Responsibilities

The Business Development Manager leads, develops and implements strategies to enhance commercialization of intellectual property created by Western faculty, postdoctoral fellows, students and staff and provides support in matters related to industrial interactions and intellectual property management under the area of Engineering Sciences – Electrical/Mechanical/Computer Science.  The incumbent will establish relationships in order to solicit new innovations for WORLDiscoveries, seek out commercialization opportunities and maintain relationships with industry, partners and other stakeholders in order to reinforce and advance the reputation of Western and WORLDiscoveries locally, nationally and internationally.

The Business Development Manager will research and evaluate innovation disclosures, develop and manage patent processes, determine commercial potential for innovations, make decisions on technology investments, and develop and execute related marketing plans. The incumbent will negotiate terms and conditions of licenses, research and development agreements, and material transfer and confidentiality agreements.  The Business Development Manager will identify opportunities for prototype development funding, assist with spin-off company creation, including business plan preparation, market research, developing research and development plans with inventors, and strategic planning.

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical, Computer, Mechanical or Software Engineering or a related field (such as Computer Science, etc.)
• Master’s degree in Engineering or Computer Science is preferred
• Business education (eg. HBA, MBA) or equivalent business experience is preferred

Experience:

• 5 years of business development experience, with research and technology transfer initiatives and in negotiating business arrangements in the private sector or industry
• Working experience in an academic environment with liaison between university and industry is preferred
• Experience in patenting, licensing and start-up companies (business planning, financing, managing) is preferred
• Working experience in commercialization of innovations in a social sciences field would be an asset

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Technical knowledge in electrical, computer and/or software engineering or computer sciences related field
• In-depth knowledge of relevant business practices, intellectual property management and protection, including copyrights and patents
• Intermediate computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability and willingness to stay abreast of developments in the field of technology transfer, commercialization, entrepreneurship and knowledge mobilization
• In-depth knowledge of the regulations and guidelines governing research in an academic environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and confidence dealing with all levels of an organization
• Ability to work in a manner that models best practices in confidentiality standards
• Strong customer service skills to resolve inquiries and issues in a professional and timely manner
• Ability to maintain and develop an effective network of contacts that provide information regarding emergent opportunities and best practices
• Ability to establish effective routines for excellent communication with all members of the team to maximize productivity
• Strong attention to detail and proofreading abilities with an excellent command of the English language
• Ability to make decisions and recommendations that are clearly linked to the organization’s strategy and goals
• Ambitious with the ability to identify opportunities, develop action plans and set challenging goals in order to achieve desired outcomes
• Ability to evaluate issues, recognize potential problems and take action to proactively resolve issues
• Project management skills to manage multiple projects simultaneously from conception to completion within tightly prescribed timelines
• Proven ability to build both formal and informal professional relationships within, across, and external to organizational boundaries
• Possess a reputation for resourcefulness with a strong sense of accountability and initiative
• Ability to understand, interpret, and effectively communicate University guidelines, policies and practices to key stakeholders
• Ability to work independently and effectively as a member of the team to achieve department goals
• Familiarity with University policies and procedures preferred

Classification & Regular Hours

Hours per week:         35

Salary Grade:             16

About Western

With an international reputation for success, Western ranks as one of Canada’s top research-intensive universities. Our research excellence expands knowledge and drives discovery with real-world application. Western also provides an exceptional employment experience, offering competitive salaries, a wide range of employment opportunities and one of Canada’s most beautiful campuses.

About Us

Research Western under the leadership of the Vice-President (Research) is responsible to ensure a healthy flow of technology resulting from Western research to the commercial world thereby creating jobs, increasing economic development and the general betterment of society.

WORLDiscoveries® is the Business Development arm of Western University, Robarts Research Institute and the Lawson Health Research Institute.  The business unit serves as the exclusive advocate and agent for promising commercial and technology transfer opportunities derived from London’s extensive research portfolio.

Western Values Diversity        

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.  If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwo.ca or phone 519-661-2194.

Please Note:

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those chosen for an interview will be acknowledged.

Please apply online no later than October 16, 2018

https://recruit.uwo.ca

Select Posting Ref # 14576