Licensing & Ventures Manager – Social Sciences

Licensing & Ventures Manager – Social Sciences
c12months Fixed Term (depending on contracted hours)
Full time or part-time working will be considered.

Ref: 233

• Are you passionate about creating global impact from world leading University research?
• Would you like to join a supportive team of outstanding people who help bring great Oxford ideas to life?
• Do you have a commercial background in the Social Sciences or a related field?

Oxford University Innovation (OUI) and its Licensing and Ventures team is known for its expedited work on the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid 19 vaccine. We have created spinouts like SOPHIA whose tools helping private companies identify, tackle, and reduce ‘multidimensional’ poverty; YASA (recently acquired by Mercedes-Benz) whose electric motors offer world-leading torque density; and Oxford Nanopore Technologies who are revolutionizing DNA sequencing. The Higher Education Business and Community Interaction survey ranked Oxford as the country’s top performing university for commercializing intellectual property. Join us and be part of bringing together the worlds of academia and commerce to create global impact from university research. From licensing university inventions and finding investment for spinout companies to setting up social enterprises and supporting student entrepreneurship, innovation is the magic behind the scenes that turns ideas born in Oxford University into transformative economic and societal change.

The Opportunity

The successful candidate will join a talented and supportive team in a flexible working environment within our Licensing and Ventures group and will focus on creating sustainable social, economic, and commercial impact from the ideas arising from the departments and faculties in the Social Sciences division.

The key responsibilities of the role are:

• Working with, and influencing, world-leading academics to create positive impact from University research outcomes and expertise.
•  Building a collaborative relationship with the Divisional Office in the Social Sciences division.
• Working closely and collaboratively with OUI Consulting Services.
• Growing a portfolio of projects and collaborators from the Social Sciences division and identifying sustainable commercial strategies to support this portfolio.
• Negotiating appropriate licensing contracts and supporting the formation of spinout companies.

The Applicant

The successful candidate will have a degree (or equivalent), preferably in a Social Sciences or related discipline, together with some experience of working in a technology transfer or a related research or commercial environment. Additional qualifications such as a PhD or MBA, are advantageous although not essential.

Along with a commitment to integrity and sound commercial judgement, the successful candidate will also need to demonstrate:

• The ability to grasp challenging concepts quickly from a wide range of subject areas.
• Experience of working effectively with stakeholders, confidently influencing them and where appropriate showing tenacity and persistence.
• Excellent interpersonal, relationship management, and team working skills, as well as strong verbal and written communication skills.
• A passion for innovation, entrepreneurship, and enterprise.
• Working successfully and collaboratively within a team.
• Managing a portfolio of projects within a process-driven environment to successful commercial outcomes.

How to apply

If you are interested in applying for this role, please download the application form from the OUI website and send together with a copy of your CV and covering letter to Roy Bennett at roy@adlib-recruitment.co.uk. Information about the benefits and working life at OUI can be found here https://innovation.ox.ac.uk/about/careers/

The closing date is midday on Tuesday 18th July 2023.

Salary for this role is commensurate with experience and is likely to be in the range of £36,000 – £38,000 (pro-rated if part time)

Oxford University is an equal opportunities employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone is able to be themselves and is empowered to reach their full potential. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

Oxford University Innovation is an Equal Opportunities Employer and is committed to fostering an inclusive culture which promotes equality, values diversity and maintains a supportive working, learning and social environment in which the rights and dignity of all its staff are respected and where everyone is able to be themselves and is empowered to reach their full potential. This commitment is linked to and reinforces the OUI values of integrity, collaboration and empowerment. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures.

Our approach to hybrid and flexible working:

We believe that our employees are our most valuable asset, and we are committed to attracting and retaining the very best talent. We also appreciate that the UK workforce is becoming increasingly diverse and includes a high percentage of parents and individuals with caring responsibilities, as well as those whose interests and aspirations impact on their time.

We recognise the importance of helping our employees balance their work and home lives by offering flexible working arrangements that enable them to balance their work commitments with other priorities. This includes hybrid working and flexible working.

We are accredited with the Investors in People Silver status.