Skip to main content

This job has expired

Senior Director, Tech Transfer & Industry Collaboration

Employer
George Mason University
Location
Fairfax, VA
Salary
Salary commensurate with education and experience.
Closing date
Apr 25, 2021

View more

Job Details

Senior Director, Tech Transfer & Industry Collaboration

George Mason University has been rapidly growing over the past seven years, a trajectory that has resulted in achieving an R-1 status, a >50% increase in invention disclosures, and maturing technologies. In addition, the presence of Amazon's second headquarters, and a number of other technology-based companies establishing a large presence in Northern Virginia, there is now a need for the Office of Research, Innovation & Economic Impact to add the position of Senior Director, Tech Transfer & Industry Collaboration. This newly created position which seeks to add an exceptional leader with outstanding skills in the area of technology transfer and corporate engagement, fits within Mason's highly collaborative culture. This position will add to George Mason University's strong institutional commitment to research commercialization, entrepreneurship, and the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason's academic and culturally inclusive environment. This position has responsibility for tech transfer across all of Mason's campuses, and may be located in any of the three Mason campuses.

About the Department: The Office of the Provost provides leadership and guidance to support and achieve the mission for George Mason University. The various colleges, schools, and institutes rely on this office for constant programmatic support and policy expertise.

Mason is now seeking to build a more holistic business development function within the broadened office of Innovation & Economic Development that will better position the University to engage with industry and more broadly serve its faculty and student innovators, as well as the community's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Responsibilities: The Senior Director will lead the team's efforts in these areas, serving as a liaison between faculty and industry, identifying and connecting faculty with industry-relevant research, facilitating discussions to explore potential relationships, and promoting Mason as the ideal collaborator for a company's R&D goals.

This position establishes and implements the strategies, tools, and procedures needed to enable the advancement of technology created by faculty and students at George Mason University. Employees in this classification typically analyze, compare and evaluate various courses of action. Primary activities and decision-making authority are predominantly performed independently affecting business operations to a substantial degree. Under FLSA, this is the exempt job classification for this title. Incumbents in this position must meet the full criteria for exempt status: salary level, salary basis, and duties tests.

This position reports to the Associate Vice President for Innovation & Economic Development. The incumbent will build connections throughout and across Mason's multiple campuses to support members of the University community with the goal of creating stronger industry research partnerships and moving Mason's innovative research into the marketplace. This position entails (1) expertise in facilitating relationships between researchers and industry collaborators; and (2) responsibility for realizing the mission of the office of Innovation & Economic Development, which is responsible for facilitating the transfer of Mason technology for public use and benefit. The office evaluates, obtains proprietary protection for, and assists in the distribution of technology for research and commercial purposes. It is responsible for commercializing research by identifying potential markets and negotiating license agreements with industry partners - either large corporations or start-up companies.

The new Senior Director will: * Coordinate with AVP to lead operations function of new initiatives consistent with unit and university's strategic vision; * Recommend streamlined procedures and processes consistent with best practices; * Create opportunities for engagement between faculty and funding sources; * Ensure coordination of industry relationships with the university's development office and existing faculty partnerships; * Identify early research opportunities that may lead to commercial potential; * Manage staff and build team to deliver exponential results to Mason; * Identify funding opportunities that may benefit Mason; * Develop relationships among industry partners that may benefit Mason; * Facilitate meetings; * Maintain and update reporting, project management, and database systems; * Prepare and present reports as needed; * Manage budgets and vendor relationships; * Communicate policies to faculty in a way that fosters support and collaboration.

Required Qualifications: * Masters degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience; * Substantial work experience (minimum 10 years preferred); * Experience in a corporate environment, specifically in R&D, product development and licensing or business development or commensurate experience; * Record of leadership in technology licensing and intellectual property management; * History of leadership and people management experience; * Ability to translate between industry and academic researchers; * Success in managing patent expenses and negotiating complex contractual agreements; * A strong understanding of relationship building among internal and external stakeholders; * Experience executing strategic plans that build research portfolios; * Proven level of maturity, excellent people skills and ability to function in a collaborative atmosphere; * Established experience defining priorities, working through conflicts and identifying creative solutions; * Operational excellence experience in a client or customer environment; * Must exercise creativity, critical thinking, and judgment; * Excellent written and verbal communication skills; proficient business and technical writing skills; * Advanced MS Office/CRM knowledge; * Excellent verbal skills: follow verbal direction; ability to ask clarifying questions; * Outstanding organizational, professional and time management skills; * Acquainted with office management systems and procedures; discretion and confidentiality; * Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards; * Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards; * Must be able to talk, listen and speak clearly via telephone.

Preferred Qualifications: * Substantial work experience (minimum 10 years preferred); * Experience in an academic commercialization office; * Experience implementing operational office systems; * Relationships with industry members involved in sponsored research; * Background in IT, computing, and/or cyber security technologies; * Marketing technologies to external parties; * Technical undergraduate or masters degree.

"For full consideration, applicants must apply at https://jobs.gmu.edu/ ; complete and submit the online application; and upload a cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references with contact information."

"Great Careers Begin at Mason!

George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with national distinction in both academics and research. Mason holds a top U.S. News and World Report "Up and Coming" spot for national universities and is recognized for its global appeal and excellence in higher education.

Mason is currently the largest and most diverse university in Virginia with students and faculty from all 50 states and over 135 countries studying in over 200 degree programs at campuses in Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William, as well as at learning locations across the commonwealth. Rooted in Mason's diversity is a campus culture that is both rewarding and exciting, work that is meaningful, and opportunities to both collaborate and create.

If you are interested in joining the Mason family take a look at our current opportunities and catch some Mason spirit at jobs.gmu.edu/!

George Mason University, Where Innovation is Tradition."

Company

George Mason University is a university with three campuses, each with a distinctive academic focus that plays a critical role in the economy of its region. At each campus, students, faculty, and staff have full access to all the university's resources, while duplication of programs and support services is minimized through the use of technology. In addition to the main campus in Fairfax, the university has campuses in Arlington and Prince William Counties.

Company info
Website
Location
4400 University Dr
MSN 3C3
Fairfax
VA
22030
US

Get job alerts

Create a job alert and receive personalized job recommendations straight to your inbox.

Create alert