Role Purpose

The Senior Technology Transfer Manager post is a senior position within the University's Research and Innovation Services Directorate. The post reports to the Director of Commercialisation and Economic Development and will work closely with colleagues across the directorate as well as senior colleagues in faculties, academic departments and professional support services.

The Senior Technology Transfer Manager is a member of the Research Commercialisation Team which takes responsibility for the commercialisation of Durham University’s research outputs, including spin-out companies, intellectual property licensing and management of the patent portfolio. The team works closely with academic colleagues to identify technologies with commercial potential and works to protect, develop and commercialise through sale, licensing, business creation and industry collaboration. Able to draw upon a comprehensive network of industrial, investor and business contacts to take business ideas forward, Intellectual Property (IP) rights are proactively protected. The University consequently has IP rights in over 70 discrete patent families generated by the research base. Where appropriate, working closely with the founders, innovative new technologies are taken to the marketplace through spin out vehicles or licensing deals.

The post will have the following key responsibilities:

• Assessing and developing disclosures arising from the research base to determine the most appropriate IP exploitation strategy.
• Securing Intellectual property through patents, trademarks, design rights, copyright or other rights.
• Developing and implementing an appropriate strategy to market the IP to potential commercial partners and collaborators, managing the respective IP portfolio to maximise the REF Impact and financial return to the University.
• Taking a lead role in operationalising the Northern Accelerator project
• Leading on the evaluation, negotiation and decision making with respect to IP rights in contracts.

• Provide expert professional subject expertise and problem-solving skills.
• Act as the principal point of contact for IP enquiries and recognised practitioner within own specialist area shaping activities, processes and systems.
• Responsible for operational activity across multiple commercialisation opportunities
• Oversight of short term or temporary project teams/strands, taking responsibility for decision making as appropriate.
• Engage with key internal and external stakeholders to influence opinion, delivery and reputation of services and promote the Universities commercialisation opportunities.
• Act as specialist point of contact dealing with complexity of data and information sources, interpretation and analysis, advising academic staff on the identification, assessment and development of research disclosures that may have commercial potential
• Provide a full project management service to academics wishing to commercialise IP, including determining an exploitation strategy, developing a commercial strategy, support for raising proof of concept finance, creating spin out ventures, negotiate shareholdings and legal structures, identify licensing opportunities and support the recruitment and ongoing management of Northern Accelerator executives.
• Significant input into the scoping and resource planning across a range of activities at operational and possibly strategic level.
• Carry out project scoping, initiation, planning and implementation for large scale/University wide initiatives.
• Negotiate commercial deals with investors and business licensees to maximise the economic impact and commercial returns to the University
• Responsible for shaping the development and learning of others outside of team, through the design and delivery of training sessions.
• Lead on the design, implementation and monitoring of policy and quality standards, procedures and systems ensuring effective working and continuous improvement.
• Promote and develop a deep understanding of organisational policy and external developments.
• Promote the improvement and efficiency of departmental services by implementing and managing review and improvement procedures.
• Ensure all activities, processes and transactions are accounted for accurately and promptly to meet regulatory and professional service and policy standards.
• Implement processes to manage the integrity and security of all commercially and professionally sensitive and personal data.
• Lead internal business meetings, working groups and sub-committees at operational service level to influence governance, organisational policy and standards for the service. 
• Responsible for allocating and monitoring financial budgets and resources.

• Manage quality and regulatory audit process for student and staff services over-arching systems and procedures.
• Work with team members and stakeholders to build and maintain excellent working relationships.
• Contribute to operational leadership teams and decision making to shape the nature and level of support services.
• Provide professional guidance to stakeholders regarding welfare, employment and wellbeing.
• Lead and deliver professional development and support initiatives that would apply across the University.
• Produce communications for promotion and reporting purposes, designing and structuring information and fact, applying creative and innovative principles to influence and engage. 
• Deliver professional expertise with investigative and service methodologies, make recommendations and identify priorities to develop business plans and achieve business outcomes and objectives.
• Maintain an oversight of the service and performance metrics to provide reports for higher level managers and committees.
• Represent the service and University at promotional events and contribute to the delivery of presentations at conferences.
• Develop external relations, identify and develop opportunities for communities of practice, employers, alumni and donors via extra-curricular activities and increased levels of participation.
• Any other reasonable duties.