INNOVATION MANAGER, PHYSICAL SCIENCES

Updated: over 2 years ago
Location: Seattle, WASHINGTON
Deadline: Open Until Filled

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. 

CoMotion® is UW’s collaborative innovation hub dedicated to expanding the global economic and societal impact of the UW community.

CoMotion values collaboration, agility, creativity, inclusivity, and a focus on service to the UW community. Come and contribute to the University’s cutting edge technology and social innovations. CoMotion is committed to creating an environment of inclusiveness where every person feels welcomed and valued. We believe that attracting and retaining a diverse staff is crucial to provide excellent and innovative services to UW researchers.

CoMotion has an outstanding full time opportunity for an Innovation Manager, Physical Sciences.

The Innovation Manager, Physical Sciences will use their technical expertise and business acumen to support researchers in their journey to launch ideas into the marketplace, guiding innovators to needed resources, advising on customer discovery activities and start-up formation, making intellectual property protection decisions, and negotiating agreements including intellectual property licenses both to existing companies, and to UW spin-outs.

The Innovation Manager, Physical Sciences is the main point of contact as the CoMotion-supported teams navigate the journey from idea to license, providing introductions to key resources in UW and throughout the community to support the development of the innovation and business strategy.

University of Washington has world-class engineering research, led by researchers with a great interest in seeing their university research translate into real-world impact.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Marketing and Project Development for UW innovations

Responsible and accountable for opportunity generation and managing a successful technology portfolio;
Identifying commercialization gap funding sources and facilitating applications for those awards and post award project guidance;
Identifying and sharing resources within UW or the ecosystem beneficial to projects under management and making introductions as helpful;
Reviewing and revising business pitches to attract investment in projects;
Developing plans for effective transfer of technology to existing companies or a new business venture;
Preparing informational materials regarding UW innovations.

Negotiating and Drafting licenses for UW intellectual property

Using business acumen, negotiation and presentation skills to market and license UW innovations;
Identifying potential licensees;
Initiating contact with licensees, drafting and negotiating license agreements.

Encouraging and evaluating new projects and innovation disclosures

Assessing new innovations generated by University faculty and researchers for their potential IP and marketability;
Recommending whether or not to commercialize innovations;
As appropriate, work with CoMotion's IP specialists to coordinate the protection of UW's proprietary rights in innovations via patent, copyright, or trademark.

Working proactively with entrepreneurs, investors, and investigators to catalyze promising commercialization projects

Connecting with industry experts, CoMotion Advisors, community angel investors, local technology associations;
Working with Chairs, Directors, Faculty, Staff and Students to determine intellectual property protection and commercialization needs and implement strategies to meet those needs.

Special projects at request of Associate Vice Provost Innovation Development & Commercialization

Special projects to support the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem and training.

Providing service to university and broader community

Educating UW community and private sector about commercialization and intellectual property;
Conducting presentations to schools and departments regarding commercialization, communicate UW policies on patents, inventions, and copyrights;
Participating in local and regional business groups;
Serving as faculty resource for questions on UW policies related to conflict of interest, outside consulting, and other relevant issues.

REQUIREMENTS:

Master's Degree in engineering discipline or equivalent experience with knowledge of software and IT, or related degree. Some experience or course work in product development, business, marketing or law;

Two years experience in scientific research, corporate R&D, product or business development.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

DESIRED:

Ph.D. in Engineering discipline;

Commercialization experience in an academic or corporate environment focused on technology licensing;

Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communications skills;

Strong project management abilities and desire to move opportunities forward by creating a strategy and bringing together the resources to make it happen;

Strong advocacy skills for promising technologies;

Good business sense;

Ability to interact effectively in both the academic and corporate cultures;

Ability to absorb technical details of new technologies;

Effective at setting priorities and obtaining closure;

Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with other colleagues;

Ability to think creatively, then translate into viable action plan.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process.  These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others.  Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.



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