Associate Licensing Manager

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Allenspark (CO); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental plan

Retirement plan

Tuition assistance

ECO Pass for local transit

Job summary

University of Colorado Boulder is seeking an Associate Licensing Manager for Physical Sciences to advance IP commercialization and industry collaborations within its Venture Partners. You will manage a portfolio of inventions, build relationships with faculty and industry partners, and guide inventors through education and funding resources to form startups or partnerships.

You will draft and negotiate IP agreements, coordinate with contracts and grants, and help implement IP strategies across

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or physical sciences from an accredited institution.
• Experience in technology and IP management, licensing and/or innovation commercialization roles.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of inventions in engineering and physical sciences.
• Draft, negotiate, and manage IP agreements, licenses, and joint-owner plans.
• Collaborate with faculty, graduate students, and industry partners to advance innovations.
• Support venture programs for licensees and engage ecosystem partners.

Skills

Entrepreneurial mindset

Negotiation skills

Relationship building

Organizational skills

Team collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or physical sciences

Graduate degree in engineering/physical sciences or MBA/JD

Job description

Job Summary

Venture Partners CU Boulder is excited to announce an opening for acollaborative team member with a passion for innovation. TheAssociate Licensing Manager for Physical Sciences is responsiblefor managing innovations and their intellectual property (IP) fromworld leading scientists and engineers, and is a central figure inthe CU Boulder entrepreneurial ecosystem. The contributions of theAssociate Licensing Manager are integral to Venture Partners’mission to translate research innovation into positive social andeconomic impact.

The Associate Licensing Manager catalyzes the commercialization ofresearch innovations. To promote successful commercialization, theAssociate Licensing Manager uses an entrepreneurial approach andskills to guide the inventors through entrepreneur education andfunding resources, as well as building a startup or industrypartnerships. The Associate Licensing Manager has the confidenceand interpersonal skills necessary to connect withth senior levelfaculty, administration, and industry partner executives, and theability to build relationships within the campus andecosystem.

The Associate Licensing Manager uses best practices to ensure IPstrategy and related transactions meet high quality of professionalcriteria including all pertinent policies, regulations, and lawsassociated with the management of IP.

The Associate Licensing Manager will report to the AssistantDirector of Licensing at Venture Partners.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with allapplicable federal, state, and local laws governingnondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating aworkplace where all individuals are treated with respect anddignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds toapply, including protected veterans and individuals withdisabilities.

Who We Are

CU Boulder is one of 34 U.S. public research institutions belongingto the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU)—andthe only member in the Rocky Mountain region. Our goal is todirectly benefit the world through collaborative research,innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Boulder has been ranked by Forbes as the best city in America inwhich to start a business, and as the top city in America byBloomberg’s Brain Concentration Index.

Venture Partners is the commercialization arm for CU Boulder and arecognized national leader in translating university research intomarket-ready solutions and products. CU Boulder has spun out 11unicorns—a startup valued at $1 billion or more while stillprivately held—including Infleqtion, Forge Nano, Ball Aerospace& Technologies, Amgen and SomaLogic. In fiscal year 2024, CUBoulder launched more startups based on university intellectualproperty than any other U.S. campus that year. In addition toholding the No. 1 spot for that year, the achievement also placedCU Boulder No. 2 for the most startups launched in a single year bya U.S. campus.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Licensing

• Manage a portfolio of inventions in various areas ofengineering and physical sciences.
• Build strong relationships with faculty, graduate students andpost-doctoral inventors.
• Solicit and assess early inventions, including analysis of thepotential value proposition, intellectual property (IP), andtechnology readiness.
• Implement IP strategies for the protection, prosecution, and enforcement of patent and other IP rights within a portfolio.
• Liaise with and advise the CU Boulder contracts and grants unitto ensure IP strategies align with IP terms in sponsored researchcontracts.
• Interface closely with Venture Partners’ team members andresources for advancing innovations, including participation in ourvarious startup development programming.
• Prioritize portfolio assets and make optimal referrals toresources for inventor education, mentorship, funding, licenseeidentification, and startup formation.
• Provide portfolio expertise for ecosystem partners such asaccelerators, incubators, and investors.
• Draft, negotiate, and manage a variety of IP agreements,including options, licenses, and joint-owner management plans.

Programs & Support

• Support key venture partner programs for licensees.

What You Should Know

• This position offers a hybrid work modality with 3 days perweek in the office.
• We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.

What We Can Offer

The hiring range for this position is $70,000-$80,000.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder , we arecommitted to supporting the holistic health and well-being of ouremployees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical,dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuitionassistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for localtransit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulderoffers an inspiring academic community and access to world-classoutdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs throughthe CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or physical sciences from anaccredited institution.
• Experience in technology and IP management, licensing and/orinnovation commercialization roles.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience maysubstitute.

What You Will Need

• A creative and entrepreneurial approach
• Demonstrated ability to lead the negotiation and execution ofIP agreements
• Ability to identify the needs of early-stage innovations, andthe tenacity to pursue the right connections for those needs
• Impeccable professionalism, communication, and relationalmaturity in all interactions with faculty and business leaders
• Ability to thrive within a team matrix
• Excellent organization and attention to detail for a largeportfolio and high deal volume
• Positive demeanor with the ability to adapt to newsituations
• Collaborative and problem-solving approach
• Ability to build productive relationships with people from adiverse set of backgrounds and perspectives in a collaborative andinclusive environment

What We Would Like You to Have

• Graduate degree in engineering, physical sciences, and advancedprofessional degree, such as an MBA or JD
• 2+ years of commercialization experience of deep techinnovation that included management of a large inventionportfolioExperience managing a large portfolio of inventions andpatents
• Startup or other entrepreneurial experience and/or corporateexperience

Please apply by 8/6/26 for consideration.