Manager, Technology Licensing - Physical Science

University of Southern California; Glendale (CA); On-site; USD 97,263 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Southern California seeks an Licensing Manager in engineering and physical sciences to manage a portfolio of university inventions and support IP development, marketing, and licensing. The role interfaces with faculty, researchers, and external partners to identify commercial applications and drive licensing opportunities.

The ideal candidate holds a PhD in physical sciences or related field, with strong organizational, communication, and negotiation skills, and a background in

Qualifications

• PhD in physical sciences or related field preferred.
• Experience in licensing or technology transfer is preferred but not required.
• Ability to analyze markets, patent landscapes and potential commercial applications.
• Strong organizational, time-management, and written/oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of university-owned engineering and physical sciences inventions and support IP development, protection, marketing, and licensing.
• Interact with faculty and researchers to learn about technologies in electronics, telecommunications, computing and big data analytics, energy, nanotechnology, and advanced materials.
• Assess inventions and identify commercial applications through market research and patent landscape analysis.
• Identify potential partners for university inventions and market them to appropriate prospects.
• Negotiate and close non-complex licenses and related agreements and oversee internal diligence before signing.
• Assist in managing complex IP portfolios.
• Coordinate efforts with USC Stevens staff, researchers, partners, law firms, and others; maintain up-to-date records in databases.
• Contribute to process improvement to deliver high-quality service to inventors and partners.

Skills

Organization skills

Communication skills

Negotiation

Research & analysis

Technology transfer

Education

PhD in physical sciences

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Manager, Technology Licensing - Physical Science

The USC Stevens Center for Innovation seeks outstanding candidates for the position of Licensing Manager in engineering and physical sciences.

The USC Stevens Center is a university-wide resource whose mission is to help USC innovators make maximum impact with their ideas. As part of this role, the Center manages the university's intellectual property portfolio stemming from USC's approximately $1 billion in annual research expenditures and oversees related patenting, technology marketing, licensing, and new venture development activity aimed at transitioning university innovations into commercial applications for the benefit of society. Licensing Managers play a key role in supporting these efforts.

The best candidates will have an advanced degree in either chemistry, material sciences, applied physics, or engineering (preferably electrical engineering), a passion for emerging technologies, very strong organization and communication skills, and a desire to learn and grow. Prior licensing and/or technology assessment experience is preferred but not required. This position provides an opportunity for an entrepreneurial-minded physical science graduate to play an active and critical role as new technologies move from idea to market, contributing to innovative approaches in innovation management and licensing within an ambitious academic institution.

Job Accountabilities

• Manage a portfolio of university-owned engineering and physical sciences inventions and support intellectual property development, protection, marketing, and licensing.
• Interact with faculty and researchers, learning about exciting new technologies in electronics, telecommunications, computing and big data analytics, energy, nanotechnology, and advanced materials.
• Assist with the assessment of inventions and the identification of commercial applications through research and analysis of markets, competitive technologies, prior art, and patent landscape.
• Identify potential commercial applications and business partners for university inventions.
• Market university inventions through multiple channels to prospects capable of bringing the inventions to market.
• Negotiate and complete non-complex licenses and related agreements, including the development of business terms and overseeing internal diligence procedures prior to agreement signing.
• Assist in the management of complex intellectual property portfolios.
• Coordinate efforts on a wide range of activities with other USC Stevens staff members, university researchers, business partners, law firms, and others; track activities in databases and ensure that information is up to date.
• Contribute to ongoing process improvement to enable the USC Stevens Center to deliver high-quality, professional service to a growing base of inventors and business partners.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• PhD in a physical sciences field

Experience:

• 1 year of experience in a corporate or university technology transfer and business development setting.
• Ability to gather information and perform research utilizing databases and other online sources.
• Experience directly relevant to evaluating the market potential of early-stage software and inventions in engineering/physical sciences industries, and identifying commercial potential.
• Understanding of the patent prosecution process.
• Highly self‑motivated with outstanding organization and time‑management skills.
• Ability to juggle multiple tasks and complete projects on a timely basis, working both independently and as part of a team.
• Eager to take ownership of projects.
• Requires a high level of attention to detail.
• Outstanding communication skills and ability to convey technical concepts.
• Demonstrated ability to develop relationships with collaborators.
• Customer service oriented.
• Demonstrated perseverance and problem‑solving skills.

Field of Expertise

• Knowledge of patent and contract law
• Business Development experience

Minimum Education:

• Bachelor's degree in a scientific or engineering discipline.

Minimum Experience:

• 1 year

Additional Experience Requirements:

• Technology commercialization experience, with proven evidence of leading and executing numerous moderately complex licensing deals.
• Demonstrated financial management and software skills.
• Demonstrated ability to influence, negotiate, and interact with internal constituencies, external business partners, and senior leadership.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills, and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to establish priorities, leading and owning time-sensitive and complex projects from inception to completion.

Annual base salary range: $97,263.28 - $110,000.00. When extending an offer, the University of Southern California considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, and external market and organizational considerations.

Application Procedure: As part of the application, candidates must upload one document file (Word or PDF) that contains a cover letter and a resume (including telephone and e‑mail address).