Intellectual Property Commercialisation Lead

Overview

Fusion energy offers the potential for significant quantities of low‑carbon, inherently safe, abundantly fuelled, baseload energy, supporting sustainable climate action and energy independence. While the technical challenge remains high, confidence is increasing, and the rewards of realising fusion are almost incalculable. Anticipated to come online for commercial purposes in the middle of this century, fusion offers a viable means to sustainable net zero in the UK and globally, as well as to increased energy security.

The UK is currently a world leader in fusion research and development and in the drive to realise commercially viable energy from fusion, a sector with an estimated value of £tns per year. STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) is the UK’s flagship national programme to deliver a prototype fusion energy plant, targeting 2040, and a path to commercial viability of fusion.

STEP is deliberately bold and ambitious and seeks people who want to be part of a world‑changing endeavour.

• Stakeholder identification across UKFE, STEP programme and other bodies or entities.
• Stakeholder relationship building and maintenance.
• Tracking, monitoring and reporting to stakeholders.

• Creating and maintaining an understanding of the developing fusion supply chain landscape.
• Leading on mapping of supply chain IP portfolios, interests and gaps and mapping to UKFE IP portfolio.
• Collaborating with other teams within STEP programme.
• Attending industry events to publicise STEP and our IP commercialisation opportunities.
• Building and maintaining relationships with fusion industry parties.
• Working with internal and external resources.

• Leading on the IP commercialisation process in specific areas.
• Identifying clusters of commercialisable IP rights.
• Mapping potential use application of IP or IP clusters to industry requirements and industry challenges.
• Creating market engagement materials.
• Working with internal and external resources.

• Leadership of commercialisation value development.
• Developing and understanding the potential use cases of IP assets.
• Determining industry use case.
• Developing an understanding of the potential value of an industry use case.
• Working with internal and external resources.

• Working alongside others in the commercial function to prepare for IP commercialisation negotiation.
• Leading, progressing or working alongside others in the commercial function to negotiate IP commercialisation opportunities with industry.
• Working with internal and external resources.

• Minimum of a graduate degree in a relevant topic.
• Demonstrable commercialisation or technology transfer leadership experience.
• Proven experience advising technologists and engineers on commercialisation and technology transfer opportunities.
• Experience managing an IP commercialisation pipeline and portfolio.
• Demonstrable experience as a technology transfer or industry commercialisation expert.
• Extensive working knowledge of IP, particularly patent rights.
• Experience working in a high energy, busy project‑based environment, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• The ability to build, collaborate and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders, ranging from technical to executive.
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and strategic thinking skills.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, priority setting and attention to detail.
• Strong technical background with a degree in Scientific or Engineering discipline.

• Experience negotiating with industry and academia.
• Familiarity with the fusion or fusion adjacent sectors.
• Certified IP valuation expert.
• Experience developing and presenting business use case examples.

Salary: £51,317. Excellent benefits including an outstanding pension.

We welcome applications from under‑represented groups, particularly women in STEM and individuals from British black and ethnic minority backgrounds, and individuals with disabilities. UKFE is committed to accessibility and supports applicants who may require adjustments to the interview process.

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4094C