Licensing Manager - Chemistry/Material Science

University of Colorado Boulder; Boulder (CO); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Relocation funds available

Job summary

University of Colorado Boulder is seeking a Licensing Manager for Venture Partners to oversee IP from leading scientists and engineers and catalyze commercialization of research innovations.

You will guide inventors through entrepreneur education, funding resources, and building startups or industry partnerships, ensuring IP strategies meet university policies and high professional standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science or related physical sciences from an accredited institution.
• 3+ years of experience in IP management, licensing and/or innovation commercialization roles.
• Graduate degree (MBA or JD) or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of inventions across chemical engineering, chemistry, materials science and related physical sciences.
• Build strong relationships with faculty, graduate students and post-doctoral inventors.
• Solicit and assess early inventions, including analysis of potential value proposition, IP, and technology readiness.
• Implement IP strategies for protection, prosecution, and enforcement of patent and other IP rights within a portfolio.
• Liaise with and advise the CU Boulder contracts and grants unit to ensure IP strategies align with IP terms in sponsored research contracts.
• Interface closely with Venture Partners’ team members and resources for advancing innovations.
• Prioritize portfolio assets and refer to resources for inventor education, mentorship, funding, licensee identification, and startup formation.
• Provide portfolio expertise for ecosystem partners such as accelerators, incubators, and investors.
• Draft, negotiate, and manage IP agreements, including options, licenses, and joint-owner management plans.

Skills

Creative & entrepreneurial

Stakeholder relations

Team collaboration

Organizational skills

Communication

Problem solving

Cross-functional

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science or related physical sciences

Graduate degree (MBA or JD) or equivalent

Job description

Job Summary

Venture Partners CU Boulder is excited to announce an opening for a collaborative team member with a passion for innovation. The Licensing Manager is responsible for managing innovations and their intellectual property (IP) from world leading scientists and engineers, and is a central figure in the CU Boulder entrepreneurial ecosystem. The contributions of the Licensing Manager are integral to Venture Partners’ mission to translate research innovation into positive social and economic impact. The Licensing Manager catalyzes the commercialization of research innovations. To promote successful commercialization, the Licensing Manager uses an entrepreneurial approach. They guide inventors through entrepreneur education, funding resources, and building startups or industry partnerships. The Licensing Manager has the confidence and interpersonal skills necessary to connect with senior level faculty, administration, and industry partner executives, and the ability to build relationships within the campus and ecosystem. The Licensing Manager uses best practices to ensure IP strategy and related transactions meet high quality of professional criteria including all pertinent policies, regulations, and laws associated with the management of IP. T his position will report to the Assistant Director of Licensing. CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

CU Boulder is one of 34 U.S. public research institutions belonging to the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU)—and the only member in the Rocky Mountain region. Our goal is to directly benefit the world through collaborative research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Boulder has been ranked by Forbes as the best city in America in which to start a business, and as the top city in America by Bloomberg’s Brain Concentration Index. The Innovation & Partnerships team within CU Boulder's Research & Innovation Office is translating groundbreaking discoveries into new solutions, businesses and partnerships, connecting the university's research strengths with industry, government, and entrepreneurial partners across sectors like Aerospace & Defense, Biosciences, Advanced Energy & Sustainability, and Quantum. The team builds and manages strategic industry relationships, guiding partnerships from first contact through structured collaboration, lowering barriers to innovation by connecting partners with top talent and supporting scalable collaboration. Working alongside CU Boulder's research institutes, tech transfer, and contracting offices, the team helps faculty and external partners move ideas from concept to real-world impact, while supporting the university’s broader goal of growing industry-sponsored research and workforce development opportunities.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• Manage a portfolio of inventions in various areas of chemical engineering, chemistry, materials science and related physical sciences.


• Build strong relationships with faculty, graduate students and post-doctoral inventors.


• Solicit and assess early inventions, including analysis of the potential value proposition, intellectual property (IP), and technology 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 unit to ensure IP strategies align with IP terms in sponsored research contracts.


• Interface closely with Venture Partners’ team members and resources for advancing innovations.


• Prioritize portfolio assets and make optimal referrals to resources for inventor education, mentorship, funding, licensee identification, and startup formation.


• Provide portfolio expertise for ecosystem partners such as accelerators, incubators, and investors.


• Draft, negotiate, and manage a variety of IP agreements, including options, licenses, and joint-owner management plans.

What You Should Know

• Hybrid work modality with a minimum of 2-3 days per week on-site in Boulder.


• We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.

What We Can Offer

The hiring range for this position is $100,000-$130,000. Relocation funds are available for eligible candidates.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder , we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one of Forbes' America's Best Large Employers , ranking #4 among large employers in Colorado and #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science or related physical sciences from an accredited institution.


• 3+ years of experience in IP management, licensing and/or innovation commercialization roles.


• A combination of education and experience may substitute.

What You Will Need

• A creative and entrepreneurial approach.


• Ability to identify the needs of early-stage innovations, and the tenacity to pursue the right connections for those needs.


• Outstanding professionalism, communication, and relational maturity in all interactions with faculty and business leaders.


• Ability to thrive within a team matrix.


• Excellent organization and attention to detail for a large portfolio and high deal volume.


• Positive demeanor with the ability to adapt to new situations.


• Collaborative and problem-solving approach.


• Sensitivity to and appreciation of cultural, political and geographical differences, with the ability to work. well with faculty, staff and students from around the world.

What We Would Like You To Have

• A graduate degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science or related physical sciences, or an advanced professional degree, such as an MBA or JD.


• 5+ years of licensing experience in commercialization of deep tech innovation that included management of a large invention portfolio.


• Experience managing a large portfolio of inventions and patents.


• Demonstrated ability to lead the negotiation and execution of IP agreements.


• Startup or other entrepreneurial experience and/or corporate experience.

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.