of Senior Licensing Associate in the Life Sciences who will manage innovations in life sciences including therapeutics, diagnostics, research tools, medical devices, software, databases, materials, computational tools and artificial intelligence. The USC Stevens Center for Innovation (“USC Stevens”), USC’s Technology Transfer Office, is a university-wide resource for USC innovators in the office of the Provost.... more details
The USC Stevens Center for Innovation seeks an outstanding candidate for the position of Senior Licensing Associate in the Life Sciences who will manage innovations in life sciences including therapeutics, diagnostics, research tools, medical devices, software, databases, materials, computational tools and artificial intelligence. The USC Stevens Center for Innovation (“USC Stevens”), USC’s Technology Transfer Office, is a university-wide resource for USC innovators in the office of the Provost. Designed to harness and advance the creative thinking and breakthrough research at USC for societal impact, USC Stevens manages technologies stemming from an approximately $1 billion annual research budget. USC Stevens manages the university’s intellectual property portfolio, related patenting, technology marketing, licensing, and new venture development activity aimed at transitioning university innovations into commercial applications for the benefit of society. (https://stevens.usc.edu). The Senior Licensing Associate plays a key role in leading and supporting these efforts. The best candidate will have a passion for commercializing emerging technologies. This position provides an opportunity for an entrepreneurial-minded life science professional to play an active and critical role as new technologies go from idea to market. This opportunity will allow you to contribute to new approaches in innovation management and licensing within an already bold and forward-thinking academic institution!
Job Accountabilities:
In this role you will manage a complex portfolio of University-owned inventions and support intellectual property development, protection, marketing and licensing. You will interact with faculty and researchers and learn about exciting new technologies in the areas of Life Sciences. Specifically, you will have the following responsibilities:
· Assist with the assessment of inventions and identification of commercial applications through research and analysis of markets, competitive technologies, prior art, and patent landscape
· Manage a complex portfolio of university inventions
· Identify potential commercial applications and business partners for university inventions
· Market university inventions through multiple channels to prospects capable of bringing the inventions to market
· Negotiate and complete complex licenses and related agreements, including the development of business terms and overseeing internal diligence procedures prior to agreement signing
· Coordinate efforts on a wide range of activities internally with other USC Stevens staff members, and university researchers, and externally with business partners, law firms, and existing and potential investors; tracking activities in databases and ensuring that all information is up to date
· Provides guidance and support, when requested to junior staff in the office (may directly supervise student interns)
· Contribute to ongoing process improvement to enable USC Stevens to deliver high-quality, professional service to a growing base of inventors and business partners
Preferred Qualifications:
Preferred Education:
Ph.D. in a life sciences field
Preferred Field of Expertise:
4-6 years of experience managing a complex patent portfolio and negotiating complex technology licenses. This may be demonstrated through the provision of a significant deal sheet.
Preferred Skills:
· Demonstrated scientific, legal, and business acumen in early-stage technology commercialization.
· Demonstrated ability to manage a large, diverse, IP docket (including patents and copyrights) and to develop IP management strategies to successfully commercialize early-stage innovations.
· Demonstrated experience and strong technical competence to draft agreements and negotiate terms and conditions for complex license agreements with minimal supervision
· Desire and ability to work in a fast-paced environment with the ability to multitask and utilize effective time management tools
· Ability to effectively use emotional information to manage up and down; recognize when to ask for support from senior leadership;
· Ability to navigate and resolve conflicts of mid-level complexities while preserving positive relationships through the combined use of outstanding interpersonal skills and scientific and business knowledge;
· Ability to enhance organizational reputation by recognizing when to seek support by taking ownership of actions exploring new opportunities and navigating diverse stakeholder interests
· Possesses sound judgment and critical thinking skills
· Ability to establish, maintain, and expand effective partnerships and relationships
· Ability to function well as a contributor to interdisciplinary groups
· Ability to work in a virtual office setting as well as a regular office environment
· Outstanding oral and written communication and presentation skills. Ability to have candid, firm and respectful conversations with a variety of stakeholders
· Ability to establish priorities, take ownership and leadership of time-sensitive and complex projects from inception to completion, including developing strategy, implementation and execution of tasks
· Demonstrated ability to independently exercise sound judgment and decision-making, creativity, problem-solving, and critical analysis
· Advanced knowledge of contract and patent laws, university policies, industry and regulatory requirements, and state and federal laws governing technology transfer
· Proven track record of facilitating the formation of startup companies and new product development with minimal supervision, including the negotiation of license agreements with startups.
· Proven ability to represent the organization at conferences and to participate in these conferences as a speaker and moderator
· Ability to gather information and perform research utilizing databases and other online sources
· Experience directly relevant to evaluating the market potential of early-stage inventions in life science industries, and identifying commercial potential
· Demonstrated understanding of the patent prosecution process
Benefits
USC has excellent benefits, including health benefits for staff and their family with access to the renowned university medical network; eligibility for retirement plans with employer contributions after six (6) months of employment; tuition benefits for staff and their family; free professional development online courses; central Los Angeles location with easy access to commuter trains, buses and free tram pick-up services; discounts to football, basketball and other campus events.
Application Procedure
As part of the application, candidates must upload one document file (Word or PDF) that contains the following: 1) a cover letter, 2) Resume (including telephone and e-mail address).
USC is an equal-opportunity educator and employer, proudly pluralistic and firmly committed to providing equal opportunity for outstanding persons of every race, gender, creed and background. The university particularly encourages members of underrepresented groups, veterans and individuals with disabilities to apply. USC will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship. Further information is available by contacting USCHR.
The annual base salary range for this position is $110,461.15 - $145,000.00 . When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.
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Minimum Education:
Bachelor's degree
Minimum Experience:
4 years technology commercialization experience, with proven evidence of leading and executing at least 30 moderately complex licensing deals.
Minimum Skills:
- Bachelor’s degree in a scientific or engineering discipline.
- Experience in higher education and knowledge of academic research enterprises.
- Expertise in contract and patent law, university policies, and industry and regulatory requirements.
- Demonstrated financial management skills and proven knowledge of intellectual property law.
- Experience in corporate, academic, startup, and/or entrepreneurial settings with technology transfer, business development, intellectual property management, and related activities.
- Demonstrated leadership skills, able to influence, negotiate, and interact with internal constituencies, external business partners, and senior leadership.
- Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills, with expert attention to detail.
- Demonstrated ability to establish priorities, leading and owning time-sensitive and complex projects from inception to completion.
USC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring ordinance. We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at uschr@usc.edu. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.
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