Details
Open Date 02/06/2026
Requisition Number PRN44228B
Job Title Engineering Project Managers
Working Title Associate Director, Commercialization
Career Progression Track P00
Track Level
FLSA Code Professional
Patient Sensitive Job Code? No
Standard Hours per Week 40.00
Full Time or Part Time? Full Time
Shift Day
Work Schedule Summary
Monday - Friday
8:00am to 5:00pm
VP Area President
Department 00642 - Technology Licensing Office
Location Campus
City Salt Lake City, UT
Type of Recruitment External Posting
Pay Rate Range $100,000 - $120,000
Close Date 05/06/2026
Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)
Job Summary
An Associate Director of Commercialization's (ADCs) role at the Technology Licensing Office ( TLO ) at the University of Utah is to develop deep relationships with University faculty to promote innovation that has commercial potential with the ultimate goal of monetizing these innovations through licensing transactions, which can generate downstream revenue and partnership opportunities through a variety of contractual obligations. The majority of their time will be spent meeting with University faculty and developing relationships with industry and potential licensees. Education of TLO's mission is a core theme of faculty interactions, the intent of which is to build trust with faculty and produce higher quality curated invention disclosures across all University colleges, institutes, and departments. Based on their significant domain expertise and industry relationships, ADCs also provide awareness to faculty of technology solutions that are most valued by global markets to inform their research efforts.
Learn more about the great benefits of working for University of Utah: benefits.utah.edu
The department may choose to hire at any of the below job levels and associated pay rates based on their business need and budget.
Responsibilities
Manages a portfolio of inventions to generate royalties and fees.
Developing deep relationships and trust with faculty through high quality service and support and actively engaging them in the commercialization process.
Using the ability to quickly understand new technologies at the level necessary to manage them through the evaluation, marketing, and licensing processes.
Evaluating invention disclosures for their commercial potential using reports generated by a third party.
Working with faculty, the IP manager, and outside IP counsel on patent, copyright, and trademark decisions
Coordinating with the Venture Hub Group to better understand the commercial prospects of their technologies. Using this information to educate inventors on the factors under consideration by TLO in making decisions on continuing with commercialization efforts.
Engaging industry partners about both specific technologies and collaboration with companies in their research areas to establish broader relationships that may include sponsored research opportunities.
Helping faculty understand decision-making information collected, including third-party technology assessments, third-party marketing information, and industry feedback. Using this process to facilitate communication with the faculty inventors on our process in reaching commercialization decisions.
Negotiating licensing deals and collaboration agreements with industry.
Communicating across all the internal functional groups, such as finance, agreement compliance and intellectual property management, as needed to ensure smooth operations across the office.
From time-to-time, representing the University at industry conferences that are relevant to technology transfer activities (travel may be required).
Comfortability with presenting university research portfolios to external national security and defense experts capable of supporting product development and expansion.
Engaging with faculty and researchers to identify innovations with potential relevance to national security or defense applications.
Advising on pathways for transitioning university-developed technologies into government or defense-related use cases.
Contributing to the development of educational materials or workshops focused on commercialization in regulated or mission-driven sectors.
Minimum Qualifications
EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT : 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor's degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).
Department may hire employee at one of the following job levels:
III : Requires a bachelor's (or equivalency) + 6 years or a master's (or equivalency) + 4 years of directly related work experience.
IV: Requires a bachelor's (or equivalency) + 8 years or a master's (or equivalency) + 6 years of directly related work experience.
V: Requires a bachelor's (or equivalency) + 10 years or a master's (or equivalency) + 8 years of directly related work experience.
Preferences
Bachelor's degree in Physical Science, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field required with advanced degree or equivalency preferred.
Work experience in an industrial field specific to area of assignment (Physical Sciences, or Computer Industry) is strongly preferred.
5 years of experience commercializing complex inventions and/or previous industry experience in developing products and services in the related field of the portfolio to be managed preferred.
A minimum of 2 years of experience in the technology transfer field is preferred
A minimum of 2 years of business development experience in a physical science-related company is preferred
Previous university administrative or research experience, or familiarity with the university environment preferred. Work experience in a university or industry technology transfer office preferred.
Be self-motivated and require minimal supervision
Have entrepreneurial, communications and interpersonal skills
Be a team player
Demonstrate potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.
Demonstrated experience navigating complex organizational structures, particularly within federal or defense-related institutions.
Experience with national security operating environments and familiarity with supporting funding mechanisms.
Familiarity with technology development lifecycles in mission-driven environments, subject matter expertise with developing commercialization pathways associated with DoD funding portfolios.
Exposure to technology scouting, innovation pipeline development, or strategic portfolio management in defense-related @contexts.
Experience with fostering the development of research-based intellectual property, disclosures, and business models supporting defense and national security interests.
Have excellent analytical skills and the ability to present written and oral materials in a professional manner
Have a strong orientation toward customer service
Type Benefited Staff
Special Instructions Summary
Additional Information
The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems ("URS"). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS' post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.
This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.
The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.
Veterans' preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.
Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran's status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.
To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX ( OEO ). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator's office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at the:University of Utah Non-Discrimination page.
Online reports may be submitted athttps://oeo.utah.edu
https://publicsafety.utah.edu/safetyreport/This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.
As perUniversity of Utah policy 5-108: Transfer of Benefits Eligible Staff Members, a new hire to the University of Utah who is still serving a 12 month probationary period will not be hired into another University of Utah job (a transfer) until the successful completion of the probationary period.
