What are the responsibilities and job description for the Business Development Associate position at Virginia Commonwealth University?
Advertising Summary
At the VCU Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, our mission is to foster transformative research, discovery, and innovation at Virginia Commonwealth University through excellence in service.
We partner with faculty in all schools and departments as they seek funding, plan studies, establish collaborations, calculate budgets, submit grant applications, negotiate industry contracts, and secure patents and licensing agreements.
Our commitment to supporting and elevating the research community at VCU has resulted in record levels of sponsored research and has placed VCU among the nation’s premier public research universities.
Through our passion for discovery and willingness to take on challenges, we continue to advance the work that matters most and position the university as a national leader in research, innovation, creativity, and scholarship.
Duties & Responsibilities
The Business Development Associate will report directly to the Assistant Vice President for Innovation at Tech Transfer and Ventures and will independently manage a small portfolio of inventions from a variety of technical areas, oversee faculty outreach, industry engagements, and manage internal innovation projects.
Typical Duties
Evaluate invention disclosures for technical merit, patent potential and commercial viability as well as prepare non-confidential summaries of invention disclosures for technology marketing purposes.
Conduct market research to identify potential licensees and market inventions to targeted industry contacts.
Manage filing and prosecution of patent application with outside counsel.
Develop strategic research interactions and collaborations with regional and national companies to enhance the university’s research enterprise.
Conduct market research to identify potential industry partners for VCU’s areas of research excellence and inventions.
Actively engage in faculty outreach and education, organize faculty meetings.
Actively engage industry partners and organize visits to campus (reverse pitches) to selected groups of faculty to promote collaborations and IP licensing.
Provide assistance and guidance to VCU researchers and administrators in promoting VCU’s intellectual property, technology commercialization, and start-up creation.
Lead external marketing efforts.
Assist the Assistant Vice President for Innovation as needed and perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.
Only applicants who do not require current or future sponsorship for employment will be considered
PhD degree
Minimum one year of relevant tech transfer or industry business development experience
Experience in evaluating market potential for universities technologies
Prior experience in building academic-industry collaborations
Preferred Qualifications
Personal and relevant network of industry, investors and entrepreneurial contacts is strongly preferred. A network of contacts in Virginia will be preferable.
Strong scientific research background.
Experience in developing commercial product scenarios for early stage inventions will be a plus.
The candidate should have excellent time management and prioritization skills and the ability to manage a large portfolio of cases independently. Superb judgment and interpersonal skills are essential to communicate with diverse constituents. Outstanding writing and oral communication, planning and organizational skills are required.
Salary Range: 70,000 - 90,000
Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.
Unit: Office of the Vice President for Research & Innovation MBU
Department: Innovation Gateway - Technology Transfer
FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt
Hours per Week: 40
Restricted Position: Yes
ORP Eligible: No
Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid
University Job Title: OPEN - 25234N - Sr Specialist LG 1
At the VCU Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, our mission is to foster transformative research, discovery, and innovation at Virginia Commonwealth University through excellence in service.
We partner with faculty in all schools and departments as they seek funding, plan studies, establish collaborations, calculate budgets, submit grant applications, negotiate industry contracts, and secure patents and licensing agreements.
Our commitment to supporting and elevating the research community at VCU has resulted in record levels of sponsored research and has placed VCU among the nation’s premier public research universities.
Through our passion for discovery and willingness to take on challenges, we continue to advance the work that matters most and position the university as a national leader in research, innovation, creativity, and scholarship.
Duties & Responsibilities
The Business Development Associate will report directly to the Assistant Vice President for Innovation at Tech Transfer and Ventures and will independently manage a small portfolio of inventions from a variety of technical areas, oversee faculty outreach, industry engagements, and manage internal innovation projects.
Typical Duties
Evaluate invention disclosures for technical merit, patent potential and commercial viability as well as prepare non-confidential summaries of invention disclosures for technology marketing purposes.
Conduct market research to identify potential licensees and market inventions to targeted industry contacts.
Manage filing and prosecution of patent application with outside counsel.
Develop strategic research interactions and collaborations with regional and national companies to enhance the university’s research enterprise.
Conduct market research to identify potential industry partners for VCU’s areas of research excellence and inventions.
Actively engage in faculty outreach and education, organize faculty meetings.
Actively engage industry partners and organize visits to campus (reverse pitches) to selected groups of faculty to promote collaborations and IP licensing.
Provide assistance and guidance to VCU researchers and administrators in promoting VCU’s intellectual property, technology commercialization, and start-up creation.
Lead external marketing efforts.
Assist the Assistant Vice President for Innovation as needed and perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.
Only applicants who do not require current or future sponsorship for employment will be considered
PhD degree
Minimum one year of relevant tech transfer or industry business development experience
Experience in evaluating market potential for universities technologies
Prior experience in building academic-industry collaborations
Preferred Qualifications
Personal and relevant network of industry, investors and entrepreneurial contacts is strongly preferred. A network of contacts in Virginia will be preferable.
Strong scientific research background.
Experience in developing commercial product scenarios for early stage inventions will be a plus.
The candidate should have excellent time management and prioritization skills and the ability to manage a large portfolio of cases independently. Superb judgment and interpersonal skills are essential to communicate with diverse constituents. Outstanding writing and oral communication, planning and organizational skills are required.
Salary Range: 70,000 - 90,000
Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.
Unit: Office of the Vice President for Research & Innovation MBU
Department: Innovation Gateway - Technology Transfer
FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt
Hours per Week: 40
Restricted Position: Yes
ORP Eligible: No
Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid
University Job Title: OPEN - 25234N - Sr Specialist LG 1