Technology Commercialization Specialist

Technology Commercialization Specialist

University of Texas at Arlington

The Technology Commercialization Specialist focuses on identifying, nurturing, and managing partnerships across community, corporate, investor, government, academic, and nonprofit sectors. The ideal candidate is responsible for advancing a portfolio of university technologies into the commercial marketplace through the facilitation of licensing agreements or assisting in the formation of start‑up companies to advance the technology to market. The role collaborates closely with university faculty to drive intellectual property (IP) development and technology commercialization.

Acting as a liaison between university research and external stakeholders, the Specialist harnesses University innovations to generate impact, secure funding, and create commercialization opportunities. The position requires expertise in technology sales, marketing, and business development and supports a wide range of activities to contribute to the overall success of UTA’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology Development.

• Bachelor’s degree in business, science, engineering, or a related field.
• Seven (7) years of experience in sales and marketing, research partnerships, or business development, with a focus on innovation, commercialization, and partnership cultivation, or an equivalent mix of education and relevant experience in a similar role.

• Master’s degree.
• Work experience in an industrial field specific to the assigned area (Pharma, Biomedical/Biotechnology, or Diagnostics).
• Experience in a medical, technology, academic, or research‑intensive environment.

• Maintain an active portfolio of industry contacts and establish a business development strategy.
• Actively seek out and identify potential partners, including corporations, start‑ups, investors, academic institutions, nonprofits, and community stakeholders, that align with the University’s research strengths.
• Build and nurture relationships with government funding agencies, private foundations, and venture capitalists to expand the University’s funding sources for research and development.
• Successfully negotiate and execute licenses with industry partners, or through the creation of spin‑off companies.
• Prepare regular sales‑funnel reports on partnership activities, funding secured, and IP licensing revenue.
• Monitor program metrics, tracking partnership activities, engagement outcomes, and revenue from IP and technology commercialization.
• Independently manage a portfolio of existing disclosures to determine the opportunity as it relates to those disclosures.
• Provide guidance to faculty on commercialization strategies.
• Work with PIs and use online databases to identify prior art and competing patents.
• Additionally, monitor existing licensed IP to track stages from ideation to revenue.
• Ensure compliance of licensees with terms and conditions of established agreements.
• Negotiate amendments as necessary, manage contract documentation in CETD’s database(s), track, analyze, and utilize data and metrics to ensure stakeholder satisfaction and continual process improvement.
• Proactively identify potential problems with inventors, sponsors, licensees, and potential licensees, and develop solutions.
• Identify scenarios with licensees that require legal action and work toward solutions, including termination, arbitration or litigation.
• When possible negotiate settlement or participate when necessary in arbitration or litigation.
• Maintain and manage relationships campus‑wide with Principal Investigators.
• Collaborate with Principal Investigators (PIs) to gain a deep understanding of their research interests and identify opportunities for external collaborations, funding, and determine commercial opportunities.
• Develop relationships with PIs pre‑disclosure leading to the most efficient commercial pathway.
• Serve as the primary liaison for external stakeholders and PIs alike.
• Coordinate and lead meetings with PIs and other stakeholders relating to their IP portfolio.
• Work with PIs to describe the process of innovation management along…