Closing date 2 Jul 2019 23:00 (UK time)
Salary £40,792–£48,677 (Grade 8)
Location Edinburgh
Department Heriot-Watt University
Category Professional & Managerial
Status Full Time
Duration 24 months fixed-term

About Heriot-Watt University

Heriot-Watt University has a rich heritage and an established reputation as a leading research-led university and provider of education around the world with five global campuses in the UK, Dubai and Malaysia and scaled-up on-line learning around the world.  The University is truly distinctive in its global structure, offering students access to education and research across the group and unparalleled opportunities for mobility during their study and research.  With some 28,000 students in total, the University works at the frontiers of global educational delivery.  In recognition of our truly global presence and impact, Heriot-Watt University was named International University of the Year by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018.

Heriot-Watt University is world renowned for research in areas as varied as photonics, additive manufacturing, quantum technology, signal processing, robotics, AI, petroleum engineering, actuarial and financial mathematics, translating and interpreting, logistics and business education. The school structure at Heriot-Watt University, with each school covering multiple disciplines, facilitates research cutting across traditional discipline barriers. Research institutes and multi-disciplinary research centres supplement this to provide focus on our key strengths. Our REF results firmly place us alongside the UK’s best in our core disciplines of science and engineering, business and management, languages and design with Heriot-Watt University ranked 1st in Scotland (9th in the UK ) for research impact.

Our campuses, coupled with our international community, create a distinct university experience and a springboard for an international career or a route to exports for start-up. Known as leaders in ideas and solutions, we build inventive, entrepreneurial and resilient minds.

About our Team

The University is embarking on a number of flagship digital and data driven innovation investments– in total we are investing over £50M over the next 5 years in these new global initiatives, and we aim to work with selected partners to leverage this further, transforming lives and creating opportunities for all.

The GRID at Heriot-Watt has many dimensions. It’s a place for learning, a way of thinking and a catalyst for collaboration.  GRID brings together global expertise to tackle current industry challenges whilst pioneering new innovation to drive our future economies and companies of scale.

However, it is people that matter, and we are creating great spaces where creative and brilliant minds are encouraged to share ideas and explore new concepts – tapping into world-class academic resource to stay at the forefront of rapidly changing technology trends.  

Through The GRID, HWU is revolutionising the means of learning. Innovation, discovery and entrepreneurship are being placed at the core of learning. The GRID connects our leading academics, high growth technology companies and our research partners to build better products and services for future global markets.

Detailed Description

As a key member of the Enterprise Team, the IP and Commercialisation Manager has a broad remit which includes managing the University’s intellectual assets, developing commercialisation strategies, negotiating license agreements and royalties, supporting the Head of Commercialisation and Chief Entrepreneurial Executive by contributing to the development and delivery of new enterprise activities for the university.  This is a critical role and will require a deep understanding of research and technology commercialisation.

Enterprise activity forms a key area of development for Heriot-Watt University.  It is the focus of the Scottish Government Scotland Can Do agenda and a major component of the Scottish Funding Council University Innovation Fund. The University has a strong focus on enterprise and company creation and is originator and host of the leading pan-Scotland enterprise programme, the Converge Challenge.

The Enterprise team supports the University’s strategy through delivery of a wide range of Knowledge Exchange and Entrepreneurship activities that create real impact and value to industry and society.

As a student, academic researcher, collaborator or knowledge transfer partner, the Enterprise team provides professional advice and assistance on:

• Spinout/start-up creation and enterprise
• Commercialisation and working with industry
• Knowledge exchange and technology licensing
• Research commercialisation and IP management

Key duties and responsibilities

The post-holder will:

• Transform the University’s understanding of, and approach to the value of intellectual property as the foundation of a world-class institution by evangelising the benefits of knowledge protection across all university campuses, empowering staff and students to maximise the benefit to be gained from IP.
• Critically analyse existing approaches to IP management within the University, and identify a clear roadmap for commercialisation for major initiatives.
• Implement and maintain a new University IP Policy ensuring that it reflects the University’s guiding principles, research needs and business expectations and forming a world-class platform for the nurturing, protection and commercialisation of the University’s intellectual property.
• Educate and inform University Staff regarding best practice with respect to the identification, protection and exploitation of IP, and in particular with respect to how IP should be effectively managed within a collaborative research environment.
• Restructure  and deliver the University’s IP commercialisation strategy and secure funding in collaboration with the Head of Commercialisation and Chief Entrepreneurial Executive.
• Establish an on-going relationship with all University Campuses to ensure that the University’s cenral IP strategies are fully integrated within their own operational frameworks.
• Manage the University IP portfolio and develop appropriate commercialisation strategies, identifying the opportunities for licensing and other forms of commercialisation.
• Assess and determine the appropriate protection of IP rights through external patent attorneys and ensure that IP is secured before release/publication/licensing.
• Analyse markets and industries to identify potential synergies with the University’s Enterprise programme initiatives.
• Establish business relationships with external organisations  (ranging from start-ups to large corporates).with a view to forming new licensing and technology collaboration opportunities for the University.
• Negotiate agreements with external businesses in collaboration with internal stakeholders to formalise working relationships and to establish the parameters for effective and durable business engagement (through licensing, joint venture, collaboration and similar mechanisms).
• Conduct due diligence on prospective licensees and negotiate deals which form the basis of the licences from start to conclusion.
• Assess the value of IP, primarily patents and know-how, prior to negotiation to establish equitable up-front payments and ongoing royalty rate/s for the duration of the licence, developing and writing well-planned and priced licensing strategies for each licensing opportunity, including detailed market and financial analysis.
• Instruct the Legal Team on drafting of licence agreements and conclude revenue generating and high-impact deals for the University.
• Lead on negotiation of IP clauses in commercial contracts and advise on specific IP related queries including IP disputes.
• Coordinate on-going relationships with existing licensees ensuring that the the relationship with licensees is maintained and that the University’s interests are effectively upheld
• Act as the first point of contact for all licensees, attending off-site visits and meetings, in the UK and overseas as required, growing knowledge and understanding of the licensee and taking a positive responsive attitude to the needs of the licensees.
• Devise, implement and maintain systems for dealing with royalty payments and grant income throughout the life of the licence, liaising with licensees to ensure that payments received in a timely manner, including managing audits of licensees where necessary and managing reward and recognition payments to inventors.
• Maintaining good records and supporting the Head of Commercialisation in managing the IP budget.

        
Education, qualifications and experience

Essential Criteria

• Good first degree in a Technology, Engineering or Business related subject
• Proven record of working within a commercialisation role with a strong background in research and development
• Experience of dealing with complex intellectual property cases within UK, EU and international domains
• Strong commercial experience, operating in an innovation-centred environment.
• Demonstrated ability to evangelise new innovation-focused processes
• Financial management, contract administration and license negotiation experience.
• Demonstrable knowledge of intellectual property, patenting and licensing agreements
• Experience of drafting invention disclosures, heads of terms and license agreements in collaboration with legal professionals and patent attorneys
• Experience of the patenting process and working with professional attorneys
• Experience of working in a complex multi-disciplinary environment
• A good understanding of and the ability to use a range of software applications and services (CRM, intellectual property management, word-processing, spreadsheets, databases, email, PowerPoint)
• Outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal
• Set and meet joint objectives & deadlines
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to plan workload and prioritise effectively
• Ability to understand complex solutions and articulate them as clear value propositions
• Ability to negotiate and close deals

Desirable Skills

• Understanding of available business start-up support and intellectual property regulations across UK, Malaysia and Dubai
• Knowledge of angel, venture and corporate capital markets

Competencies, Tasks and Responsibilities

Strategic Outlook

1. Contribute to the delivery of the University research and innovation strategy, drawing upon and sharing knowledge gained through engagement and close relationships with colleagues to inform and influence decisions
2. Focus on delivering activities that are aligned to the overall strategy (Strategy 2025) and the external environment

 Leadership

1. Support, mentor and coach staff and students helping them to realise the value of intellectual property and commercialisation
2. Provide specialist commercial advice within the team and across the University on matters relating to the commercialisation of intellectual property

Management Responsibilities

1. Manage and monitor the progress of activities within the remit of the role

Team Work

1. Build effective professional relationships across the University and external stakeholders
2. Contribute to and actively participate in team and university initiatives related to Enterprise and Innovation

Championing Change

1. Maintain a strong understanding of changing market conditions, technology trends and embrace new opportunities that arise
2. Encourage collaboration to drive new innovation that will change our future for the better

Decision Making

1. Provide high quality, value-added analysis and commentary on reports and metrics
2. Represent the University at external events and meetings

Planning and Organising

1. Review and revise workload allocation/priorities as required

Initiative and Problem Solving

1. Address issues that arise and come up with viable solutions

Service Excellence

1. Ensure timely, accurate and informative provision of reports and metrics when required
2. Focus on delivering excellent customer experience to key stakeholder groups across industry, public sector and academia

Clear and Consistent Communications

1. Use appropriate communication methods to ensure key messages and information are disseminated to customers, partners, students and researchers

Citizenship

1. Demonstrate Heriot-Watt Values at all times through performance and behaviour
2. Participate in ad-hoc duties to support the team/University and for personal development
3. Support newer or inexperienced colleagues within and outside the University by offering support, help and advice
4. Provide mentoring support (informally and formally)

How To Apply

Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) on 2 July 2019.

This role does not meet the minimum requirements set by UKVI to enable sponsorship of non-European nationals. Therefore we cannot progress applications from candidates who require sponsorship to work in the UK. For further information on this please visit the UK Visas and Immigration website: https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

At Heriot-Watt University we understand that being diverse makes us better which is why we support a culture of respect and equal opportunity, and value diversity at the heart of what we do. We want to increase the diversity of our workplace to underpin a dynamic and creative environment.

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part-time working and job share options.

Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.