IP Manager

We are in search of an experienced IP professional to ensure the strategic management of the growing IP portfolio of Wageningen University & Research (WUR). As an IP Manager, you operate within the context of IP procedures and scientific interests. You are capable of evaluating the patentability, value, and marketability of new inventions. You play a crucial role in providing contractual and strategic IP advice to sciences groups. The primary focus is to always guide the valorization of an invention in the right direction. In some cases, you may only provide guidance, while in others, you independently handle the entire process from A to Z.

You enjoy providing researchers with information on intellectual property rights, raising awareness of their value, and assisting them in making business agreements with third parties. You serve as a conversational partner for all levels within and outside the organization: from researchers to deans and from recent alumni to industry representatives. Additionally, you collaborate with Knowledge Transfer Managers in setting up and guiding the transfer of IP. Above all, you can contextualize your actions, seamlessly switch between the diverse positions of the involved parties, effectively advance a case to the next phase, effortlessly navigate between science and business, and achieve valorization results.

Your role involves guiding the establishment, management, and commercialization of patent rights, and offering advice, information, and business development support related to licenses, contracts, software, and trademark/design registration.

Your responsibilities include

• Liaising with researchers to start the process of evaluating promising technologies;
• Being the primary point of contact between WUR and patent attorney firms;
• Defining and implementing bespoke IP strategies for individual technologies;
• Advising on patent filing and prosecution in collaboration with patent attorney firms;
• Supporting commercialization efforts;
• Managing WUR’s IP portfolio;
• Collaborating with WUR's Legal department in reviewing and preparing IP-related agreements;
• Training researchers in IP matters;
• Improving internal policies and processes;

As an IP Manager, you will be a key contributor to the Knowledge Transfer Office (KTO) within the Value Creation department. Established to provide institution-wide support, this corporate staff department encourages and facilitates the application of research results to society. The KTO, consisting of IP Managers, support officers, and Knowledge Transfer Managers, is dedicated to managing IP and innovation processes for both Wageningen University and Wageningen Research. Hierarchically, as an IP Manager you report to the manager of the KTO.

Embrace a dynamic hybrid work model, allowing the flexibility of remote work while committing to a minimum of 2 days on campus. We invite you to join a diverse international team in a dynamic environment and make a meaningful contribution to the technologies that will shape the future.