Technology Transfer Manager

£43,414 – £51805 (grade 9 pro rata)

Location:  Bay Campus

This position will be part of the existing AgorIP TTM team based on Swansea University Bay Campus.  Day to day reporting will be to a designated line manager at AgorIP/Swansea University.  The AgorIP (Open IP) Operation provides an Intellectual Property management and Technology Transfer service to academia, University Health Boards, SMEs and industrial collaborators, servicing a pipeline of Intellectual Property exploitation opportunities at various levels of Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs).

AgorIP, which is partially funded by the Welsh Government and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), is now pan-Wales; running in parallel across West Wales & the Valleys and East Wales, increasing the scope and impact of the Project and building on lessons learned, whilst preparing for a sustainable future beyond the lifetime of the Operation.  Combined, AgorIP is an extensible framework that embeds a structural change pan-Wales and supports potential for delivery across multiple Operational Programmes.

AgorIP is led and managed by the School of Management within the established governance of Swansea University and in accordance with University IP Governance Procedures and Policies, which are led by the University’s Department of Research, Engagement and Innovation Services (REIS). Research commercialised by the Operation will be drawn from across the University’s Colleges, together with Partners, such as University Health Boards, HEIs and SMEs.  

The purpose of the role will be to work as part of the AgorIP TTM team in the identification projects suitable for support through AgorIP. 

AgorIP is an ambitious project to build linkages with IP inventors across Wales with particular emphasis on Universities and Health Boards (UHB), and to commercialise those IPs for the good of the regions. This will require substantial external efforts to build, consolidate and contractually define external relationships and the IPs relevant to the project.

The role of the TTM is to develop and manage a portfolio of commercial opportunities at varying levels of Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) using processes to identify, capture, mature and make investable commercial opportunities while moving these opportunities onto a commercialisation trajectory. This will involve, interfacing with senior academics, executives and Senior WG Civil Servants and take the appropriate actions, to create a vibrant pipeline of commercial opportunities for either license or embodiment in new company formation. It requires the ability to maintain both technical and commercial credibility with the various stakeholders in the commercialisation process, by showing clear organisational skills, understand the reporting and administrative processes of the funders, work with the project team.

It is anticipated that the TTM will be an experienced project manager, capable of handling multiple opportunity development initiatives in parallel. Experience in managing IP and technology transfer activities is required and experience/knowledge of IP licensing or company formation within a university context would be welcomed.

In achieving these outcomes, the TTM is expected to interact with a diverse project team of resources involving multiple skills from multiple sources. The role requires strong abilities and experience in the management of senior stakeholders and an ability to independently supervise each opportunity independently of the senior management on the operation. Opportunities will consist of a range of differing activities depending on the TRL level, ranging from feasibility studies to technology development and from demonstrations to system development and launch activity.