Summary

The Senior Commercialization and Technology Management Associate will play a leadership role in catalyzing the development and commercialization of Intellectual Property (IP) assets in the medical device and healthcare IT sector for Baylor College of Medicine Ventures (BCMV). Will work closely with faculty innovators to identify, innovate, evaluate and validate potential new technologies that address unmet medical needs and can be commercialized to generate value. Should have a deep understanding of a technology’s developmental pathway and supporting IP strategy and will provide strategic oversight of the commercialization process. Should have an eye toward producing the optimal commercial outcome and will take the lead on managing negotiations with commercial partners. This is a hybrid position based in Houston, Texas with the ability to work both on/off-site.

Job Duties

• Relationship Management:
  •    Independently provides excellent, consistent service to faculty and commercial partners. 

   

  Disclosure Assessment & Management:
  •    Independently manages the evaluation of inventions arising from Baylor’s research and clinical activities including stage of technology development and market potential. Based on information collected through the assessment process, formulates and develops recommendations for the next steps in the commercialization process.
  •    Meets expectations for communicating the results of the disclosure assessment process to the submitting faculty member, and engages the faculty member with an opportunity to express feedback.

   

  Patent Management:
  •    Engages with BCM’s Office of General Counsel and with external patent counsel to coordinate and direct the preparation, filing, and prosecution of patent applications. 
  •    Informs and engages the faculty inventor about all aspects of the patent filing and prosecution process, including the rationale for decision-making, patenting costs, the preparation of the application, responses to office action(s), determination of correct inventorship, and any decisions to discontinue prosecution, etc.

   

  Agreement Management:
  •    Independently manages the processes associated with term sheet preparation, negotiation of terms, license agreement drafting, review and execution of license agreements (and other agreements with commercial partners), consulting other team members and utilizing analysis of comparable transactions as necessary to support the process and produce a successful outcome.
   

  Post Agreement Compliance and Financial Management:
  •    Monitors licensee’s obligations to meet diligence and reporting milestones.
  •    Coordinates with the BCMV finance team to communicate the financial structure of license agreements and/or other commercialization agreements for which BCMV may receive revenue. Once license revenue has been received, reviews pending distributions of license revenue for accuracy.
  •    Coordinates with the BCMV Compliance Manager to supply any needed information to support compliance with third party funders of research, including the federal government (NIH and VA), state government (CPRIT), and non-profit foundations.

   

  Intellectual Property Contractual Terms:
  •    Assists and supports BCM’s Office of Research team with the negotiation of intellectual property provisions in contracts agreements with commercial and academic partners. Provides guidance and counsel regarding acceptable intellectual property agreement terms.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree. 
• Four years of relevant experience. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's of science degree in a technical or business field and at least five years of academic technology transfer experience or similar experience (internship experience in a technology transfer office) in licensing or business development gained in industry.
• Ph.D. in Life Sciences or other advanced degree in a biological science discipline (Masters) and/or other advanced degree (MBA) or combination thereof strongly preferred.
• Medical Device experience is a plus.
• Experience and an independent track record of performance, with a focus on the following criteria: Ability to independently manage relationships (internal and external); ability to independently assess invention disclosures and produce commercialization recommendations; ability to independently market technologies to industry partners; and the ability to negotiate and close license agreements (and other agreements) with commercial partners.