Licensing Officer / Assistant Director of Engineering, Physical and Applied Sciences Licensing (Hybrid Eligible)

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive 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, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Licensing Officer / Assistant Director of Engineering, Physical and Applied Sciences Licensing (Hybrid Eligible)

Job Profile Title

Assistant Director, Technology Licensing

Job Description Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director of Licensing, Physical Sciences and Engineering, this individual will lead the identification, evaluation, protection, marketing and licensing efforts for technologies with commercial potential from the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the School of Arts and Science and other schools, as applicable.
The individual will develop strong working relationships with investigators in these schools with a focus on specific departments where the position has primary responsibility; facilitate the establishment of research collaborations and alliances with industry; negotiate option and license agreements for intellectual property and tangible materials with established and startup companies, and manage company relationships post-agreement execution.
For the Assistant Director position, the individual will effectively utilize applicable knowledge and skills acquired from prior business development roles in academic technology transfer or the commercial sector in these activities.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Develop strong working relationships with faculty and student investigators in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the School of Arts and Science and other schools, if applicable, particularly in those departments where primary responsibility has been assigned. Meet with the investigators regularly to discuss research findings and assist in the identification of technologies with commercial potential. Act as a primary contact of PCI for assigned faculty and facilitate the implementation of CDAs, MTAs, SRAs, collaboration agreements and the like, to ensure such matters are processed by PCI in an efficient and timely manner. 

• Evaluate all assigned technology disclosures to analyze their commercial potential and recommend well-articulated and diligently justified “go/no-go” decisions regarding pursuing patent protection at weekly patent investment meetings. 

• Develop commercialization strategies for a portfolio of technologies, with primary focus on technologies in engineering and physical sciences, with ancillary focus on overlapping fields (e.g., health sciences). Perform marketing analysis to include identification of, and marketing to, targeted commercial partners and investors. Prepare non-confidential marketing materials for assigned technologies, with the assistance of the Marketing, Communications and Programs group at PCI, as appropriate.

• Identify and actively engage with potential industry partners and investors; perform due diligence on potential commercial partners; perform technology valuation; initiate and lead the construction and negotiation of licensing and option agreements; assist with sponsored research agreements, as required; be responsive to the needs of key internal and external PCI clients. Manage relationships with companies post-agreement execution.

• Organize and participate in outreach activities of the Engineering, Physical and Applied Sciences Licensing Team by helping to organize and attend seminars and events.

• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Assistant Director of Physical Sciences Licensing: Master’s degree and 5 to 7 years of related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. – Ph.D. in a physical sciences discipline and Certified Licensing Professional credential preferred. 

• Licensing Officer of Physical Sciences Licensing: Bachelor’s and 5 to 7 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. – Ph.D. in a physical sciences discipline preferred; Certified Licensing Professional credential preferred; experience in university technology transfer preferred. 

Application Requirement: A Cover Letter and Resume/CV are required to be considered for this position. Please upload your Cover Letter where it asks you to upload your Resume/CV; multiple documents are allowed.

Job Location – City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Provost’s Center

Pay Range

$74,476.00 – $130,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile. 

Affirmative Action Statement 
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements 
Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn’s exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you’ll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay