Innovation Manager

umd; College Park (MD); On-site; USD 123,000 - 148,000; Full time

Job summary

UM Ventures, College Park seeks an Innovation Manager to oversee university innovations from disclosure through licensing, including patents, trademarks, and copyrights. Interaction with faculty, staff, students, patent attorneys, joint owners, and licensees is required.

Responsibilities include assessing innovations, marketing preparation, and managing IP activities with external counsel under the Executive Director’s oversight. Strong negotiation and marketing skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Three (3) years of professional patents, copyrights, trademarks, or commercializing technology experience.
• Experience with intellectual property protection and commercialization.
• Ability to interpret policies, procedures, regulations, and laws; multitask and maintain customer service.

Responsibilities

• Assess innovations and determine marketability, including preparing marketing information.
• Prepare confidential disclosure agreements and license agreements aligned with UM Ventures standards.
• Coordinate IP protection activities with external counsel and manage related tasks.
• Negotiate terms and draft agreements consistent with UM Ventures’ standard forms.

Skills

Negotiation

Marketing

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Problem solving

Independent work

Education

Ph.D. Preferred

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree / MBA / JD

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description Summary

Organization's Summary Statement:
UM Ventures, College Park accelerates knowledge creation and dissemination that can scale the impact of UMD research by transforming laboratory discoveries into products and services that deliver economic and societal benefit.

In its mission to scale UMD impact, UM Ventures, College Park leverages a variety of services and resources for faculty, staff, and students to protect intellectual property, build partnerships with business and government, and return investment to the University and its stakeholders through technology licensing and startup formation. From the laboratory to the marketplace, UM Ventures, College Park provides end-to-end support for researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry partners.

Job Description Summary:
The Innovation Manager manages innovations originating across the University of Maryland’s research enterprise, from disclosure through marketing, licensing, and issuing and maintaining patents, copyrights, and trademarks. This position requires interaction with faculty, staff, students, patent attorneys, joint owners, and licensees (current and potential).

The Innovation Manager’s responsibilities include but are not limited to: assessment of the innovations, determination of the marketability (including preparation of concise marketing information) and appropriate intellectual property protection required (e.g., patent, trademark, and/or copyright); preparation and execution of confidential disclosure agreements; negotiation of terms and preparation of draft license agreements consistent with UMD’s standard form agreements for review and signature of the Executive Director, UM Ventures; and management of intellectual property activities of external legal counsel. The Innovation Manager reports to the Executive Director of UM Ventures, College Park.

PREFERENCES:

Education:
Ph.D. Preferred.
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with six (6) years of experience; or Master’s degree; MBA; or law (JD) and at least four (4) years of related experience.

Experience:
Relevant experience in commercializing technology may include experience in entrepreneurship, technology transfer, licensing, or business development in an academic, government, or corporate setting.
Experience with intellectual property (patents, copyright, trademark protection); working knowledge of open-source licenses.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Working knowledge of federal and state laws regarding technology transfer and intellectual property.
• Understanding of commercialization processes.
• Technical background and ability to understand/interpret a wide range of innovations.
• Ability to understand business and legal concepts relevant to technology transfer and communicate the same effectively.
• Ability to interact effectively in an academic and corporate setting.
• Ability to problem solve and work both independently and collaboratively with colleagues.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Possess strong negotiation and marketing skills.
• Ability to work on multiple tasks at the same time and under time constraints.
• Ability to handle sensitive matters with discretion and tact while maintaining confidentiality.
• Ability to project a professional and positive image of the office and the university.
• Independent self-starter with a strong work ethic.

Licenses/Certifications: N/A

Physical Demands:
Sedentary work performed in a normal office environment; exerts up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Ability to attend meetings both on and off campus. Spending long hours in front of a computer screen.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Experience: Three (3) years of professional patents, copyrights, trademarks, or commercializing technology experience. The position may or may not involve supervisory responsibilities.
Other: Additional work experience as defined above may be substituted on a year for year basis for up to four (4) years of the required education.

Knowledge of federal and state laws regarding technology transfer and intellectual property.
Knowledge of commercialization processes.
Skill in oral and written communication.
Skill in the use of Microsoft Office products.
Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, regulations, and laws.
Ability to multitask while demonstrating a commitment to customer service.

Additional Job Details

Required Application Materials: Resume, Cover Letter, and Transcript.

Best Consideration Date: September 2, 2026

Open Until Filled: Y

Job Risks

Not Applicable to This Position

Financial Disclosure Required

No

Department

VPR-EconDev-UM Ventures, College Park

Worker Sub-Type

Staff Regular

Salary Range

$123280 to $147936

Benefits Summary

For more information on Regular Exempt benefits, select this link.

Background Checks

Offers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify anyone from employment. Before any adverse decision, the finalist will have an opportunity to provide information to the University regardingdisclosablebackground checkinformation. The University reserves the right to rescind the offer of employment or otherwise decline or terminate employment if the information reported by the background check is deemed incompatible with the position, regardless of when the background check is completed.

Employment Eligibility

The successful candidate must complete employment eligibility verification (on Form I-9) by presenting documents that establish identity and work authorization within the timeframe required by federal immigration law, and where applicable, to demonstrate renewed employment authorization. Failure to complete employment eligibility verification or reverification within the timeframe set forth by law may result in suspension or termination of employment.

EEO Statement

The University of Maryland, College Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment. Please read the University’s Equal Employment Opportunity Statement of Policy.

Resources

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