Associate Director, Commercialization

Job Summary

An Associate Director of Commercialization's (ADC's) role at the Technology Licensing Office (TLO) at the University of Utah is to develop deep relationships with University faculty to promote innovation that has commercial potential with the ultimate goal of monetizing these innovations through licensing transactions, which can generate downstream revenue and partnership opportunities through a variety of contractual obligations. The majority of their time will be spent meeting with University faculty and developing relationships with industry and potential licensees. Education of TLO's mission is a core theme of faculty interactions, the intent of which is to build trust with faculty and produce higher quality curated invention disclosures across all University colleges, institutes, and departments. Based on their significant domain expertise and industry relationships, ADCs also provide awareness to faculty of technology solutions that are most valued by global markets to inform their research efforts.

Responsibilities

• Manages a portfolio of inventions to generate royalties and fees.
• Developing deep relationships and trust with faculty through high quality service and support and actively engaging them in the commercialization process.
• Using the ability to quickly understand new technologies at the level necessary to manage them through the evaluation, marketing, and licensing processes.
• Evaluating invention disclosures for their commercial potential using reports generated by a third party.
• Working with faculty, the IP manager, and outside IP counsel on patent, copyright, and trademark decisions.
• Coordinating with the Venture Hub Group to better understand the commercial prospects of their technologies.
• Using this information to educate inventors on the factors under consideration by TLO in making decisions on continuing with commercialization efforts.
• Engaging industry partners about both specific technologies and collaboration with companies in their research areas to establish broader relationships that may include sponsored research opportunities.
• Helping faculty understand decision-making information collected, including third-party technology assessments, third-party marketing information, and industry feedback. Using this process to facilitate communication with the faculty inventors on our process in reaching commercialization decisions.
• Negotiating licensing deals and collaboration agreements with industry.
• Communicating across all the internal functional groups, such as finance, agreement compliance and intellectual property management, as needed to ensure smooth operations across the office.
• From time-to-time, representing the University at industry conferences that are relevant to technology transfer activities (travel may be required).
• Engaging with faculty and researchers to identify innovations with potential relevance to national security or defense applications.
• Advising on pathways for transitioning university-developed technologies into government or defense-related use cases.
• Contributing to the development of educational materials or workshops focused on commercialization in regulated or mission-driven sectors.

This job description is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in a Life Science, Physical Science, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field required with advanced degree or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience) preferred. Five years full-time experience in industry, marketing or business development; and demonstrated effective communication and human relation skills required.

Entrepreneurial, communication and interpersonal skills are critical for success in this position.

Work experience in an industrial field specific to area of assignment (Pharma, Biomedical/Biotechnology, Diagnostics, Physical Sciences, or Computer Industry) is strongly preferred.

Previous university administrative or research experience, or familiarity with the university environment preferred. Work experience in a university or industry technology transfer office preferred.

Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Preferences

• The preferred candidate will have at least 5 years of experience commercializing complex inventions and/or previous industry experience in developing products and services in the related field of the portfolio to be managed.
• A minimum of 2 years of experience in the technology transfer field is preferred.
• A minimum of 2 years of business development experience in a physical science-related company is preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in a physical science field with advanced degree is preferred.
• Have excellent analytical skills and the ability to present written and oral materials in a professional manner.
• Have a strong orientation toward customer service.
• Be self-motivated and require minimal supervision.
• Have entrepreneurial, communications and interpersonal skills.
• Be a team player.
• Demonstrated experience navigating complex organizational structures, particularly within federal or defense-related institutions.
• Familiarity with technology development lifecycles in mission-driven environments.
• Exposure to technology scouting, innovation pipeline development, or strategic portfolio management in defense-related contexts.

Special Instructions

Requisition Number: PRN42912B

Full Time or Part Time? Full Time

Work Schedule Summary: 8am-5pm Monday - Friday, (hybrid: must work 3 days in the office per week)

Department: 00642 - Technology Licensing Office

Location: Campus

Pay Rate Range: $112,000 - $125,000

Close Date: 11/22/2025

Open Until Filled: