Licensing & Ventures Associate - Life Sciences

Opportunity

– Fixed Term contract through to 30th April 2027 With one foot in academia and the other in industry, Oxford University Innovation (OUI) undertakes a wide variety of activities. From licensing University inventions and finding investment for spin-out companies to setting up social enterprises and supporting student entrepreneurship. Innovation is the magic behind the scenes that turns ideas born in Oxford University into technologies and new ventures that create positive and transformative economic and societal impact in the wider world.

• Undertaking market research and analysis to enable commercially viable deals to be completed.
• Supporting project managers by marketing technologies to potential end‑users in industry and helping to create compelling business cases for spin‑out companies.
• Managing project administration and supporting the Licensing & Ventures Managers in project work.

• Upper second‑class degree (or equivalent), or higher in a life science area.
• Passion for science, innovation and experience in the pharmaceutical, life science, medical, biotech or digital health sectors.
• Enthusiasm, positivity and appetite for learning and personal development.
• Degree qualified (ideally 2.1 or 1st class honours) in a Life Science related field, with a Masters degree or PhD being desirable.
• Excellent interpersonal, relationship management and team‑working skills, strong verbal and written communication.
• Ability to grasp challenging technical concepts quickly.
• Working successfully and collaboratively within a team.
• Strong organisational skills allowing effective management and prioritisation of a wide range of tasks within a process‑driven environment.
• Making considered recommendations that demonstrate sound judgement and good analysis.
• Listening effectively to colleagues and stakeholders, learning quickly, accepting constructive feedback and putting it into practice.

Salary for this role is £36,000 per annum on a fixed term contract to 30th April 2027 with excellent pro‑rated benefits including 30 days holiday, 8 bank holidays, rewards scheme, career opportunities, generous pension, private medical insurance and 50/50 hybrid working.

The closing date is midday on Thursday 11th June 2026.

Oxford University Innovation is an Equal Opportunities Employer and is committed to fostering an inclusive culture which promotes equality, values diversity and maintains a supportive working, learning and social environment, in which the rights and dignity of all its staff are respected, and where everyone is able to be themselves and is empowered to reach their full potential. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures.

OUI is accredited with the Investors in People Silver status.

We believe that our employees are our most valuable asset, and we are committed to attracting and retaining the very best talent. We also appreciate that the UK workforce is becoming increasingly diverse and includes a high percentage of parents and individuals with caring responsibilities, as well as those whose interests and aspirations impact on their time. We recognise the importance of helping our employees balance their work and home lives by offering flexible working arrangements that enable them to balance their work commitments with other priorities.

This includes hybrid working and flexible working.