Manager, Technology Licensing - Physical Science

Manager, Technology Licensing - Physical Science

The USC Stevens Center for Innovation seeks outstanding candidates for the position of Licensing Manager in engineering and physical sciences.

The USC Stevens Center is a university-wide resource whose mission is to help USC innovators make maximum impact with their ideas. As part of this role, the Center manages the university's intellectual property portfolio stemming from USC's approximately $1 billion in annual research expenditures and oversees related patenting, technology marketing, licensing, and new venture development activity aimed at transitioning university innovations into commercial applications for the benefit of society.

Licensing Managers play a key role in supporting these efforts.

The best candidates will have an advanced degree in either chemistry, material sciences, applied physics, or engineering (preferably electrical engineering), a passion for emerging technologies, very strong organization and communication skills, and a desire to learn and grow. Prior licensing and/or technology assessment experience is preferred but not required. This position provides an opportunity for an entrepreneurial-minded physical science graduate to play an active and critical role as new technologies move from idea to market, contributing to innovative approaches in innovation management and licensing within an ambitious academic institution.

Job Accountabilities

• Manage a portfolio of university-owned engineering and physical sciences inventions and support intellectual property development, protection, marketing, and licensing.
• Interact with faculty and researchers, learning about exciting new technologies in electronics, telecommunications, computing and big data analytics, energy, nanotechnology, and advanced materials.
• Assist with the assessment of inventions and the identification of commercial applications through research and analysis of markets, competitive technologies, prior art, and patent landscape.
• Identify potential commercial applications and business partners for university inventions.
• Market university inventions through multiple channels to prospects capable of bringing the inventions to market.
• Negotiate and complete non-complex licenses and related agreements, including the development of business terms and overseeing internal diligence procedures prior to agreement signing.
• Assist in the management of complex intellectual property portfolios.
• Coordinate efforts on a wide range of activities with other USC Stevens staff members, university researchers, business partners, law firms, and others; track activities in databases and ensure that information is up to date.
• Contribute to ongoing process improvement to enable the USC Stevens Center to deliver high-quality, professional service to a growing base of inventors and business partners.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• PhD in a physical sciences field

Experience:

• 1 year of experience in a corporate or university technology transfer and business development setting.
• Ability to gather information and perform research utilizing databases and other online sources.
• Experience directly relevant to evaluating the market potential of early-stage software and inventions in engineering/physical sciences industries, and identifying commercial potential.
• Understanding of the patent prosecution process.
• Highly self‑motivated with outstanding organization and time‑management skills.
• Ability to juggle multiple tasks and complete projects on a timely basis, working both independently and as part of a team.
• Eager to take ownership of projects.
• Requires a high level of attention to detail.
• Outstanding communication skills and ability to convey technical concepts.
• Demonstrated ability to develop relationships with collaborators.
• Customer service oriented.
• Demonstrated perseverance and problem‑solving skills.

Field of Expertise

• Knowledge of patent and contract law
• Business Development experience

Minimum Education:

• Bachelor's degree in a scientific or engineering discipline.

Minimum Experience:

• 1 year

Additional Experience Requirements:

• Technology commercialization experience, with proven evidence of leading and…