Senior Licensing Associate

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV); Reno (NV); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance options

Dental and vision

Generous leave

Retirement plan with employer match

Tuition benefits

Fitness center

Job summary

The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) is recruiting for a Senior Licensing Associate, Enterprise & Commercialization. This role supports the commercialization of university innovations, managing technologies and contributing to evaluation, protection, marketing, and licensing of IP arising from university research.

You will work with faculty inventors, external advisors, and patent counsel to develop commercialization plans, engage industry partners, and structure licensing transactions to

Qualifications

• Experience in university technology transfer, intellectual property management, or related fields.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to assess market potential for university innovations.
• Experience with licensing or startup formation is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead engagement with faculty to identify promising technologies and licensing opportunities.
• Evaluate disclosures for patentability and commercialization potential.
• Develop commercialization plans including market research and marketing materials.
• Assist in structuring license deals and drafting term sheets.
• Manage IP portfolio and coordinate patent filings with counsel.

Skills

Technology transfer experience

IP management

Communication skills

Business development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, physical sciences, or related technical field

Master’s degree in engineering, computer science, physical sciences, or a closely related technical field

Job description

The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) appreciates your interest in employment at our growing institution. We want your application process to go smoothly and quickly. Final applications must be submitted prior to the close of the recruitment.If you need assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please contact our recruitment helpline at [phone] or [e-mail] .Job DescriptionThe University of Nevada, Reno is recruiting for a Senior Licensing Associate, Enterprise & Commercialization. This position is responsible for supporting the commercialization of university innovations. The position manages assigned technologies and contributes to the evaluation, protection, marketing, and licensing of intellectual property arising from university research. The Senior Licensing Associate performs technical, commercial, and competitive assessments of inventions; contributes to commercialization planning; and engages industry partners, investors, and entrepreneurs to help translate research discoveries into real-world impact.The Senior Licensing Associate works closely with faculty inventors, external advisors, and service providers to support technology development, structure licensing transactions, and assist with startup formation where appropriate.The role requires strong judgment in intellectual property strategy, market opportunity evaluation, and negotiation of complex agreements. The position also contributes to technology marketing initiatives, and ecosystem engagement efforts that strengthen the university’s innovation pipeline. This position reports to Assistant Vice President, Enterprise & Innovation (AVPEI)Duties/ResponsibilitiesEstablish strong rapport with faculty and other research staff; work with team members to provide effective and efficient services to faculty while maximizing IP and commercialization opportunities for the University;Lead engagement efforts with faculty to identify promising technologies and facilitate new sponsored research and licensing opportunities;Evaluate invention disclosures for patentability and commercialization potential;Maximize the commercial potential of technologies by developing a commercialization plan including conducting market research, authoring and publishing marketing materials, and identifying potential licensees;Assist in structuring license deals and drafting and negotiating term sheets and license agreements;Manage assigned intellectual property portfolio including managing IP protection for inventions in various stages of development; work with patent counsel to coordinate patent filings and prosecution matters.Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in engineering, computer science, physical sciences, or related technical field and five (5) years of related professional experience; OR a Master’s Degree in engineering, computer science, physical sciences, or a closely related technical field and three (3) years of related professional experience. Related Experience: Experience in university technology transfer, intellectual property management, research commercialization, industry R&D, technical business development or a related field.Schedule/Travel RequirementsOccasional local, regional, and national travelVariable hoursPreferred QualificationsPhD, in engineering, physical sciences or life/biological sciences.Ability to assess the potential of a nascent technology for commercial applications including startup opportunities and strategic partnerships.Demonstrated ability to develop marketing materials and to implement marketing strategies suitable for a given technology.Demonstrated proficiency in identifying potential industry partners and negotiating and closing licenses.Exceptional customer service mindset and approach that engenders confidence and trust among faculty and industry partners.Ability to function as a member of a diverse team including sponsored projects office, legal counsel, and economic development entities.Excellent communication skills and ability to prioritize and manage a diverse technology/IP portfolio.Registered Technology Transfer ProfessionalPatent agent registration with USPTOCompensation GradeAdministrative Faculty - CTo view the salary schedule for this position, please visit: Salary Schedules and select Administrative Faculty by Grade. Salary is competitive and commensurate with related education and experience.Remarkable RetirementOur retirement plan is beyond compare. Your 19.25% contribution is generously matched by the University. With the faculty retirement plan, you are 100% vested your first day. Sit back and watch your retirement dollars grow! All permanent employees on an annual "A" or "B" contract who are employed at least 50% full-time are eligible to participate in the NSHE retirement program unless they are members of PERS of Nevada.Perks of Working at UNRHealth insurance options including dental and vision - Health InsuranceGenerous annual and sick leave and life insurance – Faculty BenefitsE. L. Wiegand Fitness Center offers annual or semester memberships and spouse/domestic partner membership options. E.L. Wiegand Fitness CenterReno is proud to be a University town! Many local businesses offer discounts to WolfCard holdersMountain EAP supports employees (and eligible dependents) through life's difficult moments. Mountain EAP is located in Reno and specializes in counseling and advising services for personal or interpersonal issues.Faculty Senate is the principal representing body for faculty. Its membership includes representatives from each academic and administrative major unit of the University. Faculty SenateNo state income tax!Grants-in-Aid for Faculty EmployeesThe University is proud to provide a reduced-rate tuition benefit to faculty and qualified dependents. Faculty can take up to six credits per semester at a reduced rate. Dependents of faculty have unlimited credits, but in order to be eligible children must be unmarried and under the age of 24 and must receive at least 50% of their financial support from the employee and/or employee’s spouse or domestic partner. Faculty Grants-in-AidFaculty Dual Career Assistance ProgramThe University of Nevada, Reno recognizes the importance of addressing dual-career couples’ professional needs. We offer a dual career assistance program to newly hired faculty spouses/partners that provides resources and assists them to identify career opportunities in Northern Nevada. Dual Career Assistance ProgramCollege InformationE&I serves as the focal point of University’s innovation ecosystem. E&I is responsible for managing intellectual properties created by university faculty and researchers and commercializing the IP through licensing and startup ventures. E&I also provide incubation and acceleration support to the entrepreneurial community through the UNR Innevation Center and its programs.ExemptYesFull-Time Equivalent100.0%Required Attachment(s)Please note, once you submit your application, the only attachment/s viewable to you will be the attachment/s to the resume/CV section of the application. Any additional required attachment/s to the cover letter, references, additional documents sections of the application, will not be viewable to you after you submit your application. All uploaded attachment/s will be on the application for the committee to review. To request updates to attachments, prior to the committee review of applications, please contact the candidate helpdesk at [e-mail] attach the following documents to your application:1) Resume/CV2) Cover Letter3) Contact information for three professional referencesThis posting is open until filledQualified individuals are encouraged to apply immediately. This search will close without notice when a sufficient number of applications are received or a hiring decision has been made.Posting Close DateNote to ApplicantA background check will be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire.HR will attempt to verify academic credentials upon receipt of hiring documents. If the academic credentials cannot be verified, HR will notify the faculty member that an official transcript of their highest degree must be submitted within thirty days of the faculty member’s first day of employment.References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process.Applicants hired on a federal contract may be subject to E-Verify.As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions in the Nevada System of Higher Education may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks.For positions that require driving, evidence of a valid driver's license will be required at the time of employment and as a condition of continued employment.Schedules are subject to change based on organizational needs.The University of Nevada, Reno is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination on the basis of a person’s age (40 or older), disability, whether actual or perceived by others (including service-connected disabilities), gender (including pregnancy related conditions), military status or military obligations, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, race (including hair texture and protected hairstyles such as natural hairstyles, afros, bantu knots, curls, braids, locks and twists), color, or religion (protected classes).About UsThe University of Nevada, Reno is a leading public research university committed to the promise of a future powered by knowledge. Founded in 1874 as Nevada’s original land-grant university, the University serves more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and 63 countries.Classified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an R1 (“Very High Research”) university, it is also recognized in the Carnegie Community Engagement classification. The University is also ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the “Best National Universities” and “Best National Public Universities.” It also ranks in the top tier of the WSJ/Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the New York Times’ “Top Colleges for Economic Diversity.”Since 2009, nearly $1 billion has been has invested in advanced labs, facilities, and residence halls on the main campus. The University is home to Nevada’s first medical school – the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and the Wayne L. Prim Campus at Lake Tahoe, where education, research, and creative work thrive in a stunning mountain setting. The University delivers on its original land-grant mission with outreach across the state through the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Nevada Small Business Development Center, the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, and Wolf Pack Athletics.The main campus is in Reno, Nevada, a burgeoning global technology hub with a vibrant midtown and downtown. Found where the high desert of the Great Basin meets the High Sierra and Lake Tahoe, the beautiful, 290-acre main campus is also a Nevada State Arboretum. The University’s physical infrastructure is expanding with ongoing construction of the newly named John Tullock Business Building, set to open in fall 2025. Groundbreaking is also planned for a new State Public Health Laboratory Building on campus, alongside the recent acquisition of 16 parcels near campus, known as “University Village,” to provide affordable housing for graduate students and early career faculty.Collaborating with world-renowned organizations, the University fosters innovation through initiatives such as the Digital Wolf Pack partnership with Apple, which ensures equitable access to technology for students, providing new incoming freshman or transfer students with an iPad Air and accessories. Google’s TechWise initiate is an 18-month program that fully supports undergraduate students in becoming entry-level software engineers by graduation.In 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced that Nevada – led by the University of Nevada, Reno – was named one of the inaugural 31 Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (TechHubs). Nevada was selected from a competitive pool of 489 applicants from across the United States and its territories. Nevada’s Tech Hub will strengthen America’s lithium batteries, critical elements and other electric vehicle materials industry sectors within the state.Through its commitment to high-impact education, world-improving research and creative activity, and outreach that’s transforming Nevada’s communities and businesses, the University continues its 150-year tradition of benefitting our state, nation and world.The University recognizes that diversity promotes excellence in education and research. The inclusive and engaged community on campus recognizes the added value that students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds bring to the educational experience.Today, the University delivers on its original land-grant mission of access to education and knowledge by investing in the academics, facilities, support, engagement and vibrant campus life that promote our diverse students’ cognitive growth and academic achievement – all while remaining one of the best values in American higher education.For more information, please visit the University’s website .University of Nevada, Reno