Boston University

Executive Director, Intellectual Property & Licensing

Basic Function
The Executive Director will manage the Office of Technology Development’s Intellectual Property and Licensing group, which is responsible for all Intellectual Property prosecution and Licensing transactions.

Responsibilities
Boston University’s Office of Technology Development seeks to maximize the transfer of Boston University’s and Boston Medical Center’s research findings into wider societal use via technology licensing in a manner that is consistent with academic principles, demonstrates a concern for the general welfare and conforms to high ethical standards, thereby benefiting the public and fulfilling our obligations under the Bayh-Dole Act.

The Intellectual Property and Licensing (IPL) group will:

  • Provide accessible, responsive, competent, timely and professional intellectual property management and licensing transaction services to BU and BMC, their faculty and staff;
  • Ensure compliance with University policies;
  • Ensure a friction-free interface with the Executive Director Business Development (BD) and the BD group;
  • Negotiate agreements that foster collaborative partnerships with industry and that ensure that BU and BMC share equitably in commercial successes;
  • Serve as an educational resource for information about patents and licensing, and to encourage recognition that such matters have become important tools for the dissemination of research results;
  • Facilitate the development of an entrepreneurial culture among BU faculty.

Specific duties include:

  1. Leading the IPL team, including training, performance reviews and promotion decisions and directing all activities of the office;
  2. Coordinating transfer of licensing opportunities from BD to IPL;
  3. Coordinating transfer from BD and prosecuting and managing patent applications;
  4. Negotiating agreements including: a) Licenses, b) Material Transfer Agreements, c) Inter-institutional Agreements, and d) Confidentiality Agreements
  5. Managing team workload so as to meet office-wide performance objectives (patent expenditures, income and transaction volume);
  6. Support OTD operations, including idea management, HR issues and IT issues;
  7. Ensure compliance with BU’s Patent Policies and other relevant policies;
  8. Manage the interface with BU and BMC Offices of General Counsel;
  9. Manage the Charles River Campus and BUMC Patent Committees, including meetings and staffing.

Qualifications

Required:

  • At least 10 years of experience in executing technology related transactions
  • At least 5 years supervisory experience;
  • Graduate degree;
  • Experience applying for and prosecuting patent applications;
  • Excellent interpersonal communication skills;
  • Excellent organizational, analytical and writing skills;
  • Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously;
  • Self-motivated, action and results oriented;
  • Currently located in Massachusetts;
  • US Citizen or Green Card holder.

Desired:

  • Background in licenses, contracts and negotiations;
  • Legal background;
  • Science or technology degree;
  • Industrial experience.

Do not contact by phone.  Please send your resume by email only to:

Susan Mulrean
Manager, Administration
Boston University
Technology Development Office
smulrean@bu.edu