Commercialisation Associate (Physical Sciences)

Cambridge Enterprise is looking for an ambitious and experienced Commercialisation Associate to work in the Physical Science Tech Transfer team. If you want to play a role in commercialising the ideas of world-leading academics and help contribute to society, this might be the role for you.

Cambridge Enterprise is the commercialisation arm of the University of Cambridge and is part of Europe’s most successful research and technology cluster. Our mission is to help University of Cambridge innovators, experts and entrepreneurs make their ideas and concepts more commercially successful for the benefit of society, the UK economy and the University.

Our Technology Transfer (TT) team is key to Cambridge Enterprise. We work with researchers from the University to help them develop their ideas, technologies and inventions into opportunities that are attractive to industry and investors.

This is a full-time role based at the University’s West Cambridge site at the Hauser Forum and will ideally be office-based for 2-3 days per week (or more if preferred).

Full time salary up to £38,000 based on individual’s skills and experience and will be prorated based on hours.

Below are our ideal requirements; however we are more interested in your capacity to learn and grow.  At Cambridge Enterprise, we promote a diverse, inclusive and empowering culture, so please apply if you meet the majority of these competencies.

This role closes on 15th September and interviews will be held the week of 25^th September.

The Role:

Here is a description about the role from Elena Watts, one of our existing TT Associates:

“No day is the same when you work in technology transfer at Cambridge Enterprise. You are constantly solving complex challenges in sometimes uncharted territory, which is a hugely rewarding mental exercise. The breadth of experience in the Physical Sciences team is fantastic, and the on-the-job learning feels nurtured and encouraged. Working for the commercialisation arm of the University of Cambridge allows you to work with inspirational academics, at the top of their fields and the sharp end of the innovation spectrum, to generate the best commercial impact from their research outputs – it’s fantastic!”

How you’ll contribute:

• Stakeholder Diligence – reading and understanding legal agreements to enable IP due diligence (including but not limited to IP ownership, third party rights and funders obligations) and identify stakeholders, partners, inventors, joint owners and define stakeholder obligations.
• Evaluation of new Opportunities – perform prior art searches and evaluate potential applications and markets for new IP. Analyse, interpret and assess data to produce succinct summaries with academic inventors and senior colleagues.
• Patent Management – liaise with internal teams, inventors and patent agents to handle aspects of patent management, including:
  • coordinating inventor responses to search reports,
  • working with patent agents to achieve appropriate protection, and
  • prosecution of applications within agreed timescales.
• Communications and Records – liaise with internal teams, inventors, patent agents and other stakeholders as required to:
  • handle day to day communications on cases, including emails, scheduling meetings, follow up actions etc. Gather and disseminate information to and from inventors, external advisors, collaborators and licensees to ensure effective communication on case activity
  • contribute to the maintenance of accurate and complete records of office activity for audit, reporting and legal purposes to ensure best practice particularly (i) diligent updating of the business’s electronic record systems and (ii) drafting complete, accurate and comprehensible case reports for stakeholders (e.g. funders) as required.
• Translational Funding – work with academics to secure suitable developmental resources to add value to the technology (including providing advice on IP issues in grant and other funding applications). Maintain awareness of translational and other grant funding opportunities to assist in securing suitable developmental resources to add value to inventions.
• Developing and Supporting Commercial Relationships – work with academics and senior colleagues to find and engage companies for commercialisation of the technology, including:
  • further market evaluation: size, dynamics, segmentation
  • responsibility for the production of marketing materials
  • identification of suitable marketing channels and potential commercial partners
  • initiation of contacts with potential commercial partners
  • Post deal activities as requested by case managers.
• Legal Agreements – with support, negotiate and conclude straightforward agreements (including confidentiality, material transfer, software licences, research evaluation and internal assignments / internal licenses) ensuring that the University and CE are not exposed to undue risk, taking advice from senior colleagues as appropriate. Support Case Managers in the negotiation of commercial licenses.
• Case Continuity – cover the management of cases (with the help of other team members) when Case Managers are absent. 

Skills & experience:

Essential

• Degree level qualification in a scientific or technical subject relevant to the role’s remit
• Demonstrated interest in technology transfer, marketing of technologies, contract negotiation and/or intellectual property as well as some understanding of commercial issues.
• Excellent organisation and time management with ability to multitask and meet tight deadlines whilst maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills with ability to relate well to and engage with individuals of varying seniority and across different teams.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, demonstrated by the ability to solve problems related to the protection and commercial exploitation of IP and to resolve issues for the mutual benefit of all parties.
• Decision making experience and skills demonstrated by the ability to: choose suitable methods and databases for prior art searching and market analysis; and implementation of marketing strategies.

Desirable

• Good understanding of a university environment and research and translational funding mechanisms.
• Experience in a commercial environment, preferably in a technical sales or marketing role.
• Knowledge of the patenting process, licensing or other aspects of technology transfer
• Experience of contract negotiation and/or management
• Experience of research, probably evidenced by a PhD.

These are our ideal requirements, but we know some people are less likely to apply for the role unless they are 100% qualified. At Cambridge Enterprise, we promote a diverse, inclusive and empowering culture, so please apply if you meet the majority of these competencies.

Benefits:

We offer exceptional benefits and invest greatly in our team’s happiness, wellbeing, and growth. We are proud to have won a Platinum Award for being one of the best employers in the Eastern Region.

Our benefits include:

• 30 days holiday per year plus bank holidays
• Generous University pension scheme with an employer contribution of 21% (with 9% employee contribution)
• Flexible working environment with the opportunity to work from abroad for up to 90 days per year for most roles
• Family friendly policies (including enhanced parental leave & childcare benefits, fertility leave, and pregnancy loss leave)
• Mental health & wellbeing support
• A commitment to personal development, including free access to LinkedIn Learning
• Retail & travel discount cards and schemes

This is alongside a modern office space on the West Cambridge site (home to a thriving academic and research and development community) and the chance to work in a vibrant team in one of the world’s leading Technology Transfer offices.

Equal Opportunities Statement:

Cambridge Enterprise is an equal opportunity employer and will strive to reduce unconscious bias throughout our hiring process. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, family or parental status, national origin, veteran, neurodiversity status or disability status.

We endeavour to embrace diversity, and promote an inclusive environment for all employees, and actively work towards this with our EDI Working Group.

If you have any questions regarding the interview process, or if you need any reasonable adjustments to be made, please don’t hesitate to contact us at people@enterprise.cam.ac.uk.

Apply now: