Associate Director of Agreements

Thecentermemphis; Memphis, Northern (TN, KY); Hybrid; USD 126,000 - 238,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital seeks an Associate Director of Agreements to lead negotiation, drafting, execution, and management of licenses, MTAs, DTAs, and other contracts supporting research and commercialization.

The role collaborates with investigators, research administration, legal counsel, and industry partners to advance scientific and business objectives. This position provides IP management support, facilitates industry engagement, and helps implement improved agreement

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in industry or an academic setting with a Bachelor's degree.
• Advanced degree (Master's or JD) preferred.
• Experience negotiating and managing MTAs, DTAs, CDAs/NDAs, collaboration, consulting, option and license agreements.
• Strong knowledge of intellectual property principles, patent processes, technology commercialization, and research compliance.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a subject matter expert for research, technology transfer, IP, and industry engagement agreements.
• Negotiate, draft, review, and manage a broad range of agreements including MTAs, DTAs, CDAs/NDAs, collaborations, inter-institutional and consulting agreements.
• Collaborate with investigators, legal counsel, and stakeholders to ensure agreements support research, IP protection, and commercialization goals.
• Identify, evaluate, and manage licensing opportunities and IP strategy.
• Monitor executed agreements for compliance with obligations and milestones.

Skills

Contract negotiation

IP management

Stakeholder management

Legal compliance

Research collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in a scientific discipline or business

Master's or JD preferred

Tools

Contract lifecycle management systems

IP management platforms

Job description

The Associate Director of Agreements serves as a key member of the Technology Development & Industry Engagement (TDIE) team and reports to the Director of Agreements. This position is responsible for the negotiation, drafting, execution, and management of a broad portfolio of research, technology transfer, and industry engagement agreements that support the institution's scientific, clinical, and business objectives.

This Associate Director functions as an institutional resource on agreement-related matters and collaborates extensively with investigators, research administration, legal counsel, and external academic and industry partners. The role provides expertise across a diverse range of agreements, including license agreements, material transfer agreements (MTAs), data transfer agreements (DTAs) and other research and commercialization-related contracts. The Associate Director also supports intellectual property management activities, facilitates strategic industry engagement opportunities, and contributes to the efficient operation and continuous improvement of the department.

This position may be eligible for remote work. However, St. Jude requires all remote employees to:

• Travel to our Memphis campus for the interview process and/or orientation, if selected
• Travel to Memphis to work on-site for one week per quarter, or as requested based on business needs, if hired.

By applying, you acknowledge and agree to these travel requirements as a condition of employment. This position is remote within approved U.S. locations. Due to state-specific employment regulations, we are unable to consider applicants currently residing in California for remote work; however, candidates based in California who are willing to relocate to an approved location may be considered.

Job Responsibilities

• Serve as a subject matter expert and institutional resource for research, technology transfer, intellectual property, and industry engagement agreements. Support the Director of Agreements in ensuring the efficient operation of the department and advancement of organizational objectives.
• Negotiate, draft, review, and manage a broad range of agreements, including but not limited to:
  • License and option agreements
  • Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs)
  • Data Transfer (DTAs)
  • Confidentiality/Non-Disclosure Agreements (CDAs/NDAs)
  • Collaboration agreements
  • Inter-institutional agreements
  • Consulting agreements
• Partner with investigators, research staff, legal counsel, and institutional stakeholders to ensure agreements appropriately support research, technology development, intellectual property protection, compliance obligations, and commercialization objectives.
• Collaborate with external academic institutions, biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical companies, and other industry partners to facilitate productive research collaborations and technology transfer opportunities.
• Identify, evaluate, and manage commercialization and licensing opportunities related to institutional intellectual property, including assessing commercial potential, supporting technology marketing efforts, conducting business analyses, and assisting with partner outreach activities.
• Monitor and administer executed agreements to ensure compliance with contractual obligations, reporting requirements, milestones, financial terms, and other key provisions.
• Support intellectual property management activities, including coordinating with inventors, patent counsel, and institutional stakeholders regarding patent prosecution, invention disclosures, and intellectual property strategy.
• Provide guidance and educational outreach to investigators and research personnel regarding intellectual property matters, agreement processes, industry engagement activities, and institutional policies and procedures.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of institutional research programs and scientific priorities through regular engagement with investigators, attendance at seminars, and participation in departmental and faculty meetings.
• Contribute to the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of agreement management processes, templates, workflows, and best practices.
• Represent the institution in professional organizations, industry forums, conferences, and external activities related to technology transfer, research collaboration, intellectual property, and industry engagement.
• Perform other related duties as assigned to support the goals and objectives of the department.
• Maintains regular and predictable attendance.

Minimum Education and/or Training

• Bachelor's Degree in a scientific discipline or business required.
• Advanced (Master's or JD) degree in scientific discipline, law, or business preferred.

Minimum Experience

• Ten (10) years of experience in industry or academic setting required with a Bachelor's degree.
• Eight (8) years of experience in industry or academic setting required with a Master's degree.

Preferred Experience

• Experience negotiating and managing a wide variety of research and technology transfer agreements, including MTAs, DTAs, CDAs/NDAs, collaboration agreements, consulting agreements, option agreements, and license agreements.
• Experience supporting academic medical centers, research institutions, biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical organizations, or technology transfer offices.
• Knowledge of intellectual property principles, patent prosecution processes, technology commercialization, and research compliance considerations.
• Experience working with investigators, research administration, legal counsel, and external industry partners in a highly collaborative environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex negotiations involving scientific, legal, business, and operational stakeholders.
• Experience utilizing contract lifecycle management systems, technology transfer databases, or intellectual property management platforms.
• Strong understanding of research collaboration frameworks, industry engagement models, and commercialization pathways.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, analytical, organizational, and relationship management skills.

Licensure, Registration and/or Certification Preferred

• Registration to file and prosecute patents before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) preferred.

Compensation

In recognition of certain U.S. state and municipal pay transparency laws, St. Jude is including a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This is an estimate offered in good faith and a specific salary offer takes into account factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the salary range and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current salary range is $125,840 - $238,160 per year for the role of Associate Director of Agreements.

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St. Jude is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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