Commercialisation Executive, Technology
Transfer Office
Contents
Page Number
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3
Job Description
5
Application Procedures
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National University of Ireland Galway
Applications are invited for the following full-time contract post of:
Commercialisation Executive, Technology Transfer Office
NUI Galway’s Ignite Technology Transfer Office (TTO), established in 2005, has
established itself as a high-impact, performance driven facility, delivering on the
University’s strategy for intellectual property (IP) protection and commercialisation and
knowledge transfer for economic development.
The Ignite TTO’s mission is to be “the partner of choice in knowledge transfer for
economic development, pioneering the path to commercialisation for new technologies.
Bringing together specialists in knowledge transfer and business development, we
partner with investigators and enterprise to translate innovations into practice. We are
committed to a creative, solutions-oriented approach to licensing, ventures and
research that delivers opportunities to create value.”
The selected candidate:
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will have a primary degree in Computer Science, Information Technology,
Engineering or related, followed by postgraduate training in one of the areas
above or demonstrated industrial or commercial experience in one of these
fields.
will have experience in one or more of the following areas: research and
development, technology development, licensing, strategy development and
implementation, operations management, business development or marketing
and sales. A post graduate business degree is also desirable but not essential.
will have considerable knowledge and proven experience in the identification and
management of intellectual property and patent filings and assessment of the
commercial potential of such technologies.
should be well-versed in constructing technology development roadmaps and
technology commercialisation strategies and linking these to patenting strategies.
He/She will also facilitate the TTO in the identification of and negotiation with
potential industrial collaborators leading to technology transfer.
Ideally, candidates will have proven experience in the negotiation of licence deals
leading to deal closure and/or spinout company formation. Knowledge of the
funding agencies and VC companies in Ireland, the EU and elsewhere is
desirable, together with experience in supporting Principal Investigators and
research project teams in grant applications.
This is a full time contract post until 31 December 2016.
Salary: €52,500 p.a.
(This appointment will be made on the above scale in line with current Government pay
policy)
(For pre 1995 public sector entrants in Ireland, the D class Salary rates will apply).
Closing date for receipt of applications is 17.00 (GMT) on Thursday 20th March
2014. It will not be possible to consider applications received after the closing
date.
For more information and Application Form please see website:
http://www.nuigalway.ie/about-us/jobs/ Applications should be submitted online.
Please note that appointment to posts advertised will be dependent upon
University approval, together with the terms of the Employment Control
Framework for the higher education sector.
National University of Ireland Galway is an equal opportunities employer.
JOB DESCRIPTION
1. Job Title
Discipline/Section
Current Job Holder
Commercialisation Executive –
ICT/Engineering (Grade 5)
Is post permanent or a contract?
Technology Transfer Office
Vacant
2.
Contract until end of 2016
Role Relationships
The holder has specific job contact with:
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Associate Director Technology Transfer Office (reporting to).
Academic staff involved in industrial collaboration and technology transfer activities.
Research Institute/Centre Directors and Operations Managers.
Senior industry personnel licensing technologies from NUI Galway.
Entrepreneurs.
Investment and business community.
Senior staff in the President’s Office, Office of the VP for Research, Research Accounts, Careers and
Placement Office, Bursars Office, Registrar’s Office.
Senior staff in relevant government agencies such as Enterprise Ireland, Industrial Development
Agency, Forfas, Science Foundation Ireland etc.
S/He has general contact with:
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Commercialisation Managers from other national and international universities
Technology specialists at Enterprise Ireland
Licensing industrial forums
Staff of the Office of the Vice-President for Research.
Industrial forums
Business groups
Academic staff
Organisation chart to illustrate position of job holder:
Vice-President for Research
Associate Director Technology Transfer
Office
IP & Commercialisation
Manager
Contracts Manager
Commercialisation Executive
Business Development
Manager
Development
Administration
3. MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB:
Background:
NUI Galway’s Ignite Technology Transfer Office (TTO), established in 2005, has established itself as a highimpact, performance driven facility, delivering on the University’s strategy for intellectual property (IP)
protection and commercialisation and knowledge transfer for economic development.
The Ignite TTO’s mission is to be “the partner of choice in knowledge transfer for economic development,
pioneering the path to commercialisation for new technologies. Bringing together specialists in knowledge
transfer and business development, we partner with investigators and enterprise to translate innovations
into practice. We are committed to a creative, solutions-oriented approach to licensing, ventures and
research that delivers opportunities to create value.”
Ignite TTO is part of a Consortium, Ignite West, with partners GMIT, IT Sligo and LyIT. Therefore, there will
be a requirement for the successful candidate to travel and provide commercialisation supports to the
Consortium partners.
1. Manage and commercialisation of the University’s intellectual property (IP) through the
identification and protection of IP, creation of start-up businesses and licensing of technology to
existing industry.
2. Identify market opportunities and needs and influence investigators at the University to undertake
research in commercially relevant fields.
3. Foster and support collaboration between the University, industry, business and entrepreneurial
communities, including identifying opportunities for sponsored research, and other collaborations
that may benefit for the University and the community.
4. MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
(Write in perceived order of Importance)
1. Negotiating agreements with industry and other research organisations towards commercialisation
of the University’s intellectual property. These agreements include licence and option agreements,
industry collaborative research agreements, shareholders agreements and material transfer
agreements.
2. Providing specialised advice on technology commercialisation including evaluating inventions,
developing and executing commercialisation plans for the University’s IP portfolio.
3. Representing the University in interactions with external organisations and developing and building
relationships with industry, entrepreneurs and investors to foster interaction between faculty and
business.
4. Building commercialisation plans and implementing marketing strategies for the University’s IP to
attract industry, business partner or investor interest towards successfully licensing the University’s
technologies.
5. Advising and mentoring investigators at the University on the development of commercially
relevant technologies and the establishment of new start-up companies.
6. Representing the University on IP and Commercialisation committees for major research centres at
the University.
7. Identifying opportunities for industry sponsored research and other academic industry
collaborations and delivering such partnerships for the University.
8. Promoting awareness of IP, entrepreneurship and commercialisation across the University.
9. Contributing to the development and implementation of the University’s policies and processes
with respect to commercialisation.
10. Other tasks as directed by the Associate Director of the TTO.
5. SPECIAL FEATURES OF JOB:
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The selected candidate will have a primary degree in Computer Science, Information Technology,
Engineering or related, followed by postgraduate training in one of the areas above or
demonstrated industrial or commercial experience in one of these fields.
The selected candidate will have experience in one or more of the following areas: research and
development, technology development, licensing, strategy development and implementation,
operations management, business development or marketing and sales. A post graduate business
degree is also desirable but not essential.
The ideal candidate will have considerable knowledge and proven experience in the identification
and management of intellectual property and patent filings and assessment of the commercial
potential of such technologies.
Candidates should be well-versed in constructing technology development roadmaps and
technology commercialisation strategies and linking these to patenting strategies.
He/She will also facilitate the TTO in the identification of and negotiation with potential industrial
collaborators leading to technology transfer.
Ideally, candidates will have proven experience in the negotiation of licence deals leading to deal
closure and/or spinout company formation. Knowledge of the funding agencies and VC companies
in Ireland, the EU and elsewhere is desirable, together with experience in supporting Principal
Investigators and research project teams in grant applications.
The person we seek will have good communication, reporting and inter-personal skills and
demonstrated ability to influence other in decision making. He/She will be self-motivated, goaloriented, have an ability to work to deadlines and will be driven by success and delivering on
objectives and strategy. The person will have a proven ability to be a team player and deliver on
team objectives. In addition he/she will contribute to the growth and development of the TTO at
NUI Galway.
Appointments will be conditional on work authorisation validation. Further details are
available at www.djei.ie
APPLICATION AND APPOINTMENT PROCEDURES
1.
Application
A.
If you are a current NUI Galway employee please use the NUI Galway Employee Self Service
(ESS) portal to apply for this post. Note that access to the ESS portal is currently only available
on campus. The following is a link to the ESS portal:
http://ess.nuigalway.ie
The following is a link to a User Guide for ESS:
www.nuigalway.ie/hr/documents/internal/nuig_user_guide_support_internal.pdf
Please ensure that you read the attached guide prior to applying for this post and allow
sufficient time to make your online submission in advance of closing date.
Please note that closing dates/ times will not be extended for user error
Late applications will not be accepted.
Non NUI Galway employees
If you are not a current NUI Galway employee please use the NUI Galway online recruitment
portal to apply for this post. The following is a link to the online recruitment portal:
http://erecruit.nuigalway.ie
The following is a link to a User Guide for the online recruitment portal:
www.nuigalway.ie/hr/documents/nuig_user_guide_support_external.pdf
Please ensure that you read the attached guide prior to applying for this post and allow
sufficient time to make your online submission in advance of closing date.
Please note that closing dates/ times will not be extended for user error
Late applications will not be accepted.
The completed application document must be submitted online to reach the Human Resources
Office no later than 17.00 (GMT) on Thursday 20th March 2014.
B. All applicants will receive an acknowledgement of application. If you do not receive an
acknowledgement of receipt of your application or if you have any other queries regarding the
application process please contact recruit@nuigalway.ie
or telephone 091-492151.
C. Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER):
It is a condition of the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) as set out in Department
of Finance Circular 12/09 that retirees, under that Scheme, are debarred from applying for
another position in the same employment or the same sector. Therefore, such retirees may not
apply for this position.
D. Pension Entitlements:
This is a pensionable position. Details of the applicable Pension Scheme will be provided to the
successful candidate. The Pension element of this appointment is subject to the terms and
conditions of the Pension scheme currently in force within the University. This Scheme may be
amended or revised by the Irish Government or its agents at any time.
The Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 set a minimum
retirement age of 65 and removed the upper compulsory retirement age for certain New
Entrants to the Public Sector on or after 1 April 2004. Effective from 1st January 2013, The Single
Public Service Scheme applies to all first-time new entrants to the public service, as well as to
former public servants returning to the public service after a break of more than 26 weeks.
Retirement age set, initially, at 66 years; this will rise in step with statutory changes in the State
Pension Contributory (SPC) age to 67 years in 2021 and 68 years in 2028.
Compulsory retirement age will be 70.
E.
Declaration:
Applicants will be required to declare whether they have previously availed of a public service
scheme of incentivised early retirement. Applicants will also be required to declare any
entitlements to a Public Service pension benefit (in payment or preserved) from any other Public
Service employment and/or where they have received a payment-in-lieu in respect of service in
any Public Service employment.
2.
Assessment Procedure
(a)
Board of Assessors
Applications will be considered by a Board of Assessors, which will shortlist and
interview candidates.
(b)
Interview Dates
Candidates will be advised of arrangements in due course.
(c)
The Human Resources Office will offer the post to the candidate appointed once the
appointment has been made by the relevant University Appointing Authority. The
successful candidate will be required to submit evidence of age, original qualifications
and undergo a medical examination.
All candidates will in due course be notified of the outcome of their application.