Commercialisation Manager (Research Tools)

Do you want to play a leading role in commercialising the ideas of world-class academic researchers?

Cambridge Enterprise bridges the worlds of academia and industry and attracts top minds to work within an outcome-focused, collaborative, dynamic and highly autonomous environment.

Sitting at the heart of Europe’s most successful innovation cluster, Cambridge Enterprise is the commercialisation arm of the University of Cambridge, supporting academic staff and students in licensing their inventions, creating and funding new companies and providing consultancy services to industry, government and others.

Research Tools:
We work in collaboration with University of Cambridge academics, researchers, students and staff to market and license a diverse portfolio of research tools, produced in the course of research. Such tools include reagents, software, copyright, confidential information and database rights, and are often ready to be licensed without further development. These tools can be licensed to companies for internal research use, as part of a product or for commercial distribution.

The role:
We are looking for a Commercialisation Manager to lead Cambridge Enterprise’s commercialisation of Research Tools. Working with world-class academics, you will take responsibility for and manage a large active portfolio of cases, and will protect, market and conclude commercial deals to maximize the chances of successful commercialisation. Building relationships, negotiating terms, drafting contracts, and monitoring projects are all key responsibilities, alongside growing and promoting the business. As a line manager of an Associate, you will either put your line management skills into play, or be ready for your first line management role.

Your skills:
We are seeking a candidate with a strong scientific background, ideally in life sciences, and preferably evidenced by a post graduate qualification or industry experience in a relevant science-based role, with a broad interest in science and technology innovation. In addition, we are looking for experience in marketing technologies, contract negotiation and IP. Knowledge and understanding of the University sector and experience in technology transfer would be a strong advantage, as would be a background in a commercial or research environment. Due to our growing portfolio of research-based software tools, some understanding of software licensing would be an advantage. The ability to cope with a fast paced, high turnover environment is essential.

We are looking for an exceptional communicator, able to prioritise and to handle a number of projects in parallel, while maintaining an active customer focus. The ideal candidate is a team worker and a negotiator, with a proven track of commercial transactions.

Benefits:
Continuous development is key to the role. You will have on-the-job mentoring by some of the most experienced technology transfer/knowledge transfer professionals in the world, as well as access to a raft of training courses including the UK TT industry’s ‘gold standard’ courses run by PraxisAuril and courses run by ASTP (the pan European Associations for professionals involved in knowledge transfer).

Working for a subsidiary of the University of Cambridge, you will be offered a competitive salary with performance related pay, generous holiday, a University pension and a flexible working environment.

Location:
Our office base is at the Hauser Forum, West Cambridge Site. However, due to our flexible and remote working ethos, we are also open to applications from outside of the Cambridge area.

Interview process:
Closing date for this position is Sunday 23 May 2021.

We will hold a two-stage interview process, and the first interview will be held Tuesday 1 June 2021, and the second on Wednesday 9 June 2021.