Assistant Director, Commercialization

University of Utah – Assistant Director, Commercialization

Job Summary

An Assistant Director of Commercialization’s role at the Technology Licensing Office (TLO) at the University of Utah is to develop relationships with University faculty to promote innovation that has strong commercial potential with the ultimate goal of monetizing these innovations through licensing transactions, which generate downstream revenue through a variety of contractual obligations. The majority of their time will be spent meeting with faculty and developing relationships with potential licensees. Education of TLO’s mission is a core theme of faculty interactions, the intent of which is to produce higher quality, curated invention disclosures across all University colleges, institutes, and departments. Based on their domain expertise and industry relationships, Assistant Director of Commercialization also provide awareness to faculty of technology solutions that are most valued by global markets to influence their research efforts.

Learn more about the great benefits of working for University of Utah: benefits.utah.edu

Close Date 12/11/2026

The department may choose to hire at any of the below job levels and associated pay rates based on their business need and budget.

Responsibilities

• The Assistant Director of Commercialization in this position will be responsible for developing relationships with faculty and actively engaging them in the commercialization process; identifying faculty at the University who have developed and/or are interested in developing new research tool or medical device assets through reviewing the scientific literature, attending faculty seminars, etc.; managing a portfolio of medical device technologies; supporting a portfolio of research tools including animal models, cell lines, reagents, screening assays, and research tools; evaluating medical device and research tool invention disclosures for their commercial potential; working with faculty, the Director of IP and outside IP counsel on patenting, copyright and trademark decisions; marketing research tool and medical device technologies to industry; engaging industry partners for potential licensing deals; communicating industry feedback to faculty; executing licensing transactions to industry; representing the University at industry conferences, from time-to-time, that are relevant to technology transfer activities.

On a day-to-day basis, the Assistant Director of Commercialization will actively support and manage a portfolio in the medical device and research tool space. Portfolio management involves a variety of activities including but not limited to:

• Faculty engagement: Assisting faculty who aren’t familiar with TLO’s process to complete invention disclosures; encouraging faculty to disclose inventions, highlighting the advantages of how disclosing can help technology transition to the market; maintaining regular interactions with faculty to learn about upcoming innovations, discussing market gaps, making appropriate connections with TLO services and otherwise ensure the highest probability of successfully commercializing a technology; mentoring faculty on future work to pivot their research towards commercialization.

• Invention Disclosure evaluation: Evaluating a medical device or research tool technology for its commercial potential, provide recommendations on the development of a technology and implement steps toward licensing; understanding the future development and funding needed to advance a medical device or research tool technology to a value inflection point.

• IP Management: Working with IP counsel in evaluating prior art searches for IP potential of a technology; working closely with IP counsel to establish and manage an IP prosecution strategy.

• Marketing: Marketing medical device or research tool technologies for licensing consideration by industry and other commercialization partners; engaging with industry on a regular basis to expand TLO’s networks, keep abreast of market trends, get feedback on technology potential and identify licensing opportunities; attending relevant trade shows to promote the technology portfolio; hosting corporations at TLO to promote University research, faculty engagement and licensing opportunities.

• Licensing: Engaging with industry on a regular basis to keep abreast of market trends and licensing opportunities; working with TLO stakeholders to advance medical device and research tool technologies through a licensing transaction to industry.

• This job description is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

• Minimum Qualifications

• EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor’s degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).

Department may hire employee at one of the following job levels:

• II: Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 4 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 2 years of directly related work experience.

• III: Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 6 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 4 years of directly related work experience.

• IV: Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 8 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 6 years of directly related work experience.

• V: Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 10 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 8 years of directly related work experience.

• Preferences

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences or a related field required; advanced degree in life sciences or bioengineering preferred. Three to five years of experience in technology transfer, preferably within a university or industry technology transfer office. Two or more years of industry experience in the life sciences, preferably in an area relevant to the assignment (Research Tools, Medical Devices, or Diagnostics). Previous university administrative or research experience, or familiarity with the university environment, preferred. Experience in business development and marketing preferred. Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to communicate and present written and oral materials clearly and professionally. Strong customer service orientation and interpersonal skills. Self-motivated, able to work independently with minimal supervision, and effective as a team member.

• Type Benefited Staff

• Special Instructions Summary

• Additional Information

• The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems or University Human Resource Management if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.

• This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.

• The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.

• Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

• Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The Univers