Innovation and Business Manager: UK Dementia Research Institute (UCL)

Dementia is the greatest health challenge of our century.
 
To date there is no way to prevent it or even slow its progression, and there is an urgent need to fill the knowledge gap in our basic understanding of the diseases that cause it.
 
The UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) is the biggest UK initiative driving forward research to fill this gap.
 
 
The UK DRI Headquarters team is based at UCL yet works across all six of the UK DRI host institutions. Collectively the HQ team is responsible for making the distributed UK DRI community function as a single institute, with a shared culture of intensely collaborative research.
 
The Tech Transfer team, led by the Director of Innovation and Business, is responsible for the management of TT activities, educating the UK DRI’s research community on TT potential, negotiating and managing licenses and other partnerships, and building a successful TT and IP portfolio across the UK DRI’s six host institutions in order to fully exploit discoveries emerging from our world-class research activities.
 
The Innovation and Business Manager will collaborate closely with the Director of Innovation and Business, managing a portfolio of innovation projects (such as licensing deals, spin-out formation and strategic industry partnerships) from initial idea and disclosure, evaluation, and through to conclusion of a translational outcome. This is a fantastic opportunity to work across a broad range of translation routes and mechanisms by working closely with our world-leading dementia researchers to commercialise new technologies in the diagnosis, treatment and care of people directly affected by dementia. 
 
Once in post we anticipate you will contribute to the ongoing expansion of the UK DRI’s Tech Transfer team, recruiting an Innovation and Business Associate to support your work. The role holder will work closely with UK DRI Group Leaders, the six host universities’ Tech Transfer and research offices, and external funding companies and investors and is expected to represent the UK DRI at external meetings and events.  
 
The role will be based in the UK DRI Headquarters team but occasional travel to the UK DRI centres across the UK would be required. This role is offered on a full-time basis but we would welcome requests for flexible or part-time working arrangements. This role is funded for five years in the first instance. 
 
Key Requirements
You’ll have experience of working in a university Tech Transfer office or equivalent private sector experience and have had substantial engagement with universities on intellectual property and commercial matters. You’ll be confident engaging in and leading the negotiation of license terms or research contract negotiations and have significant experience in the evaluation of research-based innovation, working with pharmaceutical companies and investors, and the development and execution of commercial exploitation plans. Excellent communication, interpersonal and relationship building skills are essential, as is the ability to work independently, manage a diverse workload and forecast future priorities.   
Salary: 
£44,674
£52,701
Closing date: 
Sunday, June 14, 2020
Originating organisation: