Description

Job Summary:
The focus of this senior business development position is to market University research technology and deliver successfully negotiated licensing deals with existing corporations and University of Minnesota start-up companies.

The range of technologies can include engineering, biomedical, neuroscience, medical imaging, diagnostics, and other life sciences.
The Technology Commercialization (Tech Comm) mission is to facilitate the transfer of University of Minnesota research to licensees for development of new products and services. (http://techcomm.umn.edu/)

Responsibilities:
• Determine and market the value propositions for early stage life science and engineering technologies.
• Create and implement marketing strategies/tactics to successfully complete complex licensing transactions.
• Develop relationships with targeted companies and their executives within business development, research & development, and licensing units. Analyze royalty and equity licensing terms utilizing valuation tools.
• Engage prospects (typically company executives) for licensing interest, business plans, and deal execution.
• Negotiate and close complex licensing deals with companies ranging from Fortune 500 to start-ups.
• Collaborate with faculty researchers and the Technology Commercialization team to leverage and promote University research expertise and technology in order to maximize the licensing potential of University discoveries and inventions.
• Serve as account manager and key point of contact for licensees before, during and after deal execution.
• Track existing licensing revenue, on-going deal terms and compliance, and complex forecasting of future revenue and licensing opportunities.
• Learn from and collaborate with colleagues on academic and University licensing best practices.
• Work cooperatively with other University functions including: Venture Center, Contracts, Finance, Sponsored Projects Administration, Office of General Counsel, faculty researchers, department heads.
• Travel up to 20% of the time.

Requirements

Requirements:
• 10 or more years of industry/commercial experience with a minimum of five years of activity in licensing and business development. Direct experience in technology licensing preferred.
• BS degree in biology, biomedical engineering, engineering or life sciences; MBA or other advanced degree preferred.
• Experience in a startup company role, preferably in a founding role of some kind.
• Strong understanding of early stage technology commercialization, the licensing process and corresponding types of legal agreements (licenses, options, contracts, grants and sponsored research agreements).
• Ability to leverage external resource networks and connect them to business opportunities.
• Demonstrated experience successfully negotiating and executing deals.
• Basic understanding of intellectual property, specifically the patenting process.
• Awareness of basic and translational research practices, processes, funding sources and research faculty interactions as conducted in academic research institutions.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including comfort with public presentations.
• Excellent teamwork, collaboration and partnering skills.
• Ability to plan work strategically, and identify and prioritize high potential opportunities.

https://humanresources.umn.edu/content/find-job      Job ID 346321