Innovation/IP Portfolio Manager

University of South Carolina; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 64,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and Life Insurance

Retirement Programs

Paid Tuition

Dependent Scholarships

Annual Leave

Sick Leave

13 Paid Holidays (including anextended

Paid Parental Leave

Professional Development Opportunities

Job summary

The University of South Carolina in Columbia is seeking an Innovation/IP Portfolio Manager to drive assessment, de-risking, marketing, and licensing of the university’s IP portfolio. You will build relationships with faculty to align research capabilities with industry needs and commercialization opportunities.

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Economic Engagement, this role manages prospect development, market intelligence, and stakeholder engagement across diverse sectors to increase

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field and 2+ years of related experience.
• Master’s degree and 3-5 years in university tech transfer or technology-based business development preferred.
• Knowledge of intellectual property law.
• Ability to build strong relationships with university leadership, faculty, and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Intellectual Property / Innovation Assessment, Marketing and Licensing: review innovations for IP strength, market potential, and potential commercialization; engage inventors and external experts to identify market problems and value propositions.
• Faculty Research and Innovation Mapping and Marketing: build relationships with faculty to understand capabilities and resources; market innovations to industry partners and assist in securing commercialization funding.
• Prospect Development and Pipeline Management: perform due diligence and market intelligence to cultivate prospective relationships; maintain engagement with decision-makers and pursue opportunities to increase licensing.
• Proposal and Transaction Development: assist with proposals and agreements highlighting University strengths and addressing client needs; support special projects.

Skills

Innovation Management

Partnerships

Industry Engagement

Technology Licensing

Market Research

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Job description

Posting Number:

STA00628PO26

Job Family:

Operational Analysis

Job Function:

Partnerships & Initiatives

USC Market Title:

Business Development Associate

Job Level:

P2 - Professional

Business Title (Internal Title):

Innovation/IP Portfolio Manager

Campus:

Columbia

Work County:

Richland

College/Division:

Office of Economic Engagement

Department:

Office of Economic Engagement

State Pay Range:

G10

USC Market Range:

MRH - $63,557 $79,446 $95,336

Anticipated Hiring Range:

Salary commensurate with qualifications

Part/Full Time:

Full Time

Hours per Week:

37.5

Work Schedule:

• Standard working schedule: 8:30am – 5:00pm
• Must be willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the department.

About University of South Carolina:

From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

Veterans' Preference Statement:

The University of South Carolina is committed to equal opportunity and proudly values the skills and experience military veterans bring to our workforce. Across South Carolina, we are making veterans a priority for employment and recognize their vital contributions to our state and our communities.

Advertised Job Summary:

The Office of Economic Engagement is seeking to hire an Innovation/IP Portfolio Manager to join our team.
Reporting to the Deputy Director of Economic Engagement, the Innovation/IP Portfolio Manager is responsible for the collaboration of strategies to assess, de-risk, protect, market, and license / commercialize innovations and technologies within the University’s Technology Commercialization Office intellectual property portfolio. This position builds strong, collaborative relationships with faculty to understand research capabilities and unique institutional assets, aligning them with industry needs and commercialization funding opportunities. This position actively prospects and manages relationships with decision-makers across diverse industry sectors, promotes the University’s research and economic development strengths, and increases industry-sponsored research and licensing activity.

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience:

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job related field and 2 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in business or related field. 3-5 years of experience in university technology transfer or technology-based business development/sales; demonstrated experience in venture creation and business incubation.
• Demonstrated experience in technology assessment & evaluation.
• Working knowledge of intellectual property law.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Skills in university technology transfer or technology-based business development/sales.
• Skills in venture creation and business incubation.
• Skills in technology assessment & evaluation.
• Knowledge of intellectual property law.
• Ability to create strong relations with university leadership and external stakeholders.

Job Duty:

Intellectual Property / Innovation Assessment, Marketing and Licensing

Review innovations for intellectual property strength, technology readiness level, market potential, size, and growth, and potential commercialization, for technologies in the TCO portfolio. Engage University inventors and prospect external subject matter experts through customer discovery to identify market problems, value propositions, and unique technology features. Use market intelligence to identify and promote technologies to high-potential commercialization partners.

Essential Function: Yes

Percentage of Time: 35

Job Duty:

Faculty Research and Innovation Mapping and Marketing

Build strong relationships with faculty to understand research capabilities and unique resources. Assist in marketing innovations and research capabilities to industry partners and assist faculty in securing commercialization funding. Assist in in-reach efforts to internal stakeholders on technology transfer and industry engagement challenges and opportunities. Serve as a liaison between the TCO and faculty researchers, research staff, and students as well as other offices, centers and institutes within the University environment.

Essential Function: Yes

Percentage of Time: 35

Job Duty:

Prospect Development and Pipeline Management

Perform due diligence and market intelligence to aid in identifying and assist in cultivating prospective relationships across a wide variety of market segments. Maintain consistent engagement with decision-makers, document progress per TCO standards, and rigorously pursue target opportunities. Promote University resources to increase industry-sponsored research and licensing.

Essential Function: Yes

Percentage of Time: 20

Job Duty:

Proposal and Transaction Development

Assist with the preparation of proposals and agreements that highlight University strengths and address client needs. Demonstrate familiarity with transactional mechanisms to aid in formalizing partnerships and agreements with industry and corporate clients. Assist with special projects and initiatives as needed.

Essential Function: Yes

Percentage of Time: 10

Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive:

No

Hazardous weather category:

Non-Essential

Number of Vacancies:

1

Job Open Date:

08/19/2026

Job Close Date:

09/02/2026

Open Until Filled:

No

• Health and Life Insurance
• Retirement Programs
• Paid Tuition
• Dependent Scholarships
• Annual Leave
• Sick Leave
• 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Professional Development Opportunities

EEO Statement:

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law.