Innovation/IP Portfolio Manager

State of South Carolina; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement programs

Paid tuition

Dependent scholarships

Annual leave

Sick leave

13 paid holidays

Paid parental leave

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

The Office of Economic Engagement at the University of South Carolina seeks an Innovation/IP Portfolio Manager to oversee strategies for assessing, de-risking, protecting, marketing, and licensing university innovations. You will collaborate with faculty to understand research capabilities and align them with industry needs and commercialization opportunities.

Reporting to the Deputy Director, you will build relationships with external stakeholders, manage industry partnerships, and promote USC

Qualifications

• Experience in university technology transfer or technology-based business development/sales.
• Experience in venture creation and business incubation.
• Experience in technology assessment & evaluation.
• Knowledge of intellectual property law.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate to assess, de-risk, protect, market and license university innovations.
• Build relationships with faculty to align research with industry needs.
• Prospect and manage relationships with industry decision-makers.
• Promote USC strengths to increase licensing activity and sponsored research.

Skills

Tech transfer

Business development

Sales

IP knowledge

Education

Master's degree in business or related field

Job description

Job Responsibilities

Innovation/IP Portfolio Manager Department: Office of Economic Engagement Advertised Salary Range: Part/Full Time: Full Time.

About UofSC

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.

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.

Minimum And Additional Requirements

• 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.

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.

Additional Comments

Job Close Date 09/02/2026

Special Instructions to ApplicantPositions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email. We are only accepting applications submitted by September 2, 2026.

• 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

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities on the basis of race, sex, gender, gender identity, transgender status, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetics, protected veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions.