Associate Director of Licensing

Gardner Innovation Search Partners has been exclusively retained to recruit the position of Associate Director of Licensing for The University of Hawai‘i (UH) Office of Innovation and Commercialization (OIC).

The Office of Innovation and Commercialization (OIC) is a creative, nimble and growing team within the UH System that supports UH innovators and entrepreneurs in deploying the assets created during their cutting-edge research off-campus to improve lives, form the basis of new products and services, and to amplify the impact of UH activities. OIC serves as UH’s nexus of innovation by providing guidance, education and services to researchers who seek to make more of a difference with their discoveries. OIC builds and deepens relationships with industry partners through licensing of UH innovations, catalyzing new business formation around UH innovations and helping to grow Hawai‘i’s innovatio

nOIC is offering an exciting opportunity to support UH faculty, staff and students to identify, protect and evolve their innovations, to engage with industry partners to develop those innovations into new products and services, and to assist in the formation of new businesses around those innovations.

• Organization: The University of Hawai‘i (UH) Office of Innovation and Commercialization (OIC)
• Title: Associate Director of Licensing
• Target Salary: $125,000-$175,000
• Work environment: On site in Honolulu
• Visa Sponsorship: U.S. Citizen/Permanent resident preferred

Job Duties

Following are the key responsibilities of the position

• Provides leadership for technology transfer and commercialization of UH innovations in consultation with the OIC Director
• Provides guidance and supports Technology Licensing Officers and other OIC staff with technology transfer and commercializing UH innovations.
• Engages, supports and builds relationships with UH faculty, researchers, staff and students to encourage participation in commercialization activities and programs, including individual and unit-based outreach activities.
• Evaluates disclosed UH innovations for technology readiness, commercial potential, and protectability under statutory mechanisms (patents, copyrights, trademarks).
• Formulates Innovation Development Roadmaps (IDRs) for UH innovation, and coordinates internal and external resources and stakeholders to progress along IDRs via IP protection, development partner identification, partnership agreement negotiation and maintenance, and other mechanisms.
• Formulates, implements and manages intellectual property (IP) protection with internal staff and external counsel.
• Identifies potential development partners for UH innovations, prepares technology marketing materials, engages with passive and active marketing communication channels, and initiates partnership discussions.
• Negotiates and drafts agreements for UH innovations, including letter agreements, inter-institutional agreements, option and license agreements.
• Acts as liaison to development partners in active relationships with UH.
• Assists with reports to internal and external stakeholders.
• Provides information and assistance to UH faculty, researchers, staff and students regarding UH IP policies, IP-related federal regulations and policies, and OIC processes, services, and programs.
• Maintains business records and work products in repositories and databases.
• Participates in team-based workflow processes for situational awareness, decision-making and cross-training.
• Assists UH units in reviewing IP-related terms in agreements, including sponsored research agreements and conflict of interest processes.
• Prepares and presents informational content promoting OIC services and programs, and assists with and attends OIC events.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Considerable working knowledge of principles, practices and techniques in the area of technology transfer as demonstrated by the broad knowledge of the full range of pertinent standard and evolving concepts, principles and methodologies.
• Considerable working knowledge and understanding of applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations and theories and systems associated with technology transfer
• Ability to understand new technologies and innovations at the conceptual level to envision potential commercial uses and appreciate any competitive advantages over existing technologies or solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a team as needed.
• Demonstrated ability to resolve wide ranging complex problems through the use of creative reasoning and logic to accurately determine the cause of the problems and the resolution of the problems in an effective, innovative and timely manner.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and present information and ideas clearly and accurately in writing, verbally and by preparation of reports and other materials.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external organizations, groups, team leaders and members, and individuals.
• Demonstrated ability to work on multiple tasks, and complete tasks on time and with attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to operate a personal computer, apply word processing software, and relational databases.

Qualifications:

• Master’s or Ph.D. degree in engineering, computer science, physical science, data science, or life sciences.
• Possess seven (7) or more years of progressively responsible professional experience with responsibilities for technology transfer, technology licensing, business development, agreement negotiations, commercial assessment, product development or commercialization.
• Experience with leading or supervising technology transfer staff.
• Experience working with a high volume of innovations and/or licensing deals.
• Experience in marketing IP assets and negotiating license agreements.
• Knowledge of all types of IP, including patents, copyrights and trademarks.
• Knowledge of UH, State of Hawai‘i and United States government policies and procedures.
• Ability to analyze, understand and draft contractual agreements.
• Experience working with faculty, researchers, and students in academic settings.

The University of Hawaii System and OIC:

The UH system comprises three four-year campuses (UHM flagship R1 campus, UHH, UHWO), the US Navy-sponsored University Affiliated Research and 7 community colleges across the major islands in the state. Research strengths include ocean and earth sciences, astronomy & space science, materials science, agriculture, and medicine. UH is an air-, sea-, land- and space-grant institution.

External funding and partnerships supporting UH research are managed under the UH System’s Office of the Vice President for Research & Innovation, which contains the Office of Innovation & Commercialization. The OVPRI and OIC are located on the UH Manoa campus and serve stakeholders throughout all campuses and locations in the state. OIC also oversees the EDA-sponsored Pacific Business Center Program, the Minority Business Development Agency, and the National Security Innovation Network university program.

Note: all positions at OIC/OVPRI are annually reviewed for reappointment/renewal on July 1st pending performance and funding availability. Remote/telework will be considered for experienced applicants.