Senior Technology Manager

General Statement

TechLink is a nationally recognized technology transfer center at Montana State University (MSU), established in 1996. Since 1999, TechLink has served as the primary, nationally focused "partnership intermediary’ for the US Department of Defense (DoD), helping the DoD to develop productive technology partnerships with US industry, primarily small businesses.

In 2019, TechLink began providing the same service to the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as its first-ever partnership intermediary.

Techlink is a not-for-profit organization, and its efforts are funded by the DoD and VA. Techlink’s primary focus is helping DoD and VA laboratories to transfer their inventions to US companies, primarily through intellectual property licensing.

DoD labs generate over 500 patented inventions a year in all technology fields, including medicine, electronics, software, communications, advanced materials, and energy-related technologies.

VA laboratories produce hundreds of medically focused inventions a year, intending to improve the lives of veterans and the broader civilian public.

Techlink currently brokers or facilitates approximately 85 percent of DoD’s annual license agreements with industry and the majority of VA’s license agreements.

These license agreements enable companies to develop, manufacture, and sell new products and services using DoD and VA inventions.

In addition, Techlink helps establish CRADAs between DoDand VA laboratories and companies for the joint development of innovative technology.

Altogether, Techlink has established over 1800 technology partnerships between federal laboratories and US industry. These partnerships involve over 100 different federal laboratories or organizations and have resulted in the transfer of well over 1000 inventions to US industry.

Techlink also manages the MSU Technology Transfer Office (TTO), and some TechLink employees engage in technology transfer for the University as well as Techlink’s federal sponsors. Duties and Responsibilities

• Work closely with other Techlink staff to achieve technology transfer successes for the sponsoring organizations, particularly DoD and VA, focusing primarily on facilitating technology transfer partnerships involving patent license agreements and cooperative research and development agreements (CRADAs).
• Maintain a consistent pipeline of technology opportunity projects across the stages of IP evaluation, written material development, prospect identification, and outreach.
• Evaluate DoD, VA, and / or MSU intellectual property (IP) to identify technologies with industry partnership potential through a regular and systematic review of newly issued patents, published patent applications, and other invention-related information and assets.

Maintain up-to-date knowledge of specific DoD, VA, or MSU intellectual portfolio(s) as assigned.

• Produce business case-focused, written materials around identified opportunities to support the facilitation of industry partnerships from reviewing invention-related information and through conducting interviews with inventors.
• Identify high-quality, prospective industry partners on identified opportunities through market research and other tactics.
• Engage prospects with identified opportunities through direct outreach via email, phone, and other means.
• Maintain a consistent pipeline of technology transfer agreements across the stages of facilitation from initial evaluation by prospects through application development and ultimate agreement execution.
• Support prospect evaluation of partnership opportunities, including mediating discussions with inventors and facilitation of supporting agreements as needed to enable the transfer of materials, prototypes, or other information / assets.
• Provide professional customer service and facilitation of license agreements, CRADAs, and other technology transfer related agreements.

Support and advise prospects toward the development of license applications and other required agreement documentation in line with federal technology transfer regulations, legal requirements, and sponsor expectations.

Travel regularly to visit DOD laboratories and / or VA Medical Centers and to attend conferences, tradeshows, etc as required or needed in support of maintaining active technology opportunities and partnership pipelines.

Required Qualifications Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Master’s or other advanced degree in materials science, mechanical engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, chemistry, biomedical engineering, biochemistry, physics, or other relevant science or engineering field, or an equivalent combination of education and / or experience.
• At least five years technology transfer, R&D, product development, software development, business development, technology marketing, technology sales, or related industry experience.
• Demonstrated entrepreneurial skills, especially in business development and / or sales.
• Demonstrated broad understanding of technology across multiple disciplines.
• Experience working with multiple stakeholders to achieve alignment and desired outcomes, including the ability to initiate and close licensing and research collaboration opportunities.

Preferred Qualifications Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• PhD or other advanced degree in materials science, mechanical engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, chemistry, biomedical engineering, biochemistry, physics, or other relevant science or engineering field, or an equivalent combination of education and / or experience.
• At least 10 years R&D, product development, software development, business development, technology marketing, technology sales, or related industry experience.
• Demonstrated experience in technology transfer including evaluation of inventions for commercialization potential, marketing of licensing opportunities to small businesses and entrepreneurs, negotiation of license terms, and successful completion of license agreements.
• Certified Licensing Professional (CLP) certification.
• Demonstrated knowledge of intellectual property, ., US patent law, copyright, trademark, Bayh-Dole, and related federal laws pertaining to intellectual property.
• Experience developing and delivering high quality and compelling presentations to diverse audiences.

The Successful Candidate Will

• Ability to deliver high quality and professional level service to federal sponsors, industry partners, and other TechLink customers.
• General knowledge of IP law, patent prosecution, license agreements, and other technology transfer agreements.
• Ability to find creative solutions to periodic problems to adapt and prosper when confronted with changing circumstances, and to maintain motivation and enthusiasm through adversity.
• Self starter and ability to function with minimal supervision, including strong work ethic and effective time management.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work in a team environment.
• Ability to maintain accurate records in customer relationship management (CRM) software and other organizational systems and databases.

Position Special Requirements / Additional Information

Successful candidate must be able to comply with the federally mandated requirements of US export control laws, which may require proof that candidate is a US person.

Per 22 CFR 120.15, US person means a person who is a lawful permanent resident as defined by 8 USC 1101(a)(20) or who is a protected individual as defined by 8 USC 1324b(a)(3).

• Continuation of employment is dependent upon funding availability.
• Flexible work arrangements may be considered for qualified candidates.

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements, but a general description of the job.

Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Physical Demands To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodation.

The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and / or ability required. This position has supervisory duties? No