Description

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer of the Zucker Institute, the Licensing Manager will work with MUSC faculty and innovators to identify, evaluate, protect, and commercialize promising life sciences technologies. The position will manage technologies from early-stage concepts through intellectual property protection, development, marketing, and licensing.

The Zucker Institute is open to candidates across a range of experience levels and may adjust the position title, scope of responsibilities, and compensation based on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience. The position may also be structured as part-time or full-time depending on the candidate’s experience and availability.

Candidates with patent prosecution experience, particularly those registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, are strongly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities will be tailored as appropriate based on the candidate’s experience and may include:

Manage a portfolio of inventions in therapeutics, diagnostics, research tools, and related life sciences fields.

Identify and evaluate early-stage life sciences technologies, including assessment of scientific merit, intellectual property position, commercial opportunity, competitive landscape, and technology readiness.

Develop and implement intellectual property strategies, including working closely with inventors and outside patent counsel on patentability, filing, prosecution, portfolio development, and related IP matters. Candidates with appropriate patent prosecution experience may take a more active role in patent drafting and prosecution strategy.

Market inventions to industry partners and prospective licensees and identify opportunities for strategic collaborations.

Participate actively in MUSC’s scientific community and develop strong relationships with faculty and researchers to identify technologies with clinical and commercial potential.

Build relationships and foster collaborations among inventors, industry partners, entrepreneurs, investors, and other stakeholders to advance technology development and commercialization.

Prioritize portfolio assets and connect inventors with appropriate resources for education, mentorship, proof-of-concept funding, licensee identification, and startup formation.

Collaborate with internal counsel on the drafting, negotiation, and management of intellectual property and commercialization agreements, including option, license, interinstitutional, and joint-owner management agreements.

Represent the Zucker Institute at conferences, networking events, and industry meetings to promote its technology portfolio and develop industry relationships.

Educate faculty, researchers, and students regarding intellectual property protection, commercialization, and industry collaboration.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in a scientific or technical field; a degree in life sciences or a related discipline is preferred.

Relevant experience in intellectual property, technology transfer, patent prosecution, licensing, business development, or commercialization of life sciences technologies.

Demonstrated ability to understand and evaluate complex scientific and technical concepts.

Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with scientists, attorneys, business professionals, and other stakeholders.

We recognize that strong candidates may bring different combinations of scientific, intellectual property, legal, licensing, and industry experience. Accordingly, we encourage candidates with both developing and substantial experience in these areas to apply.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with patent preparation and prosecution, patent portfolio management, or development of patent strategy, particularly in the life sciences.

Registration to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as a patent agent or patent attorney is highly desirable.

Advanced scientific degree (M.S., Ph.D., or equivalent) and/or Juris Doctor.

Experience evaluating and managing life sciences intellectual property in an academic, industry, law firm, or technology transfer environment.

Experience drafting, negotiating, or managing intellectual property-based agreements, including license and option agreements.

Knowledge of university technology transfer, intellectual property licensing, and commercialization principles.

Interpersonal Requirements

Strong analytical skills and ability to evaluate complex technical concepts and commercial opportunities.

Ability to work collaboratively as part of a dynamic, multidisciplinary team.

Ability to communicate complex scientific, legal, and business concepts clearly and concisely to a range of audiences.

Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously at different stages of development.