Assistant or Associate Technology Manager, UT Research Foundation - UT System Administration

Reporting to the UTRF Vice President in Memphis and in collaboration with the entire UTRF team, the Assistant/Associate Technology Manager is expected to support the technology evaluation, protection, marketing, and commercialization efforts of early-stage technologies.

Due to export control restrictions, the successful candidate must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien with a green card.

Engagement with faculty, student and staff at campuses and colleges within the UT System and staff members of UT including Legal, Compliance, ORIED, and to include:

• Building relationships with innovators across UT Campuses;
• Supporting UT employees who perform research or have other IP issues, and partnering closely with research staff at UT.
• Gaining a clear understanding of the inventors' assessment of the commercial potential of the technology.
• Working with UTRF staff members who are responsible for database management, obligatory agreement reporting, license agreement compliance, and financial accounting to ensure obligatory reports are filed, all appropriate invoices for payment are sent to license holders, and all parties to the agreement are in full compliance with all contract terms.

• Providing appropriate and timely education, outreach, and training to university research community regarding university IP policies and best practices related to intellectual property and commercialization.

  Seeking industry partners through evaluation of commercial potential, development, and marketing of UT innovations, including:

• Evaluating the commercial potential of inventions to develop the appropriate commercialization strategy.
• Determining the array of commercial applications of the disclosed technology, the size and value of the various commercial markets, and the advantages the invention would hold over existing products or technologies.
• Using commercial evaluation to make informed patent filing decisions.
• Working with faculty, staff, and/or student inventors to develop non-confidential description of the technology that can be used for marketing the invention to the appropriate industry partners.
• Developing and distributing marketing material to prospective licensees.
• Developing and recommending a technology maturation plan if one is necessary to enable value extraction.
• Responsible for all patent prosecution activities, including communicating with inventors, licensees, and patent counsel.
  
  Negotiation of commercialization agreements and business term sheets for the development of commercial products:
• Working with the UTRF Vice President to assist the various offices of sponsored programs in the negotiation and execution of CDAs and MTAs.
•  Working with the UTRF Vice President to assist the various offices of sponsored programs in the negotiation of intellectual property clauses in research agreements and incoming license agreements.
• Assisting the UTRF Vice President in the negotiation with other academic institutions on inter-institutional agreements.

• Working with UTRF Vice President on the license and option agreement negotiation process, including term sheets and commercialization agreements, and providing recommendations on appropriate license and business terms.

  Activities related to startups based on UT's intellectual property, including:

• Encouraging and assisting startup enterprises based on UT technologies.
• Educate UT researchers, faculty, staff and students on startup business activities and formation.
• Assist UT researchers, faculty, staff and students informing startups based on UT intellectual property.

Due to export control restrictions, the successful candidate must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien with a green card.

Assistant Technology Manager Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a Biological or Chemical science or Bio-mechanical or Chemical Engineering discipline 5+ years of relevant professional experience; or a Master's degree in a Biological or Chemical science or Bio-mechanical or Chemical Engineering discipline or higher
• Ability to work with the team while managing multiple projects.
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to quickly understand unfamiliar research and technologies.

Associate Technology Manager Required Qualifications:

• MBA, JD, MD, PharmD or United States Patent Agent
• PhD in STEM (with a preference for engineering) with 2 years of relevant experience.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple projects.
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to quickly understand unfamiliar research and technologies

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of intellectual property law.
• Ability to deal with technical and business issues.
• Internship experience in intellectual property management and technology transfer offices.
• Experience working in/with technology startup(s) or business incubators.
• Familiarity with or experience in intellectual property management and technology transfer. 
• Familiarity with or experience in a university research environment and capacity to analyze complex research programs

Application Process:

For full consideration, applications should be accompanied by a letter of interest, a resume, and three professional references.  Review of applications will begin immediately.

Benefits and Compensation:

Compensation for the position is budgeted for:  Assistant Technology Manager $74,000 to $83,000 and for Associate Technology Manager $90,000 to $100,000.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits and much more.  Additionally, Tennessee residents do not pay a state income tax.  For more information on the University of Tennessee's benefits, visit https://hr.tennessee.edu/benefits/