Senior Manager, Knowledge Transfer & Commercialisation (2-year contract), IIE in London

Company Description

Singapore Management University is a place where high-level professionalism blends together with a healthy informality. The 'family-like' atmosphere among the SMU community fosters a culture where employees work, plan, organise and play together - building a strong collegiality and morale within the university. Our commitment to attract and retain talent is ongoing. We offer attractive benefits and welfare, competitive compensation packages, and generous professional development opportunities - all to meet the work-life needs of our staff. No wonder, then, that SMU continues to be given numerous awards and recognition for its human resource excellence.

Responsibilities

• Intellectual Property (IP) Management: Manage and maintain SMU's IP portfolio, including evaluating inventions for prior art, commercial viability and managing patent applications and renewals. Collaborate with the Office of Legal & General Affairs (OLGA) to ensure compliance with SMU IP policy and IP laws and regulations. Collaborate and advise the Office of Research Governance & Administration (ORGA) and Office of Industry Engagement (OIE) on the treatment of IP in research collaboration with academic institution or industry. Develop and implement robust policies and procedures for effective IP management.
• Licensing and Commercialization: Negotiate and finalize licensing agreements, ensuring adherence to terms and effective relationship management with licensees. Proactively identify commercialization opportunities by engaging with faculty and industry partners. Support faculty in exploring practical applications of research, conducting market validation, and developing commercialization strategies.
• Engagement and Stakeholder Management: Build and maintain strategic relationships with SMU faculty, researchers, and external industry stakeholders to foster technology transfer opportunities. Provide training and advisory services to faculty, researchers, and students on IP management and commercialization. Participate in knowledge transfer events, conferences, and industry forums to promote SMU's IP portfolio and capabilities.
• Proof-of-Concept (POC) Project Support: Guide faculty in POC gap funding applications, connecting them to relevant resources and support networks. Coordinate proposal presentations, evaluation panel meetings, and post-panel reviews to ensure alignment with commercialization goals. Oversee post-award activities, including incubation space allocation, mentor matching, networking, training programmes and IP/legal advisory support.
• Project Monitoring and Reporting: Monitor and manage the performance of market discovery and commercialization projects, providing ongoing guidance from inception through spin-off or licensing stages. Track project milestones, ensuring compliance with grant disbursement requirements. Prepare clear and concise management reports to communicate project status, outcomes, and potential risks to stakeholders.
• Capacity Building and Ecosystem Development: Organize training programs and knowledge-sharing sessions to enhance commercialization expertise within the SMU community. Cultivate a vibrant innovation ecosystem by encouraging faculty and researchers to explore market-driven applications of their work.
• Any other duties assigned.

Qualifications

• Degree/Post-graduate degree in STEM.
• 8 to 10 years of post-graduate work experience in technology commercialization or innovation/entrepreneurship development.
• Past relevant experience and strong international network in the area of technology commercialization across public and private sectors, especially in markets such as the USA and Greater China.
• Up to date with industry and technology trends in the innovation and entrepreneurship eco-system.
• Commercially savvy and ability to structure deals and partnerships innovatively that promotes knowledge transfer and adoption.
• Excellent project management and organisational skills.
• Effective communication, presentation and stakeholder management skills.

Other Information

Candidates who do not possess the stipulated qualifications but have relevant work experience may still apply. Remuneration and appointment terms shall commensurate with qualifications and experience. SMU reserves the right to modify the appointment terms where necessary. Please note that your application will be sent to and reviewed by the direct employer - Singapore Management University.