Executive Director, Intellectual Property & Licensing, Office of Communications and Marketing - UTK

University of Tennessee•Knoxville, TN

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Tennessee seeks a dynamic and strategic Executive Director of Intellectual Property & Licensing to lead the University’s trademark, brand protection, collegiate licensing, and commercial brand strategy initiatives. Reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor of Brand Partnerships & Licensing, the Executive Director provides vision, leadership, and operational oversight for the University’s brand intellectual property portfolio, including trademark protection, licensing, brand enforcement, strategic partnerships, and revenue-generating commercialization opportunities that enhance and protect the Tennessee brand. The Executive Director will align intellectual property management with UTK’s institutional and athletic brand, corporate partnerships, and commercialization goals, ensuring that trademark, copyright and related creative works are translated into meaningful strategies, supporting efforts to expand and elevate our brand. The role sits at the intersection of business and brand advancement, requiring both technical expertise and collaborative leadership with key campus stakeholders.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in licensing, brand marketing, intellectual property management, or related fields.
5+ years supervisory experience.
Demonstrated leadership experience in a complex academic, corporate or innovation-driven organization.
Deep knowledge of U.S. intellectual property law and commercialization practice.
Solid working knowledge of U.S. intellectual property law and licensing methods.
Proven experience negotiating and managing sophisticated intellectual property arrangements.
Familiarity with brand licensing, corporate partnerships, athletics, or consumer-facing intellectual property programs.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in business, marketing, intellectual property, law or a related field.
Experience at a university or within a corporate intellectual property division or firm is preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement a comprehensive intellectual property strategy aligned with UTK’s mission, brand stewardship, athletic vision and partnership objectives.
Provide executive oversight of trademark licensing, retail brand commercialization, and related licensing agreements that advance and protect the University’s brand while driving revenue growth across key licensing categories.
Work closely with the brand creative teams within campus and athletic departments to ensure consistency across all.
Lead contract and vendor agreements with licensing contracts and retail distribution rights.
Lead the interpretation and application of UTK, UT System, state and federal intellectual property policies while actively participating in the identification, maintenance, and need for other policies.
Work with the licensing team members to manage budgets, revenue distribution, and financial reporting related to their licensing activities.
Advise senior leadership on risks, opportunities, and emerging trends affecting branding and commercialization.
Oversee and evaluate brand-related intellectual property disclosures, protection strategies, prosecution, portfolio management, and maintenance, specifically for university trademarks and copyrights.
Manage and direct relationships with outside counsel and service providers.
Ensure compliance with applicable state, federal and collegiate regulations.
Collaborate with campus partners including athletics, campus operations, research administration, corporate engagement, and advancement.
Serve as a trusted advisor to campus units on brand intellectual property and commercialization matters.
Promote a culture of innovation and asset development through education, outreach, and training related to intellectual property, trademark licensing and copyright.
Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing intellectual property and licensing team.
Establish performance metrics and reporting structures to assess impact and continuous improvement.