Technology Transfer Project Officer: Cardiff University

Technology Transfer Project Officer – 11050BR

Research & Innovation Services

Managerial, Professional and Specialist Staff – MPSS

You will be employed as a Technology Transfer Project Officer and will support the University within the Commercial Development Team in Research and Innovation Services in Technology Transfer activities including Intellectual Property, translational funding and commercialisation of research, carrying out supporting work, providing advice, guidance and support, and leading projects within this area.

This post is full time and fixed term until 30 September 2021.

Salary:  £27,511 – £31,866 per annum (Grade 5)

Date advert posted: Wednesday, 31 March 2021

Closing date: Friday, 16 April 2021

This post has previously been advertised to employees of Cardiff University only.  We now invite external applications.

Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds.  We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age.  In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Job Description

Key Duties

• Provide professional advice and guidance on Technology Transfer activities including Intellectual Property, translational funding and commercialisation of research processes and procedures to internal and external customers. Use judgement and creativity to suggest the most suitable course of action where appropriate, and ensuring complex and conceptual issues are understood. 
• Investigate and analyse specific issues within Technology Transfer activities, creating recommendation reports, supported by colleagues within Technology Transfer. 
• Ensure that the provision of the Technology Transfer activities is delivered to the institution, proactively changing the delivery according to customer requirements.
• Collaborate with others in order to make recommendations for developments of established processes and procedures.
• Establish working relationships with key contacts, developing appropriate communication links with the University’s Schools/Directorates and outside bodies as required.
• Create specific working groups from colleagues across the University to achieve Research and Innovation Services’ objectives through the Commercial Development Team’s activities. 
• Develop and deliver training on Intellectual Property, translational funding and commercialisation of research outputs.
• Undertake a variety of administrative duties to support the department

General Duties

• Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties.
• Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity.
• Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role.

Person Specification

Important note: It is the University’s policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing. Candidates should evidence that they meet ALL of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable. As part of the application process you will be asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement.  Please ensure that the evidence you are providing corresponds with the numbered criteria outlined below. Your application will be considered based on the information you provide under each element.

When attaching the supporting statement to your application profile, please ensure that you name it with the vacancy reference number, e.g. Supporting Statement for XXXXBR.

Essential Criteria

1. A degree (or equivalent) in a biomedical science discipline or equivalent Professional membership/experience. 
2. Experience of working within an academic or business environment or evidence of experience in a research administration role.
3. Awareness of i) biomedical science research and ii) relevant sources of funding for innovative research in the UK.
4. Ability to demonstrate knowledge of Intellectual Property Rights and their role in academic research environment. 
5. Ability to liaise with a wide range of individuals and businesses in the biomedical sector and a high level of flexibility and willingness to work in a team.
6. Ability to communicate conceptually detailed and complex information effectively and professionally with a wide range of people.
7. Evidence of ability to explore customers’ needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure a quality service is delivered.
8. Evidence of ability to solve expansive problems using initiative and creativity; identifying and proposing practical solutions and resolving problems with a range of potential outcomes.
9. Evidence of ability to work unsupervised to deadlines, planning and setting priorities for own work and that of others and monitoring progress.
10. A willingness to undertake further training and development.

Desirable Criteria

1. Postgraduate/Professional qualification
2. Experience of working in a Higher Education environment
3. Fluency in Welsh, written and oral

Additional Information

Cardiff is an ambitious and innovative university located in a beautiful and thriving capital city. Our world-leading research was ranked 5th for quality amongst UK universities in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework and we provide an educationally outstanding experience for our 30,000 students. With an annual budget in excess of £500 million and around 6,000 staff, Cardiff is a member of the Russell Group of the 24 leading UK research-intensive universities. The University has 25 academic schools grouped into three colleges: Biomedical & Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering and Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences.

The University’s ambition is to rank consistently among the top 100 universities in the world. Cardiff is also developing its Innovation System through a focused programme of investment in people and infrastructure.  Research funding secured from competitive, external sources exceeds £100 million annually and the University aims to grow this further through winning grants from a wide range of national and global sources.

Research and Innovation Services, RIS supports the University’s research community in initiating and delivering research and innovation activities. Led by the Director, Dr David Bembo, RIS provides services via over 100 expert staff organised in five specialist teams: the Research Grants and Contracts; Research Integrity, Governance and Ethics; Research Development; Commercial Development and Business Engagement and Partnership. The Department works closely with academic and professional services staff from all areas of the institution.