Innovation Partners Director

Department: Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation

Appointment Type and Duration: Regular, Ongoing

Salary: $150,000 - $170,000 per year; commensurate with experience

Compensation Band: OS-OA12-Fiscal Year 2024-2025

FTE: 1.0

Application Review Begins

Application review begins immediately, apply by July 31, 2024 to ensure consideration; position open until filled

Special Instructions to Applicants

With your online application, please upload a resume and a cover letter describing how you meet the minimum requirements, professional competencies, and any preferred qualifications. You will also be asked to enter the names and contact information of three professional references; candidates will be notified prior to contacting references.

The position is full-time and based out of Eugene, Oregon. Flexible work arrangements are possible to allow some work from home.

Department Summary

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI) serves as an advocate and catalyst within the University of Oregon (UO) for expanding the range and impact of UO's research, scholarship, and creative endeavors. The OVPRI oversees sponsored programs, research compliance, technology transfer, economic development, industry engagement, research-based ventures, and research development and administrative responsibility for numerous high-profile research centers and institutes and core research facilities, which provide opportunities for faculty across the university to collaborate on research efforts that are inherently interdisciplinary, and of significant societal importance. As a university that holds the distinction of a “very high research activity” ranking (R1) in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, the UO is also one of only two Pacific Northwest members of the Association of American Universities (AAU).

OVPRI, including centers and institutes, has over 700 employees across faculty, classified and unclassified staff, postdoctoral scholars, graduate and undergraduate students, with a $45m annual budget.

Industry, Innovation and Translation (IIT) within OVPRI supports innovation and translation based on UO’s research enterprise to maximize both economic and societal impact. IIT manages the university’s intellectual property, corporate engagement, corporate-sponsored research, and support for entrepreneurs and startups advancing UO intellectual property.

The OVPRI is committed to a respectful work environment. We value the cultural, educational, and life experiences of each employee. We believe that a diverse workforce enables us to deliver culturally responsive services to all members of our community. As part of our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, we welcome, respect, and foster a sense of belonging for a wide range of identities and experiences in our workforce. We strongly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and/or LGBTQIA+ community members.

Position Summary

The Innovation Partners Director will drive optimization of outcomes for research translation; expand the university’s capacity to generate use-inspired, market-driven innovations; and accelerate discovery at the intersection of academic research, innovation, and commercialization. The position focuses on developing, managing, and continuously improving the technology transfer process for all UO innovation assets. The Director will primarily lead the day-to-day operations of the technology transfer office, including protection of intellectual property, negotiation and execution of a wide array of technology transfer agreements, and management of faculty and student outreach and training. Additionally, the Director will serve as the case manager for a subset of the portfolio, complemented by direct reports that manage the portfolios for the physical sciences and social sciences. Notably, the UO portfolio consists of innovations protected by either patens or copyrights, with a sizable percentage of the portfolio being copyrighted works.

This position has broad latitude and authority to accomplish goals and objectives. The successful candidate must have strong communication and management skills, the ability to plan both strategically and tactically, high-functioning organizational skills, attention to detail, adherence to confidentiality, and discretion.

This is a full-time position reporting to the Associate Vice President for Industry, Innovation & Translation (IIT). The Director will collaborate closely with the AVP and other units in IIT for the overall strategic direction, management, and administration of the University of Oregon’s technology commercialization operations and industry engagement programs. This position requires work located in Eugene, but hybrid options may be considered.

Minimum Requirements

• Master's degree in a technical field relevant to managing innovations, OR, an MBA or JD plus a Bachelor's degree in a technical field.
• Ten years of relevant work experience in technology transfer of U.S. intellectual property, management of U.S. intellectual property, and licensing under U.S. contract law in either the public or private sector.
• Experience managing innovations that are protected by patents, copyrights, or trademarks.
• Five years of management experience.
  
  

Professional Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to develop comfortable and productive relationships with academic scientists and science/tech-based business executives.
• Substantial capability in building and leading teams and driving towards operational excellence.
• Ability to manage a portfolio of projects independently.
• Extensive knowledge of all forms of intellectual property.
• Extensive knowledge of licensing principles with a track record of successfully advancing early-stage innovations to the market. Licensing experience with patents, copyrights, and trademarks is a high priority.
• Ability to simultaneously manage multiple projects at different stages in execution.
• Capacity for thinking both strategically and tactically.
• Ability to communicate complex scientific concepts clearly and concisely to audiences with and without technical expertise.
• Ability to effectively enable strong collaboration and teamwork among a diverse group of internal and external stakeholders.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing innovations that are in the social sciences, particularly education tech.
• Advanced degree in a field relevant to managing the portfolio of life science innovations (biology, biochemistry, biomedical engineering, microbiology etc.), OR, an MBA or JD plus a Bachelor's degree in a technical field relevant for managing the portfolio of life science innovations.
• Experience building, leading, and managing all aspects of a technology transfer team.
• Experience managing innovations that are protected by patents, copyrights, and trademarks.
• Demonstrated experience in managing software or copyright-based intellectual property, and licensing same.
• Experience in negotiating corporate-sponsored research agreements.
• Experience in the translation of academic research.
• 5 or more years of relevant work experience developing and managing complex collaborations between academia and the private sector.
  
  

FLSA Exempt: Yes

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefits package to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. For more information about benefits, visit https://hr.uoregon.edu/about-benefits .

The University of Oregon is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the ADA. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status. The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation in connection with the application process, please contact us at uocareers@uoregon.edu or 541-346-5112.

UO prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy (including pregnancy-related conditions), age, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including family medical history), ancestry, familial status, citizenship, service in the uniformed services (as defined in federal and state law), veteran status, expunged juvenile record, and/or the use of leave protected by state or federal law in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by UO policy. Questions may be referred to the Office of Investigations and Civil Rights Compliance. Contact information, related policies, and complaint procedures are listed here .

In compliance with federal law, the University of Oregon prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and services. The Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://clery.uoregon.edu/annual-campus-security-and-fire-safety-report .