Vacancy: Business Development Manager - Engineering & Physical Sciences

Can you work closely with world-leading academic inventors to identify, develop, protect, market and commercialise intellectual property arising from their research?

The University of Birmingham is currently in the top 5 of all universities in the UK for the identification and protection of intellectual property (IP). As a result of this success and the launch of the Midlands Innovation Commercialisation of Research Accelerator (MICRA), we are making additional investment in the support provided to our researchers by University of Birmingham Enterprise Ltd (UoBE) – the University of Birmingham’s wholly-owned research commercialisation company. 

UoBE is now looking for a new Business Development Manager with proven background in commercialising inventions from a STEM sector.

Joining the existing successful team, you will be given full personal responsibility to drive and ‘own’ cases in our portfolio of intellectual property opportunities through their entire ‘lifecycle’.

This will include:

• Developing relationships with key academic staff in order to identify and capture potential new inventions;
• Identifying and obtaining funds to support development or translation of research ideas into commercial opportunities;
• Assessing commercial potential and ensuring we protect new inventions;
• Finding commercial partners or investors and developing market interest in the inventions;
• Leading commercial negotiations which would usually lead to licencing inventions to a buyer or supporting a new ‘spin-out’ company;
• Creating reputational benefit from the portfolio of commercialisation cases under your management.

In order to be considered for this exciting new role, you will need to show us that you can relate to, and work closely with, academic researchers in a UK university environment.  You will have a first degree (BSc) in a relevant subject and preferably a relevant second degree (MBA, MSc, PhD) together with at least two years’ experience commercialising new ideas in a relevant sector.  A background in computer science, electronics and/or electrical engineering is desirable.

We will also expect evidence of your skills in the management, dissemination and exploitation of IP, including the ability to network, sell complex new opportunities and personally negotiate the subsequent contracts.  You will need to have a good understanding of how IP is protected, the patenting process and preferably experience in working with patent attorneys. 

It is also important that you are a strong team player with excellent written English skills and the ability to write concise and clear business cases and management papers.  You will need to be able to communicate complex subjects in a way that the general public can understand.

UoBE is based in a highly stimulating working entrepreneurial environment located on the vibrant Birmingham Research Park in Edgbaston, Birmingham.  The employment package includes a salary in the range of £40,000-£55,000, performance-related bonus scheme and additional pension benefit dependent on skills and experience.   

Additional details about the University of Birmingham, UoBE and Midlands Innovation universities can be found at:

www.birmingham.ac.uk

www.birmingham.ac.uk/partners/enterprise

www.midlandsinnovation.org.uk

If you are interested in applying for this post please email a 2 page CV together with a 1 page covering letter explaining why you would like to work for UoBE and showing how you meet the above job criteria to: info@enterprise.bham.ac.uk  

Please quote reference: BDM2018 in your email title. 

Closing date Monday 18^th June 2018.