Senior Technology Transfer Manager – MRC LMB

Company Description

LGC Ltd (www.lgcgroup.com) is an international life sciences company working with customers in the government, academic, pharmaceutical, agricultural biotechnology, food, environment, security and sports sectors.

LGC’s Grant Management Group (GMG) works with UK government departments and arm’s length bodies to support medical and health research across the UK. Our activities include funding call management, contract management and Intellectual Property management. We work with senior level stakeholders in academia, the NHS, government and industry to promote improvements in medical and health care in the UK and overseas.

As part of our expanding services to government customers including the Medical Research Council, LGC is expanding its expertise in technology transfer. We are looking for individuals with experience of technology transfer, intellectual property management and commercialisation (including spin out creation) of research in the medical, health and life science sectors.

Job Description

To work closely with researchers and officials at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge UK to ensure effective and efficient identification, management and commercialisation of intellectual property assets.

Key Activities

• Manage an assigned portfolio of complex IP and commercialisation cases to deliver high quality outcomes in agreed timelines, with a focus on MRC LMB
• Regularly (at least once per week although more frequent attendance may be required based on business needs) attend the MRC LMB site in Cambridge to provide face-to-face support to researchers - the successful candidate must live close enough to Cambridge to be able to visit on a frequent basis (with 1 hour commuting time)
• Managing external Law Firms and Patent Attorneys to resolve complex IP and commercialisation cases
• Developing business cases for IP commercialisation including, but not limited to spinout company formation or sale and licensing of technologies and IP assets
• Business case development and negotiation including detailed analysis of the potential market, expected revenue streams and commercialisation strategy
• Leading negotiations with inventors, potential licensees and investors to agree terms that ensure MRC has a robust position and financial reward
• Facilitate and deliver training for MRC LMB staff on IP and Commercialisation
• Managing internal and external legal advice to review and resolve contractual and collaboration agreement issues
• Working with patent attorneys to ensue appropriate management of IP for specific cases
• Supporting other team members with complex technology transfer activities
• Support, as required, promotion of industrial partnerships, management of the MRC reagents portfolio and provision of entrepreneurial training
• Perform due diligence review of applications to funding schemes for IP and commercialisation related issues
• Lead support of MRC LMB researcher applications to other funders for the IP and commercial sections

Qualifications

Experience and Qualifications

Required Criteria 

• Degree (BSc/MSc essential, PhD preferred) qualified in life sciences with an additional qualification in business or law (advantageous) or comparable experience
• Significant experience of working in a technology transfer role to commercialise complex IP and patent portfolios 
• Experience of commercialisation of intellectual property in the medical and life sciences area 
• Experience of working to set up new life science spin out companies 
• Significant experience of negotiating commercialisation licences with a wide range of end users 
• Experience of working with industry, researchers and government to identify mutually beneficial outcomes for commercialisation of IP 
• Ability to communicate complex information regarding intellectual property and commercialisation to a range of audiences using appropriate style and format of messages 

Desired Criteria 

• Experience of a customer facing service role with a wide range of active projects at any one time 
• Experience of working with external legal counsel and patent agents to resolve issues and ensure effective protection of IP assets 
• Experience of delivering IP related training to scientists 
• Experience of reviewing research funding applications and performing due diligence checks 

Additional Information

Salary & Benefits 
£ 62,900+ per year
Bonus - subject to company performance
25 days annual leave, plus public holidays (UK)
Enhanced contributory pension scheme
Life Insurance
Benenden Healthcare
Season Ticket Loan
Laptop, IT equipment and remote IT support
Location
LGC has a hybrid working policy and successful candidates will be expected to attend the LGC central London office (80 Victoria Street) at least 4 days per month. 
Travel 
The role will require onsite customer meetings for 1 or 2 days per week on average primarily to the MRC LMB in Cambridge 
To Apply
If you are excited about the prospect of joining our team and believe you possess the relevant skills and background, we invite you to apply. Please submit your CV along with a 'Statement of Suitability' that showcases your key skills and experiences in relation to the 'Required Criteria' outlined in the job description. 
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES 
LGC strongly believes that every job applicant and employee should be valued for their individual talents regardless of age, disability, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion, or belief. Short listing, interviewing and selection will always be carried out without regard to gender, sexual orientation, marital status, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, age, or trade union membership.