The University of Chicago
With an unwavering focus on rigorous inquiry, University of Chicago research continually breaks new intellectual ground. Across disciplines, departments, and over 140 institutes and centers, researchers produce ideas that matter—and change the world.
The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation drives venture creation and technology commercialization within the University of Chicago and the surrounding community. The Center combines entrepreneurial education, technology transfer, and accelerator programming into one cohesive unit. Through education, partnerships, and new venture support, the Polsky Center advances the knowledge and practice of entrepreneurship and accelerates the commercialization of research. The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is bridging the gap between knowledge and practice, idea and action, and research and impact through education, partnerships, and new venture creation. By leveraging the University’s distinctive strengths in research and a combined research budget of more than $1.5 billion from its three affiliates—Argonne National Laboratory, Fermilab, and the Marine Biological Laboratory—the Polsky Center paves the way for more ideas to have a meaningful impact on society. Polsky, rather than being a physical set of people or places on campus, is a way of thinking about innovation and entrepreneurship that builds on academic eminence and distinctive intellectual approach and helps all parts of the University interface more proactively and imaginatively with the world of venture, innovation, and business.
JOB SUMMARY:
The Associate Director, Data Management and Compliance is responsible for establishing, implementing and ongoing management of administrative processes and data management supporting invention and licensing management and reporting. Supported by a small and talented team, the Associate Director will ensure the University complies with reporting requirements, monitor licensee compliance, maintain a current database of licenses and intellectual property, and assist with patent prosecution and license agreement activity. The Associate director plays an integral in the Polsky Center’s technology transfer office.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s Degree or 3-5 years equivalent experience
- At least six years of related work experience
- Experience supervising the work of others preferred
- Experience in technology transfer at a university preferred
PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead a team managing data, reporting, and compliance related to invention disclosures, patents, and contracts.
- Continuously improve business processes throughout the department.
- Manage the Inteum intellectual property database, including data maintenance and clean-up, trouble-shooting, expanding database functionality, and integrating with other database tools.
- Develop robust audit processes and procedures to guarantee data is up-to-date and accurate. Consult with and train team members on these processes to ensure adoption and continuous improvement.
- Ensure data is entered promptly and accurately and updated at regular intervals as needed.
- Work with the team to review and manage patent-related correspondence, meet legal deadlines, review and approve third-party legal bills, and administer existing license agreements, including monitoring the status of agreements, creating and maintain license dockets, corresponding with licensees to ensure compliance and monitoring licensee payments.
- Work closely with the Controller to maintain an accurate and efficient accounting system.
- Cooperate with others across the Polsky Center and broader University as needed to share data.
- Interface with external consultants to maintain and improve operations.
- Supervise and contribute to the identification, review, and management of all government and private sponsor compliance requirements and timelines through iEdison.gov and other reporting mechanisms as required by sponsors. Confirm compliance is complete and up to date.
- Assist technology transfer team by establishing and maintaining direct and independent relationships with legal counsel, licensees, and colleagues
- Maintain and produce enterprise-wide standard and ad hoc reports.
- Keep up to date on the latest regulations related to technology transfer compliance.
DESIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Experience building processes that improve business outcomes
- Knowledge of Inteum (or similar intellectual property/technology management system)
- Experience with legal documents, specifically intellectual property portfolios, paralegal experience a plus
- Experience with basic accounting
- Demonstrated leadership ability and work as a member of a team.
- Strong negotiation and organization skills.
- Ability to work in a highly complex organization
- First rate communication skills, especially with multiple stakeholders at varying levels
Confidential review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Interested candidates should send resume, deal sheet/past deals negotiated to:
Lisa Rooney
lisa@vortechsgroup.com
Partner, The Vortechs Group
For more information and the application process, view the position specification.
