Senior Manager, Business Development and Licensing

University of Chicago • Hyde Park, IL

1d • $110,000 - $130,000

About The Position

The Senior Manager is a member of the Polsky Center’s Business Development and Licensing team and works within its Technology Ventures team of patent, contract, business development, and entrepreneurship specialists. The role builds relationships with University faculty engaged in translational research and works with industry partners and investors to bring discoveries to market. It manages a diverse portfolio and supports the identification, investigation, and negotiation of opportunities to license intellectual property, including trademarks, patents, and technology. The position provides professional support to faculty seeking to develop ideas and discoveries into patents, licenses, products, services, and ventures, and addresses straightforward issues related to the transfer and use of intellectual property.

The Polsky Center commercializes discoveries, partners with companies, and attracts venture capital through education, resources, and programs. Its activities include operating the Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge business accelerator, the Polsky Exchange co-working space, the George Shultz Innovation Fund, and a Fabrication Lab. The center also houses the University of Chicago’s technology transfer unit, which manages University-based intellectual property arising from faculty research.

This individual contributor role is in the Legal & Regulatory Affairs job family. It is scheduled for 37.5 hours per week and is paid on a salary basis. The position is eligible for University benefits.

Requirements

• College or university degree in a related field.
• 2–5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
• Knowledge and skills related to the role, including a moderate or solid understanding of legal issues concerning patents, copyrights, or trademarks.
• Ability to work effectively in a hybrid environment and as part of a team.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in chemistry, materials science, physics, biology, computer science, bioengineering, molecular engineering, chemical engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience facilitating technology transfer and commercialization in a university or industry setting, including through internship or fellowship programs.
• Significant hands-on expertise negotiating and drafting complex intellectual property agreements.
• Demonstrated experience contributing to diligence processes and commercial strategy decisions.
• Knowledge of intellectual property.
• Knowledge of industry, deal, and partnering trends.
• Ability to build rapport and credibility with faculty members, researchers, their labs, and external partners.
• Excellent analytical and computational skills.
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Attention to detail and ability to prioritize workload appropriately.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple projects.
• Ability to work independently with a high degree of initiative.
• Ability to respond promptly and proactively anticipate internal and external stakeholders’ needs.

Responsibilities

• Draft, negotiate, execute, and manage intellectual property licenses and other agreements, including options, inter-institutional agreements, material transfer agreements, confidentiality agreements, and intellectual property terms in other agreements.
• Collaborate with faculty, researchers, colleagues, campus stakeholders, industry partners, and investors to achieve shared transactional objectives.
• Screen inventions for commercialization potential and evaluate and decide which inventions and software to pursue.
• Partner with the Technology Development team to provide commercial insights during intellectual property protection.
• Partner with the Technology Marketing team to assist in developing and executing marketing outreach for intellectual property assets.
• Work with IP Compliance and Operations and Finance and Accounting teams to ensure agreements are recorded in the intellectual property database and support licensee relationship management and compliance.
• Build and maintain relationships with inventors, legal counsel, prospective and current licensees, University Research Administration, the Office of Corporate Engagement, and Polsky Center colleagues.
• Contribute to business development policy, office processes, templates, metrics, and best practices.
• Mentor junior staff by providing constructive feedback on agreement workflows, reviews, and drafts.
• Coordinate cross-functional faculty, startup, and sector-specific business development activities with Polsky colleagues.
• Collaborate with the internal team to draft, negotiate, execute, and manage intellectual property licenses and other agreements.
• Provide advice, as appropriate, on patentability, patent or copyright infringement, and trademark validity.
• Perform other related work as needed.

Benefits

• Benefits eligibility, including access to University benefit programs and resources for eligible employees, such as health, retirement, and paid time off.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior