Senior Commercialisation Manager – Life Sciences Licensing

ADLIB; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 15% bonus

Hybrid working: 3 days in office

41 days holiday incl. bank holidays

Pension

Job summary

University of Birmingham Enterprise (UoBE) seeks a commercially driven Senior Commercialisation Manager to lead development of high-potential IP, licensing opportunities and spinout ventures from the University’s research portfolio.

Reporting to the Head of IP & Commercialisation, you’ll manage a diverse portfolio, shape routes to market—licensing, spinouts, venture development or strategic partnerships—and provide leadership and mentorship across the team.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in IP commercialisation, technology transfer, licensing, or venture development.
• Proven experience in successful commercialisation of licensing including developing, negotiating, or managing licences, royalty arrangements, diligence obligations, or post-deal relationships—ideally from Life Sciences/Pharma.
• Commercial acumen with ability to assess opportunities from technical, market, legal and financial perspectives.

Responsibilities

• Leading the assessment and development of commercialisation opportunities.
• Structuring and negotiating licensing, option, and IP-related agreements.
• Supporting spinout formation, venture development, and investment readiness activities
• Managing relationships with founders, academics, investors, and commercial partners.
• Providing leadership and guidance to commercialisation colleagues.
• Balancing commercial potential, risk, strategic value, and institutional objectives across a diverse portfolio.

Skills

IP licensing

Technology transfer

Licensing

Venture development

Leadership

Negotiation

Communication

Deal management

Education

Science/Technology/Business/Legal degree

Job description

About us

University of Birmingham Enterprise (UoBE) is the University’s enterprise and commercialisation company, dedicated to turning world-class research and expertise into products, services and ventures that deliver real impact locally, regionally, and globally. With a mission to catalise the adoption of innovations developed by, with or at the University, UoBE supports intellectual property protection, licensing, spinout and Operating Division creation, consultancy, and incubation. UoBE also manages Birmingham Research Park, a vibrant innovation ecosystem home to over 50 companies. Operating collaboratively, open to new ideas, and driven by impact, UoBE plays a pivotal role in enabling innovation pathways from discovery to market.

UoBE is seeking a commercially driven professional with experience in IP Licensing to join as a Senior Commercialisation Manager to lead the development of high-potential intellectual property, licensing opportunities and spinout ventures emerging from one of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities.

What you’ll be doing

Reporting to the Head of Intellectual Property and Commercialisation, you’ll manage a portfolio of IP-rich opportunities and help determine the most effective route to market, whether through licensing, spinout creation, venture development, or strategic partnerships. You’ll take opportunities from early assessment through to commercial execution, while also providing leadership, mentoring, and support to colleagues across the team.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the assessment and development of commercialisation opportunities.
• Structuring and negotiating licensing, option, and IP-related agreements.
• Supporting spinout formation, venture development, and investment readiness activities
• Managing relationships with founders, academics, investors, and commercial partners.
• Providing leadership and guidance to commercialisation colleagues.
• Balancing commercial potential, risk, strategic value, and institutional objectives across a diverse portfolio.

What experience you’ll need to apply?

We’re looking for an experienced commercialisation professional with a strong track record in technology transfer (ideally from a TTO, University or start-up environment) with emphasis on licensing and innovation management.

You will bring:

• Significant experience in IP commercialisation, technology transfer, licensing, or venture development.
• Proven experience in the successful commercialisation of licensing including developing, negotiating, or managing licences, royalty arrangements, diligence obligations, or post-deal relationships – ideally from a Life Sciences/Pharma domain.
• Commercial acumen with the ability to assess opportunities from technical, market, legal and financial perspectives.
• Strong people leadership skills with proven management experience.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building abilities.
• Degree qualified in Science, Technology, Business, Legal or similar, with a higher degree or postgraduate qualification a bonus.
• Experience within a university, research-intensive environment or technology transfer office is highly desirable, as is a deal sheet of successful Licenses.

What you’ll get in return for your experience

UoBE plays a central role in translating University of Birmingham research into real-world impact. From licensing breakthrough technologies to creating successful spinout companies, you’ll have the opportunity to work on innovation that makes a difference locally, nationally, and globally. This is an exciting opportunity to join a forward-thinking organisation at the heart of innovation, helping shape the future of research commercialisation while developing your own leadership career.

You’ll receive a competitive salary with comprehensive benefits including – up to 15% bonus, hybrid working (3 days a week in office), pension, and a total of 41 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays).