The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is a world-class medical destination at the forefront of transformative science, medicine, education and patient care. The campus, located in Denver, encompasses the University of Colorado health professional schools, more than 60 centers and institutes, and two nationally ranked independent hospitals – UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital Colorado – that treat more than two million adult and pediatric patients each year. Innovative, interconnected and highly collaborative, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus delivers life-changing treatments, patient care and professional training and conducts world-renowned research fueled by over $650 million in research grants. For more information, visit www.cuanschutz.edu.

  

Senior Manager, Licensing, Business Development and Ventures Job Duties

The Senior Licensing Manager is part of a team of licensing professionals, part of the broader CU Innovations team, and part of the CU Anschutz campus’ team bringing new technologies to patients.  The Senior Licensing Manager’s primary function is to evaluate, advance, partner and commercialize a large portfolio of university intellectual property in the life sciences. Senior Licensing Managers are expected to carry a large caseload, perform their duties with minimal supervision, and act as a mentor to newer members of the licensing staff. The Senior Licensing Manager must work to identify potential licensees and contacts within companies in order to partner and commercialize University assets.

The Senior Licensing Manager is expected to successfully execute complex deals in their portfolio. Portfolio commercialization includes understanding and assessing the intellectual assets developed in a faculty member’s lab, encouraging disclosure of new ideas, inventions and other intellectual assets to CU Innovations, assessing new inventions for technical merit, patentability, and commercial feasibility, overseeing the filing and prosecution of patent applications where appropriate, identifying and communicating with potential licensees and marketing technologies to industry and negotiating, drafting and enforcing options, licenses, IIAs and other agreements. Importantly, the Senior Licensing Manager must have the confidence and interpersonal skills necessary to communicate with very senior, high-level faculty and executives in the business community.

The Senior Licensing Manager also confers with campus administrative staff and investigators on intellectual property protection and licensing, and coordinates procedures to ensure compliance with rules, regulations, laws, university policies, and business contracts. The position requires the use of a variety of communications and computer database tools to track and convey issues and decisions about invention disclosures, patent applications, patent prosecution, patent issuance and maintenance, and all contractual agreements and financial arrangements related to a particular technology.

Job Duties Include:

• Evaluate and analyze new invention disclosures, meet with inventor(s), assess patentability and marketability, and identify relevant industry contacts.
• Encourage the commercialization of innovation through multiple channels including industry collaborations, licensing, or the formation of start-up companies.
• Develop commercialization strategies including product development and funding plans, identify critical path experiments, and source cross-functional teams.
• Develop licensing strategies, identify potential licensees, negotiate terms, draft agreements, and close deals.
• Manage patent-related activities, including the filing and prosecution of patent applications.
• Maintain and develop relationships with licensees and monitor progress of licensed product(s) development.
• Participate in educational programs aimed at the medical community relating to intellectual property issues, innovation, and commercialization.

This description is a summary only and is describing the general level of work being performed, it is not intended to be all-inclusive. The duties of this position may change from time to time and/or based on business need. We reserve the right to add or delete duties and responsibilities at the discretion of the supervisor and/or hiring authority.

Senior Manager, Licensing, Business Development and Ventures Qualifications

In order to excel in this position, candidates must have:

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in life, health, or physical sciences, or in law or business with relevant knowledge of biological/life sciences.
• At least five (5) years’ professional level, direct life sciences technology transfer or business development experience at a research university, academic medical center, or in industry.

Preferred Qualifications

• A graduate degree from an accredited institution of higher education in life, health, physical sciences, law, or business. 
• At least seven (7) years’ professional experience including the development, preparation, negotiation, review, and execution of a wide range of licenses as demonstrated by a deal sheet and a consistent portfolio of at least 200 cases.
• Pharmaceutical commercialization experience including technology review, patent protection, FDA approval process, reimbursement, and negotiation.

Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to negotiate and close business deals.
• Knowledge of intellectual property protection methods, licensing practices, contract law, as well as government laws/regulations relating to technology transfer within industry and/or academia.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally.
• Ability to interact effectively in both academic and corporate cultures with scientists, research sponsors, industry representatives and patent attorneys.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels throughout the institution.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment; to work under pressure with tight deadlines.
• Team player and builder; works well in group environments; shares knowledge, expertise; provides assistance and accepts additional responsibility when necessary.
• Commitment to values and strong business ethics.
• Ability to close deals.
• Outstanding customer service skills.
• Proven negotiation skills.
• Ability to grasp complex scientific concepts and effectively promote them.
• Technology and patent case management skills and prioritization abilities.
• Effective mentoring and knowledge transfer skills for more junior staff.
• Ability to independently represent the Office at the most senior level with University faculty and leadership.
• Demonstrated commitment and leadership ability to advance diversity and inclusion.
• Self-starter in establishing relationships both internally and externally.
• Excellent time management and prioritization skills.

Salary

• The salary for this role is $100,000-$150,000

Senior Manager, Licensing, Business Development and Ventures Applicants

Interested in Applying?

Colorado University Anschutz Medical Campus has exclusively retained Gardner Innovation Search Partners to manage this search. Gardner Innovation Search Partners is the top technology transfer recruiter in the world, and is committed to presenting a diverse slate of candidates who possess the skills, expertise, and enthusiasm to thrive in this role.

Interested applicants should send their resume along with any questions to:

Lisa Rooney, Recruiter
lisa@gardnerisp.com
(740) 251-7390

Glen Gardner, Recruiter
glen@gardnerisp.com
(614) 354-8400

Tom Sweetman, Recruiter
tom@gardnerisp.com
(614) 563-2389

Gardner Innovation Search Partners is committed to diversity in both people and ideas. Read more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion.