Assistant Director - Technology Licensing and Business Development

Stony Brook University•Town of Brookhaven, NY

13d

About The Position

The Assistant Director, Technology Licensing and Business Development is a senior leader within Stony Brook University's Intellectual Property Partners (IPP), the University's technology transfer office. The role provides hands-on management of an assigned portfolio of University technologies and leads the day-to-day operations of the licensing function. The Assistant Director supervises and develops licensing staff, guides technology evaluation and intellectual property strategy, and supports marketing, business development, licensing, and post-agreement management. The position sets priorities and helps ensure licensing activities advance the University's research, educational, economic development, and public-service missions. The Assistant Director also personally manages a portfolio from technology assessment through intellectual property protection, commercialization, licensing, and post-agreement management. Work includes developing commercialization strategies, conducting market assessments and outreach, developing and negotiating agreements, and managing licensee relationships and obligations. The position collaborates with faculty, students, researchers, industry partners, entrepreneurs, investors, patent counsel, University offices, the Research Foundation for the State University of New York's central office, and other stakeholders. It also contributes to strategic initiatives, policy development, process improvement, major transactions, and matters affecting technology transfer and commercialization. The position advises and educates researchers on disclosures, intellectual property, commercialization, entrepreneurship, and relevant policies and procedures. It supports sponsored research and University compliance activities, contributes to management of the technology portfolio's patent budget, helps improve licensing workflows and internal practices, and supports entrepreneurship and regional economic development initiatives. Employment is a full-time appointment with the Research Foundation of SUNY and is subject to its policies and procedures, sponsor guidelines, and funding availability. The position may be eligible for hybrid or alternative workplace arrangements/telework after an initial training period. Work visa sponsorship is unavailable; the successful candidate must meet the stated U.S. export-control eligibility requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree (foreign equivalent or higher) in Electrical, Computer, or Software Engineering; Materials Science; Physics; or another related Physical Science discipline.
Five years of direct, full-time technology transfer experience in a university or industry, in technology scouting or assessment, IP licensing, business development, and/or legal.
Two years of experience successfully negotiating IP agreements in a lead role, including licenses, options, term sheets, or other complex agreements such as sponsored research, collaboration, or equity agreements.
Experience drafting and reviewing IP agreements.
Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or other protected individual under 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1324b(a)(3), due to U.S. Export Control laws and regulations.
Work visa sponsorship is unavailable.
Resume/CV, deal sheet, and cover letter must be included with the online application.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree (foreign equivalent or higher) in Electrical, Computer, or Software Engineering; Materials Science; Physics; or another related Physical Science discipline.
Master's degree in Business (foreign equivalent or higher).
Juris Doctor (foreign equivalent or higher).
Licensed Patent Agent.
Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP) or Certified Licensing Professional (CLP).
Two or more years of experience working in a university Technology Transfer Office.

Responsibilities

Manage an assigned portfolio of University inventions and technologies from initial evaluation through IP protection, commercialization, licensing, and post-agreement management.
Evaluate invention disclosures and technologies for technical merit, IP position, market potential, translational development requirements, and commercialization opportunities.
Develop IP, commercialization, and business development strategies; conduct market and competitive assessments; identify potential licensees, collaborators, entrepreneurs, investors, and other partners.
Develop and execute technology marketing plans and meet with faculty, researchers, companies, entrepreneurs, investors, and other external stakeholders.
Lead or participate in developing, drafting, reviewing, and negotiating term sheets, options, licenses, sponsored research agreements, collaboration agreements, and other IP and commercialization agreements.
Manage complex negotiations and transactions requiring substantial professional judgment, coordinating with counsel and other stakeholders as appropriate.
Manage post-agreement diligence, reporting, milestones, amendments, compliance, and ongoing licensee relationships.
Maintain accurate and timely records of portfolio activities, transactions, and commercialization outcomes.
Lead day-to-day operations of the technology transfer licensing team; supervise, mentor, train, and develop licensing staff.
Set priorities and allocate team work according to portfolio needs, transaction complexity, institutional priorities, and available resources.
Guide staff on technology evaluation, IP strategy, marketing, business development, transaction strategy, and license negotiations; review and provide direction on team licensing matters and proposed agreements.
Monitor the team's technology pipeline, licensing, and post-agreement activity, identifying matters needing additional attention, resources, or leadership escalation.
Establish and monitor licensing-team workflows, performance expectations, and service standards; support recruitment, onboarding, performance management, professional development, and succession planning.
Escalate significant institutional, financial, legal, compliance, or reputational issues and coordinate resolutions with appropriate University offices.
Support development and monitoring of the annual patent budget and support risk management and University compliance activities concerning IP, commercialization, and contractual matters.
Support the Office of Sponsored Programs on IP provisions in sponsored research and other research agreements as needed; assess IP implications of sponsored research, collaborations, joint development, and other research relationships.
Help ensure technology transfer activities comply with University and RF policies, the SUNY patent policy, sponsor requirements, and other applicable obligations.
Advise faculty, students, and researchers on technology disclosures, IP, commercialization, licensing, entrepreneurship, and University and RF policies and procedures.
Build productive relationships with faculty and research teams to identify promising technologies and support their progress toward commercialization.
Educate researchers about commercialization, IP protection, and the University's technology transfer process, including through office hours, seminars, workshops, and events.
Interpret technology transfer policies and procedures; identify and recommend improvements to workflows, transaction processes, portfolio management, internal controls, templates, procedures, and reporting tools.
Contribute to strategic planning and operational initiatives for the technology transfer office.
Support formation of new ventures based on University IP when appropriate and develop relationships with entrepreneurs, investors, industry partners, economic development organizations, and other stakeholders.
Support University initiatives promoting entrepreneurship, commercialization, industry engagement, and regional economic development; represent the office at conferences, industry events, technology showcases, entrepreneurial programs, and other activities as assigned.
Perform other duties as assigned.