The Stevens Center for Innovation at the University of Southern California is an integral organization within the Office of Research that serves as the technology licensing office at the University of Southern California. The Stevens Center is responsible for licensing USC discoveries to existing businesses or startup companies so they can be developed into products and services that improve human lives, solve problems, and fuel economic growth. Through licensing discoveries, promoting entrepren... more details
The Stevens Center for Innovation at the University of Southern California is an integral organization within the Office of Research that serves as the technology licensing office at the University of Southern California. The Stevens Center is responsible for licensing USC discoveries to existing businesses or startup companies so they can be developed into products and services that improve human lives, solve problems, and fuel economic growth. Through licensing discoveries, promoting entrepreneurship, and stimulating innovation, the Stevens Center is helping to create a better future and plays a key role in Southern California’s innovation ecosystem.
The Stevens Center at USC is recruiting for a Research Contracts Associate to join their talented and highly motivated team. This position has responsibility for material transfer, data sharing and confidentiality agreements and maintaining the integrity of the USC program for handling those agreements. The Research Contracts Associate reviews and negotiates terms and conditions of those agreements in coordination with others inside and outside of USC Stevens to ensure USC policy is complied with in the sharing of materials, data, and confidential information. This position is responsible for providing advice and direction to faculty and other staff involved in material and data transfers and for keeping the USC Stevens systems that house these agreements accurate and up to date. Additionally, this role develops training programs and information materials for faculty, administrators, and USC Stevens staff involved in the transfer of research materials, data, and confidential information. The Research Contracts Associate reports to the Sr. Transactions Officer in the Contracts group at USC Stevens Center for Innovation.
Job Responsibilities:
Performs analysis and evaluation of agreements for the transfer of research materials and research data into and out of the University. Evaluates agreements for conformance with University policy. Negotiates and revises agreements for the transfer of research materials and data, including clauses such as definitions of materials and data, intellectual property, indemnification, limitation of liability, confidentiality, and publications
Educates and provides general advice/counsel to University staff and faculty on material and data transfer procedures, intellectual property concepts, and requirements related to securing and developing research properties. Prepares documents and correspondence on a broad range of issues relating to material transfer and data sharing agreements
Oversees the development and maintenance of material transfer, data sharing and confidentiality agreements databases, including entering information on active and inactive agreements. Prepares quarterly and annual reports of all activities in a timely and accurate fashion
Effectively communicates with USC faculty, USC Stevens licensing associates, and
USC’s contracts and grants, compliance and general counsel staff
Provides guidance and direction to staff and students on equipment and procedures. Trains employees as needed
Communicates with representatives from for-profit corporations, non-profit organizations, and other universities regarding issues related to University policy and negotiation of agreements
Researches sources of research support, both public and private, received by faculty requesting material and data transfers
Consults with USC Stevens Director and Assistant Director of Licensing to analyze and develop alternatives to complex and ambiguous language in contracts proposed for transfer of materials and data and coordinates issues related to previously or concurrently licensed technology
Consults with Sr. Transactions Officer to review material, data and confidentiality agreements and to analyze and review complex and ambiguous language in contracts proposed for transfer of materials, data and confidential information and develop alternative language in consultation with Sr. Transactions Officer
Obtains information on issues related to a specific transfer agreement and researches specific policy issues related to the transfer of materials and data in general and for special projects
Reviews and monitors University and sponsor policies relating to research materials and data sharing and use, publication, confidentiality, term and termination, indemnification, and intellectual property protection. Serves as faculty resource during preliminary discussions with potential sources research of materials and data
Develops training programs and informational materials, on a regular basis, for campus faculty and administrators involved in the transfer of research materials and data. Conducts training programs, as appropriate. Focuses on issues and problems related to incoming material transfer and data agreements and the possible adverse affects on an investigator’s research of accepting materials into their labs under undesirable terms
Presents a formal summary of the proposed agreement to management as appropriate. Informs management of issues associated with proposed transfers, such as information about other agreements with the same materials or data source, the faculty member’s related activities and research, alternative plans for obtaining the materials or data, etc.
Performs analysis and evaluation of confidentiality agreements covering intellectual property owned by University. Evaluates agreements for conformance with University policy. Negotiates and revises confidentiality agreement, including clauses such as definition of confidential information and exceptions, indemnification, limitation of liability
Assists with maintaining USC Stevens website with information and forms associated with material and data transfer agreements and confidentiality agreements
Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The University reserves the right to add or change duties at any time
Job Qualifications:
Education:
Experience:
Minimum Education:
Bachelor's Degree
Minimum Experience:
3 Years
Minimum Field of Expertise:
Directly related experience related to faculty research interest in materials transfer agreements, intellectual property and/or university or non-profit patent and/or contracting policies and guidelines. Demonstrated skills in and ability to negotiate effectively to successfully represent the University’s position regarding protection of intellectual property and faculty research interest in materials agreements. Demonstrated understanding of scientific fields, primarily in medicine and the physical sciences. Ability to comprehend and utilize legal, medical and scientific terminology.
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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