Assistant Director, Physical Sciences

MSU Technologies; East Lansing (MI); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

MSU Technologies in East Lansing is seeking an Assistant Director to lead a team of Technology Managers, advancing physical sciences technologies from discovery to commercialization. You will shape strategy, manage IP, negotiate agreements, and collaborate with faculty, industry partners, and university leadership.

This hybrid role requires mentoring, program leadership, and the ability to oversee portfolios with complex histories while ensuring responsible stewardship of MSU IP and compliance

Qualifications

• Experience in technology transfer, IP licensing, or related field with supervisory experience.
• Strong communication and collaboration with faculty, industry partners, and leadership.
• Knowledge of Bayh-Dole Act and IP management procedures.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and mentor Technology Managers in physical sciences tech transfer.
• Lead strategy development, agreements, and translational funding programs.
• Manage IP protection strategy and patent-related target setting; coordinate with outside counsel.

Skills

Tech transfer knowledge

IP licensing

Mentoring

Negotiation

Project management

Communication

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree (MBA/PhD/JD)

Tools

MS Office

Adobe

Zoom

Job description

Join MSU Technologies as an Assistant Director and play a leadership role in advancing innovative research discoveries into real-world impact. This position oversees and mentors a team of Technology Managers while managing a dynamic portfolio of physical sciences technologies, guiding them from discovery through commercialization. Working closely with faculty, industry partners, and university leadership, you will shape strategy, negotiate agreements, and drive initiatives that strengthen MSU’s innovation ecosystem. Ideal candidates are collaborative, strategic leaders with expertise in intellectual property, technology transfer, and a passion for translating research into societal benefit.

Summary of Position

The Assistant Director is responsible for supervising the team of Technology Managers in the physical sciences disciplines, including mentoring and advising on daily tech transfer matters. Additional office-wide leadership aspects include agreement management, input on strategies, and being lead on special programs. This position will also serve as a Technology Manager with their own portfolio, which focuses on advancing technologies developed by MSU research activities to commercial use, responsible stewardship and commercialization of MSU intellectual property by supporting researchers, complying with the Bayh-Dole Act, and advancing technologies for societal benefit. This position requires excellent verbal and written communication, collaboration, organization, working knowledge of intellectual property management procedures, time management, a commitment to intellectual property protection, and an ability to advise and mentor junior and senior level licensing personnel. The level of responsibility in this role is high and requires multi-tasking to manage complex portfolios with many projects, and the ability to work independently and in small to large groups.

This position offers a hybrid schedule, requiring in-office presence a minimum of 3.5 days per week, and requires occasional off-site travel for conferences, stakeholder events, and other related activities. The Assistant Director most frequently interacts with internal stakeholders within MSU Technologies, MSU Business Connect, the Innovation Center, Office of Research and Innovation, faculty members, chairs, and Deans of the relevant Major Administrative Unit (MAU), and service units on campus. This position frequently communicates with external stakeholders such as the MSU Research Foundation, Spartan Innovations, State of Michigan, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, US federal funding agencies, licensees and professionals from other institutions. This position reports to the Executive Director of MSU Technologies.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Supervisory – 15% 
  Provide mentoring, guidance and direction to physical science Technology Managers in their day-to-day operations and tasks, including faculty engagement, technology assessment and creating marketing and licensing strategies; Assist in hiring, being lead on training, mentoring, and advising physical science Technology Managers on questions, challenges, negotiations, draft agreements and draft translational funding proposals
• Leadership – 15% 
  Assist and advise Executive Director with management of the physical sciences technology portfolio, including distribution of cases amongst the physical sciences team; managing statuses in the database, patent deadlines and patent expenditures; Assist and advise Executive Director and Associate Director on various matters, including agreement templates, office SOPs, translational funding programs and general strategy; review and sign CDAs and MTAs when they are not available; Oversee an additional, significant MSUT program, such as the commercialization intern program or a future effort such as a faculty ambassador program.
• Innovation Management – 15% 
  Identify areas of campus research of high commercial interest and potential; Establish key faculty relationships; Mine innovative technology from research and support faculty in submitting invention disclosures; Work with faculty to understand and develop research/development plan to move technology toward a commercial-ready state; Understand and make timely decisions; Work with Patent Administration team on federal reporting; Work with Executive Director to manage technologies with complex histories and challenges
• Patent Protection and Strategy – 15% 
  Develop and execute domestic and international (if applicable) intellectual property protection strategy to achieve commercial goals; Manage portfolio by taking appropriate and timely procedural steps with outside counsel; Meet objectives for patent filings and other patent related targets; Assess invention disclosures for commercial potential including screening, market research, customer discovery, and working with mentors-in-residence; Make decisions on IP protection strategy and work with outside attorneys to ensure patent applications are filed, maintenance fees are paid, and office actions are responded to
• Marketing Technologies – 5% 
  Manage the development of a marketing strategy and supporting materials for technologies using applicable resources (interns, patent and business intelligence data sources, mentors-in-residence, etc.) as applicable; Implement marketing strategy to deliver high quality information to interested leads via non-confidential summaries; Develop appropriate technology valuation, negotiation positions, and deal terms to support marketing plans; Use online partnering platforms, and email campaigns to market technologies
• Licensing and Agreement Compliance – 20% 
  Identify reasonable deal valuation in context of relevant market(s) and prior deals while maximizing the value of the technology; Identify other party’s anticipated positions, needs, and wants during negotiation to finalize deal; Evaluate potential licensee business/technology development plan in support of risk assessment; Identify optimal licensee(s) and appropriate deal structures; Implement licensing strategies (e.g., bundling, inter-institutional, multiple agreements per technology) in context of the technology and applicable market(s); Negotiate term sheets and draft agreement language; Establish and maintain relationships with industry partners/collaborators; Work with Agreement Compliance team to support and meet objectives for agreement compliance; undertake primary role in addressing licenses that are out of compliance; Leverage existing relationships to support additional partnerships with MSU, including research, student recruiting, and further licensing opportunities with relevant MSU offices (e.g., Business Connect)
• Faculty Support – 10% 
  Develop and manage strong relationships with faculty inventors and prospective inventors; Provide guidance on material transfer, confidentiality, and data use agreements; Assist as necessary regarding intellectual property policies and procedures in support of grant applications with OSP/CGA; Collaborate with Spartan Innovations and other relevant groups in support of MSU researcher-led and MSU technology-based startup companies; Participate in educational and in-reach programs to MSU faculty and researchers including department seminars, research symposiums, and university programs/committees
• Continuous Improvement, Strategic Initiatives and Professional Development – 5% 
  Continuous improvement of skills, tools, and systems in support of MSUT; Support key initiatives of other MSUT functions; Collaborate with other offices in the MSU Innovation Center, such as Business Connect to support sponsored research agreements and other types of collaborations developed via marketing activities; Develop annual Professional Development and Improvement Plan

Apply

Interested applicants can apply on the Careers@MSU website using the link: Assistant Director, Physical Sciences / Tech Transfer & Commerc., Asst Director - East Lansing, Michigan, United Stateshttps://careers.msu.edu/jobs/assistant-director-physical-sciences-tech-transfer-commerc-asst-director-east-lansing-michigan-united-states. The posting will accept applications through August 11, 2026 at 11:55pm.

Skill Set Requirements

• Technical Skills: Proficiency with use of a computer, phone, Zoom, MS Office Suite, Adobe, Technical STEM skills.
• Soft Skills: Strong written and verbal communication and the ability to communicate complex information and policies, problem-solving, negotiation, collaboration, time management, organizational skills, attention to detail, mentoring and multi-tasking.
• Experience: (required) Eight or more years* of progressively responsible experience in technology transfer, intellectual property licensing, or a related field, including prior supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience (desired) Experience in industry or academia, including progressively more responsible, independent and expansive work experience in the physical sciences or a related technical field; in-depth knowledge of and experience in the management and development of intellectual property, including knowledge of United States and foreign patent and licensing laws and regulations; history of successful licensing activities; supervisory experience leading professional staff.* Up to two years of required experience can be satisfied with the following qualifications: CLP or RTTP certification can be credited as one year of experience; a PhD in a relevant technical discipline can be credited as one year; experience as a licensing assistant, tech transfer fellow or similar full-time position can be credited at a 50% rate of the time in such position.
• Certifications: CLP or RTTP are available but not required.

Education Requirements

• Degree: Knowledge equivalent to that which would normally be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program, preferably in a life science, engineering, business, or legal field.
• Preferred Education: Advanced degree (e.g., MBA, PhD, Master’s degree, JD).
• Other Qualifications: Candidates must have the capacity to comply with federally mandated requirements of U.S. export control law.

Physical Demands

• Mobility: Ability to move around the office, travel when required, ability to read digital documents and use digital communication devices/services.
• Lifting: Occasional lifting required up to 25 pounds.
• Working Conditions: Work is completed in an office, or home office environment when not on business travel.