Director of Technology Licensing

University of California, San Francisco•San Francisco, CA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Technology Licensing at UCSF Innovation Ventures, specifically within the HealthTech Commercialization (HTC) team, is responsible for translating scientific discoveries into public use and benefit. This role involves managing intellectual property (IP), transferring and commercializing campus technologies, and generating license income. The HTC team administers and manages UCSF’s IP, transfers technologies for public benefit, and generates income to support research and education. This includes implementing UC Patent and Copyright Policies, educating the campus community, evaluating inventions for commercial promise, protecting university technologies, marketing IP to industry and investors, valuing technologies, negotiating license agreements, facilitating new company formation, monitoring licensees, and distributing income. The role also involves structuring and negotiating strategic research partnerships, collaboration agreements, and digital health product co-development agreements. Additionally, the Director negotiates and approves IP and licensing terms within sponsored research agreements and provides IP advice to various UCSF administrative units. The HTC team works with the University of California Office of the President (UCOP) and other UC campus technology transfer offices to advance system-wide technology transfer goals.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a related area and/or equivalent combination of education/experience.
Ten (10) or more years of related work experience.
Ability to lead a team of professionals, set goals and key performance indicators.
Thorough knowledge of and application of standard principles, theories, and concepts and techniques such as laws, regulations, and practices pertaining to the protection and management of intellectual property, university technology transfer, and general scientific and/or technical skills in subject matter area.
Ability to market technology to industrial partners.
Knowledge of various license arrangements.
Strong interpersonal skills and the capacity to work collaboratively with researchers and team members.
Demonstrated capacity to communicate with diverse audiences and understand the different motivations and drivers of each audience.
Ability to work without direct supervision and deal with a variety of different technologies and market variations/uncertainty.
Capacity to delegate work and to work in teams to achieve the most efficient use of time, resource and knowledge.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in a related scientific area, PhD, MBA or JD.
Knowledge of contracts and grants.
Knowledge of specific aspect of technology area (e.g. therapeutics) / technology licensing.
Ability to work closely with internal and external stakeholders to close deals.
Advanced degree in related scientific area.

Responsibilities

Defines the direction of commercialization and the appropriate licensing strategies for commercializing research discoveries.
Leads goal setting for the function and implements measurable key performance indicators for year-to-year comparators.
Leverages scientific and technology expertise to determine important features of a technology, a path to generate products/services, and cultivates commercialization opportunities with potential partners.
Drives Business Development and Licensing workflow, ensuring high-quality externally facing aspects such as building pitch decks and presenting technology opportunities to companies/investors.
Engages with executives, business development professionals, and venture capitalists to secure commercial development partners to translate UCSF technologies into products or services.
Uses extensive knowledge of the life sciences industry to develop appropriate licensing strategies and deal valuations (including equity terms) to support the negotiation of financial term sheets for various IP licenses.
Coordinates with researchers on commercialization strategy and brings internal and external stakeholders together to close deals.
Determines patentability of institution's inventions and develops patent strategy.
Assures licensee meets all licensing obligations for a substantial, complex portfolio; intervenes or initiates action when commitments are not met.
Recommends individual exceptions to policy and develops new strategies to meet objectives.
Conducts training with faculty regarding licensing policies and procedures.
Identifies new opportunities and conducts market and business analysis for them.
Markets new technology to potential partners including investors and established companies.
Establishes and provides networking contacts.
Evaluates opportunities and makes connections with potential partners.
Advises on market, business strategy (including IP strategy), business startup, and other technology development issues relevant to the commercialization of UCSF technologies.
Oversees process improvement change efforts and communicates with campus leadership.