Senior Manager, Business Development and Licensing

Department

SIP Polsky Business Development & Licensing

About the Department

The Polsky Center brings the power of ideas in the laboratory, classroom, and community to the world. Through education, resources, and programs, the Polsky Center commercializes discoveries, partners with companies, and attracts venture capital. The Polsky Center runs a top-ranked business accelerator, the Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge; operates a 34,000 square-foot, multi-disciplinary co-working space called the Polsky Exchange; manages the George Shultz Innovation Fund that invests in early-stage ventures; and offers a state-of-the-art Fabrication Lab for prototyping new products. Finally, the Polsky Center houses the University of Chicago’s technology transfer unit, which manages all University-based intellectual property originating from faculty research and discoveries that can be licensed to industry partners and investors.

Job Summary

As a member of the Business Development and Licensing team, the Senior Manager establishes and fosters strong relationships with faculty members across the University who are engaging in translational research, and works with industry partners and investors to bring new discoveries to the market. The Senior Manager is responsible for a diverse portfolio and works as part of the Polsky Center’s Technology Ventures team of patent, contract, business development, and entrepreneurship specialists who protect and license inventions to existing companies and startups.

This role supports the program development related to identification, investigation, and negotiation of licensing opportunities for permission to use intellectual property rights, including trademarks, patents or technology. Solves straightforward problems related to the transfer and use of intellectual property. Provides professional support to faculty to transform ideas and discoveries into patents, licenses, products, services, and ventures.

Responsibilities

• Drafts, negotiates, executes, and manages intellectual property licenses and other agreements, such as licenses, options, inter-institutional agreements, material transfer agreements, confidentiality agreements, and negotiation of intellectual property terms in other agreements, as needed.
• Collaborates with faculty members, researchers, colleagues, and other individuals across campus, along with industry partners, to achieve shared transactional objectives.
• Screens inventions for commercialization potential. Evaluates and decides which inventions and software to pursue.
• In partnership with the Technology Development team, provides insights into the commercial aspects of inventions during the intellectual property protection process.
• In partnership with the Technology Marketing team, assists in the development and execution of marketing outreach for intellectual property assets.
• In partnership with the IP Compliance and Operations and Finance and Accounting teams, ensures that all agreements are properly recorded in the intellectual property database of record and supports licensee relationship management and compliance activities.
• Establishes and cultivates strong relationships with inventors, legal counsel, prospective and current licensees, University Research Administration, the Office of Corporate Engagement, and Polsky Center colleagues to promote the University’s mission and its Polsky Center to catalyze ideas into impact.
• Contributes to BD policy, office processes, templates, metrics, and best-practice development.
• Mentors junior staff with constructive feedback on agreement workflows, reviews, and drafts.
• Coordinates cross-functional faculty, startup, and sector-specific business development activities with relevant Polsky colleagues.
• Works in collaboration with internal team to draft, negotiate, execute, and manage intellectual property licenses and other agreements.
• Has a moderate/solid understanding of the legal issues concerning patent, copyright, or trademark matters. May provide advice on the patentability of inventions, infringement of patents or copyrights, and the validity of trademarks.
• Perform other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Advanced degree in chemistry, materials science, physics, biology, computer science, bioengineering, molecular engineering, chemical engineering, or related discipline.

Experience:

• Facilitate technology transfer and commercialization, including internship or fellowship programs, in University or Industry setting.
• Significant hands-on expertise in negotiating and drafting complex intellectual property agreements.
• Demonstrated experience contributing to diligence processes and commercial strategy decisions.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Knowledge of intellectual property.
• Knowledge of industry, deal and partnering trends.

Preferred Competencies

• 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 communications.
• Attention to detail with clear understanding of how to prioritize workload appropriately.
• Work well under pressure and manage multi-task projects.
• Work independently with a high degree of initiative.
• Work effectively in a hybrid environment and within a team.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Responds promptly and proactively anticipates the needs of internal and external stakeholders.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (preferred)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Legal & Regulatory Affairs

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$110,000.00 - $130,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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