"ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION"

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION

Posting Number: SRGV8423

Number of Vacancies: 1

Location: McAllen, Texas

Department: Technology Commercialization

FLSA: Exempt

Scope of Job:

To manage the day-to-day operational activities of The Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) department, with a focus on supporting the disclosure intake process, conducting initial assessments of inventions, facilitating communication between inventors and patent attorneys, and contributing to implement commercialization and licensing activities.

Description of Duties:

• Manages the planning, direction, and review of the day-to-day functions and operations of the Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC).
• Cultivates strong relationships with faculty inventors, external partners, investors, and regional innovation hubs.
• Responsible for the strategic planning and portfolio management for university-held IP assets.
• Leads the evaluation, protection, and monetization of university-developed intellectual property, ensuring rigorous patent strategy, market alignment, and risk mitigation.
• Drives licensing efforts, startup formation, and external partnerships to maximize impact and return on research investment.
• Manages the intake and triage of new invention disclosures, ensuring timely communication with inventors, and contributes to outreach and partnership efforts that foster innovation to elevate the university's presence in the national and global technology commercialization landscape.
• Ensures that auditable records are maintained and in place through robust data and case management systems.
• Conducts preliminary assessments of disclosed technologies, including basic reviews of patentability and market potential, and strategic commercialization pathways.
• Evaluates existing departmental processes for efficiency and makes recommendations as needed to correct any deficiencies.
• Oversees all data entry, tracking, and reporting of intellectual property cases within the office's management software.
• Aids in drafting non-confidential summaries, technology briefs, and other marketing materials.
• Supports technology marketing efforts by identifying potential licenses and conducting background research.
• Facilitates licensing discussions, drafts term sheets, and maintains documentation of negotiations.
• Provides support with outreach and education efforts, including organizing informational workshops and materials for faculty.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of relevant policies, laws, and procedures related to intellectual property, compliance, and commercialization.
• Promotes and ensures adherence to organizational policies in compliance with applicable regulations.
• Ensures accurate and timely maintenance of records and metrics to support compliance with applicable regulatory, UTRGV and UT System requirements.
• Oversees all training functions for the office such as faculty trainings needed that ensure alignment with departmental goals.
• Performs personnel administrative functions (e.g. hiring, training, supervising, evaluating, providing professional development opportunities, etc.) for the purpose of maintaining adequate staffing, enhancing productivity of personnel and ensuring department/program outcomes are achieved.
• Provides administrative and project coordination support for departmental initiatives.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervision Received: General supervision from assigned supervisor.

Supervision Given: Direct supervision of assigned staff.

Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in Management, Business Law, Business Administration, Computer Science, Science, Engineering, or a related field from an accredited university.

Preferred Education: Master’s degree from an accredited university.

Licenses/Certifications: None.

Required Experience: Three (3) years of experience in intellectual property, technology transfer, patent processing, or support roles in research administration or commercialization, including but not limited to, invention disclosures, IP databases, or marketing of early-stage technologies, or Two (2) years of the required experience with a Master's degree.

Preferred Experience: Extensive experience working with faculty, researchers, and external stakeholders, including venture capitalists, corporate partners, legal counsel, and government agencies. Membership in IP/Technology Commercialization Professional Society.

Equipment: Use of standard office equipment. Experience with university tech transfer databases (e.g., Inteum, Sophia, or similar IP management systems).

Working Conditions: Needs to be able to successfully perform all required duties. Work is performed primarily in a general office environment. Some travel and weekend work is required. UTRGV is a distributed institution which requires presence at multiple locations throughout the Rio Grande Valley.

Other: Strong knowledge of U.S. patent law, Bayh-Dole compliance, venture capital, startup funding, and regional innovation ecosystems. Excellent communication and relationship management skills for working with faculty, industry, and legal stakeholders. Strong skills in licensing negotiation term sheet drafting, and startup equity structuring. Knowledge of SBIR/STTR and other federal commercialization pathways. Expertise in evaluating early-stage technologies for commercial potential. Familiarity with venture capital processes, startup funding, and regional innovation ecosystems. Exceptional planning and organizational skills. Must be able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Must have ability to work under pressure, solve problems, and negotiate.

Physical Capabilities: N/A

Employment Category: Full-Time

Minimum Salary: Commensurate with Experience

Posted Salary: Commensurate with Experience

Position Available Date: 07/24/2025

Grant Funded Position: No

EEO Statement: It is the policy of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to promote and ensure equal employment opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information or protected veteran status. In accordance with the requirements of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, our University is committed to comply with all government requirements and ensures non-discrimination in its education programs and activities, including employment. We encourage women, minorities and differently abled persons to apply for employment positions of interest.

Special Instructions to Applicants: Dear Applicant, Human Resources will not be held responsible for redacting any confidential information from the documents you attach with your application. The confidential information includes the following: Date of Birth, Social Security Number, Gender, Ethnicity/Race. Please make sure that you omit this information prior to submission. We are advising that Human Resources will be forwarding your application to the department as per your submission. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at (956)665-8880 and/or careers@utrgv.edu.

Additional Information: UTRGV is a distributed location institution and working location is subject to change based on need. All UTRGV employees are required to have a criminal background check (CBC). Incomplete applications will not be considered. Substitutions to the above requirements must have prior approval from the VP of HR & Talent Development.