Senior Director, Technology Transfer

Department: Office Rsrch Innov and Econ Impact

Classification: Administrative Faculty

Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: On Site Required

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

George Mason University has experienced rapid growth over the past several years, resulting in R1 classification, a significant increase in invention disclosures, and a growing portfolio of maturing technologies. With the continued expansion of the regional innovation ecosystem and numerous technology-driven companies in Northern Virginia, the University is advancing its technology transfer and commercialization infrastructure. The Office of Technology Transfer sits in Mason Enterprise, part of the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact, which leads university-wide efforts related to innovation, commercialization, entrepreneurship, and industry engagement.

The University continues to build a more holistic innovation and business development function to better serve faculty and student innovators, deepen industry partnerships, and contribute to the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The Senior Director, Technology Transfer supports the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact's growth. This position reflects a refined, execution-focused leadership model while maintaining strategic responsibility for technology transfer across the University. The Senior Director will play a critical role in translating George Mason’s research discoveries into societal and economic impact through intellectual property protection, commercialization, industry engagement, and startup support.

This position fits within George Mason’s highly collaborative and inclusive culture and strongly supports the University’s commitment to research commercialization and entrepreneurship. The Senior Director, Technology Transfer leads the University’s efforts to facilitate the transfer of research discoveries and innovations for public use and benefit. The Senior Director establishes and implements strategies, tools, and procedures to evaluate, protect, market, and commercialize technologies developed by faculty and students.

The position has responsibility for technology transfer across all George Mason University campuses. This role requires independent decision-making authority that substantially affects business operations. The Senior Director reports to the Associate Vice President for Innovation and Economic Development and works closely with faculty, university leadership, legal counsel, industry partners, investors, and external stakeholders.

• Lead and oversee the assessment, protection, and management of intellectual property, including inventions, software, data, and other research outputs;
• Guide patenting and IP strategy in collaboration with internal stakeholders and external legal counsel;
• Oversee the evaluation of invention disclosures for commercial potential and prioritize technologies for investment and advancement;
• Lead negotiation and execution of license agreements, option agreements, NDAs, MTAs, and other IP-related contracts; and
• Assist the Office of Sponsored Programs and University Counsel with intellectual property clauses in university agreements.

• Coordinate with the Associate Vice President to lead operational functions and new initiatives aligned with university strategy;
• Recommend and implement streamlined…