Senior Director, Technology Transfer & Business Development

Buck Institute; Novato (CA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 290,000; Full time

Job summary

Buck Institute for Research on Aging in Novato, CA seeks a Senior Director of Technology Transfer & Business Development to lead the deal-making function, negotiate licenses, and manage government agreements. You will build and oversee program management systems, supervise a team, and work with faculty and external partners to translate Buck technologies into impact.

This role requires a distinguished track record in life sciences licensing, strong negotiation skills, and strategic alliance

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in biological sciences, chemistry, MD, JD or MBA with substantial related experience.
• 8+ years in tech transfer, licensing, business development or alliance management in life sciences.
• Proven record as lead negotiator on licenses, sponsored research and collaborations.
• Experience with government agreements (OTAs) preferred; strong team leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead negotiations of exclusive/non-exclusive licenses, corporate sponsored research, and collaborations.
• Structure deal terms including upfronts, milestones, royalties, IP ownership and data rights.
• Prepare term sheets, draft and redline agreements through execution with outside counsel.
• Oversee program and alliance management, governance structures and reporting.

Skills

Deal negotiation

Alliance management

Tech transfer

Contract drafting

Staff development

IP knowledge

Communication

Education

Advanced degree

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Director, Technology Transfer & Business Development leads the Buck Institute's deal-making function and plays a key leadership role in business development and alliance management. Reporting to the Executive Vice President, Partnering & Administration, this individual serves as the Institute's lead negotiator for technology licenses, corporate sponsored research and collaboration agreements, and U.S. Government agreements, including Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs), and is responsible for building the program and alliance management systems that carry those agreements through execution. The Senior Director works closely with Institute leadership, faculty, and external partners to structure, negotiate and execute complex agreements, oversees the processes to effectively manage these relationships following execution, including contract revisions and amendments as programs evolve. The position also provides leadership for the Institute’s core technology transfer responsibilities including protecting, managing, and commercializing Buck intellectual property in compliance with applicable law, sponsor requirements, and Institute policies.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Deal Leadership and Negotiation (primary responsibility)

• Serve as the Institute's lead negotiator for exclusive and non-exclusive license agreements, option agreements, corporate sponsored research agreements, research collaborations, and hybrid license-and-collaboration structures.
• Lead negotiations of U.S. Government agreements, including Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs), cooperative agreements and contracts with ARPA-H, DARPA and other federal sponsors, including terms governing intellectual property, data rights, milestones, payable events and consortium or subaward arrangements.
• Structure deal terms, including upfront and milestone payments, royalties, equity, diligence obligations, IP ownership, data rights, publication rights, indemnification and termination provisions, to maximize scientific impact and return to the Institute. Model deal economics and present recommendations to the EVP.
• Prepare term sheets and draft, review and redline agreements through execution, engaging outside counsel as needed.
• Partner with the EVP and faculty on deal origination. Qualify inbound opportunities and run the deal process, including diligence, from first contact through signature.
• Support company formation and spinouts, including startup licenses, equity terms and coordination with compliance on faculty conflict-of-interest management.
• Provide guidance to team members responsible for negotiating supporting agreements, including confidentiality agreements, material transfer agreements, data use and data transfer agreements, inter-institutional agreements, and service agreements.

Program and Alliance Management

• Provide leadership for the Institute's program and alliance management function, including governance structures (e.g., joint steering committees and project teams), operating procedures, templates and reporting.
• Ensure every executed agreement has an operating plan that tracks obligations, deliverables, milestones, payment schedules, reporting deadlines and decision points from kickoff through close-out.
• Serve as, or oversee, the alliance manager for major relationships by controlling information flow, facilitating forward progress and managing stakeholders across Buck laboratories and partner organizations. Anticipate and resolve disagreements before they elevate.
• Lead contractual revisions during operations, including amendments, scope and budget changes, milestone renegotiations, no-cost extensions, option exercises, assignments and terminations.
• For government programs, manage milestone-based deliverables, required reporting and agreement modifications in coordination with Finance and Sponsored Research.
• Implement and maintain systems for tracking agreement obligations, revenue and compliance, including a contract and IP management database.

Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property

• Manage the invention evaluation disclosure process. Assess disclosures for patentability and commercial potential and make recommendations on patent filing, prosecution and maintenance, working with outside patent counsel within budget.
• Work with inventors to market Buck technologies, data assets and platform capabilities to prospective licensees, corporate partners and investors consistent with the Institute's mission.
• Ensure compliance with Institute intellectual property and conflict-of-interest policies.
• Advise and educate faculty on intellectual property, their obligations and the Institute's, and pathways to commercialization.
• Monitor licensee performance, including royalty reports, diligence milestones, sublicensing and audit rights, as needed.
• Maintain and update Institute technology transfer and IP policies and stay current on legislation, federal funding mechanisms and market trends.

Team Leadership and Reporting

• Lead and collaborate with a team of technology transfer, contracts and alliance management professionals. Set priorities and manage workflow across the deal and alliance portfolio.
• Collaborate closely with Finance, Sponsored Research, Legal, Compliance, Philanthropy and scientists.
• Provide regular reports on the deal pipeline, IP portfolio and active alliances to the EVP for use with Board committees and the Board of Trustees.
• Perform other duties as required or assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced degree (PhD in the biological sciences or chemistry, MD, JD or MBA) or master’s degree combined with substantial directly relevant experience may be considered. A combination of scientific training with legal or business training is strongly preferred.

Experience

• 8+ years' of progressively responsible experience in technology transfer, licensing, business development or alliance management in the life sciences, including at least 5 years in a biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry setting.
• Demonstrated track record as lead negotiator on license, sponsored research and collaboration agreements.
• Direct experience negotiating Other Transaction Agreements or other federal agreements (e.g., ARPA-H, DARPA, BARDA, DoD) preferred.
• Experience establishing or running an alliance or program management function.
• Experience managing, mentoring, and developing staff.

License or Certification

• Certified Licensing Professional (CLP) or Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP) preferred; not required.

Specialized Skills (in place or to be learned)

• Expert negotiator with sound judgment on when to hold a position and when to close, and the ability to preserve long-term partner relationships through difficult negotiations.
• Working knowledge of intellectual property law, the Bayh-Dole Act, federal acquisition and assistance frameworks including Other Transaction authority, and contract law as applied to licensing and research agreements.
• Strong financial acumen, including deal valuation and modeling of royalty, milestone and equity terms preferred.
• Scientific fluency sufficient to evaluate technologies and engage credibly with faculty and partner scientists across basic biology, computational biology and AI, and clinical research.
• Team-oriented leader who builds durable processes and systems rather than relying on individual effort.
• Outstanding drafting, written and verbal communication skills, with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Extremely well organized, with the ability to manage multiple complex negotiations and relationships simultaneously.
• Exercises judgment and tact, and maintains a strict degree of confidentiality.
• Interacts effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and viewpoints.
• Highly proficient with Microsoft Office and contract or IP management databases.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The anticipated salary range for this position is $200,000 to $290,000 annually. Actual compensation will be based on relevant experience, qualifications, internal equity, and other job-related factors. The Buck Institute offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance.

PHYSICAL AND WORK REQUIREMENTS

Ability to perform essential functions of the position without accommodation. The position primarily involves computer-based work, participation in meetings, review and preparation of complex documents, and frequent communication with internal and external stakeholders. The role requires regular movement between offices, laboratories and meeting locations on the Institute campus. Occasional business travel may be required. The position may require participation in meetings or negotiations outside normal business hours to accommodate external partners, government agencies, and stakeholders in different time zones.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by most people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and requirements. Responsibilities may change as organizational and business needs evolve.