Principal, IP Transactions

National University of Singapore; Singapore; On-site; SGD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

National University of Singapore, a leading research-intensive university, seeks a Principal, IP Transactions to lead structuring, negotiating, and executing complex IP/licensing transactions. You will work with inventors, founders, investors, and industry partners to shape transactional positions and executable agreements, balancing value with stewardship obligations.

You will guide transaction frameworks, playbooks, and best practices while coaching transaction professionals and collaborating

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience structuring, negotiating, and executing IP, technology licensing, strategic partnerships, corporate development, venture, or other transaction-oriented agreements.
• Significant experience negotiating IP licensing transactions across life sciences, biotech, semiconductors, software, AI, or other deep-technology sectors.
• Ability to evaluate business plans, opportunities, risk, and translate assessments into transaction terms.
• Strong licensing economics, valuation principles, incentive alignment, and performance-based structures.

Responsibilities

• Assess opportunities, business plans, and licensing pathways to determine transaction structures, terms, and obligations.
• Develop positions balancing value, stewardship obligations, and institutional interests.
• Structure and negotiate term sheets, definitive agreements, and ancillary IP transactions with counsel as needed.
• Exercise objective judgment in evaluating opportunities, negotiations, and positions.
• Support governance, approvals, and execution for complex transactions.
• Serve as trusted advisor to inventors, founders, teams, and leadership on IP matters.
• Contribute to negotiation playbooks, templates, and licensing practices across the organization.
• Provide guidance and leadership to transaction professionals and help develop capabilities and standards.

Skills

IP Transactions

Licensing

Contract Negotiation

Strategic Partnerships

Valuation

Tools

Contract management system

Job description

Company description:

The National University of Singapore is the national research university of Singapore. Founded in 1905 as the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Government Medical School, NUS is the oldest higher education institution in Singapore

Job description:

About Us

We’re NUS Enterprise, the innovation and entrepreneurship heart of the National University of Singapore (NUS). We back bold ideas and ambitious talent with the potential to build impactful companies that transform the way we live, play, and work —and we’re just getting started.

As our innovation ecosystem continues to grow in scale, complexity, and ambition, we are building a team of experienced commercialisation professionals capable of structuring and negotiating transactions that balance commercialisation success, fair market value, and long-term stewardship of public-sector innovation assets.

The Role

The Principal, IP Transactions leads the structuring, negotiation, and execution of complex, customised, and strategically significant commercialisation transactions involving university intellectual property.

Working closely with inventors, founders, investors, industry partners, licensees, and commercialisation teams, this role develops transaction positions, negotiates key terms, and translates commercialisation opportunities into executable agreements.

Success requires strong commercial judgment, transaction experience, and the ability to objectively balance commercialisation objectives, fair market value, and stewardship obligations.

What You’ll Do

• Assess commercialisation opportunities, business plans, and proposed licensing pathways to determine appropriate transaction structures, economic terms, and performance obligations.
• Develop transaction positions that appropriately balance commercial realities, fair market value principles, stewardship obligations, and long-term institutional interests.
• Structure and negotiate term sheets, definitive agreements, and ancillary commercialisation agreements, including licenses, options, assignments, technology transfer agreements, and other transactions involving university intellectual property, working with counsel where specialised legal expertise is required.
• Exercise sound and objective judgment when evaluating opportunities, negotiating transactions, and recommending transaction positions.
• Support governance, approval, and execution processes for complex transactions.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to inventors, founders, commercialisation teams, and institutional leadership on IP transaction-related matters.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of transaction frameworks, templates, negotiation playbooks, and IP licensing practices.
• Provide guidance, coaching, and technical leadership to transaction professionals and contribute to the development of transaction capabilities, standards, and best practices across the organisation.

Please be informed that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Qualifications

What You Bring

• 10+ years of experience structuring, negotiating, and executing intellectual property, technology licensing, strategic partnership, corporate development, venture, or other transaction-oriented agreements.
• Significant experience negotiating intellectual property licensing transactions in either:
  • Life sciences, healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, or medical technologies; or
  • Semiconductors, electronics, computing, software, artificial intelligence, communications, advanced manufacturing, or other deep-technology sectors.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate business plans, commercialisation opportunities, execution risk, and value creation potential, and translate those assessments into appropriate transaction structures and commercial terms.
• Strong understanding of licensing economics, valuation principles, incentive alignment, and performance-based transaction structures.
• Sufficient legal and contractual sophistication to develop term sheets, work directly within agreement templates, and translate negotiated business terms into executable agreements.
• Excellent communication skills and a reputation for sound judgment, objectivity, and professionalism.

Bonus Points For

• Experience working with venture-backed companies, founder-led businesses, institutional investors, or strategic corporate partners.
• Familiarity with university technology transfer, research commercialisation, public-sector innovation, or other stewardship-oriented environments.

Why Join NUS Enterprise

This is a rare chance to shape the future of innovation in Asia — from Singapore, with global reach. You’ll sit at the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and capital, with the freedom to take big swings and the platform to land them.