Are you a Technology Transfer professional looking to help transform research into tangible real-world improvements in health care?

LGC is an international life science company working with customers in the government, academic, pharmaceutical, agricultural biotechnology, food, environment, security and sports sectors achieve excellence in investigative, diagnostic and measurement science. LGC’s Grant Management Group are experts at experts in managing research funding to maximise its impact. The Grant Management Group delivers several key parts of the Department of Health and Social Care’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), including the Central Commissioning Facility (CCF).

As part of the NIHR, we commission and oversee world-class research that transforms people’s lives, promotes economic growth and advances science. We need a dynamic individual to become a Technology Transfer Manager in our team at the NIHR Central Commissioning Facility. 

Job Purpose
The NIHR Intellectual Property Unit provides the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) with expert advice and support on all NIHR related intellectual property, contractual and commercial issues. The Technology Transfer Manager will work across the NIHR portfolio to ensure that NIHR funded intellectual property is identified, managed and translated by researchers to produce impactful outcomes that improve the quality, capacity and capability of health care in the UK and overseas. The Technology Transfer Manager will work on projects that will improve the NIHR’s IP management processes and its integration into the wider UK health research funding ecosystem.  Another aspect of the role will be supporting resolution of due diligence, monitoring and commercialisation issues that require analysis of technical, contractual, stakeholder and commercial factors. The NIHR is a complex system so the successful candidate will need to be comfortable working in a dynamic network of other members of the IP Unit, colleagues throughout the NIHR system, research teams, IP management specialists in research organisations and commercial partners.

We are particularly looking for individuals with experience of IP and commercial issues associated with at least one of:

• Technology licensing and commercial negotiation from universities or the NHS
• Medical device and diagnostic development
• Artificial Intelligence/” big data”
• Overseas development funding, including “global health” initiatives

Role Responsibilities
The tasks associated with this role include:

• Working with the Assistant Director - IP and Commercial and other members of the IP Unit to plan and deliver the NIHR IP work plan. 
• Manage the NIHR IP Unit’s routine processes and provide information to an agreed timetable.
• Manage the NIHR IP Unit’s training calendar
• Supporting NIHR staff members to resolve IP-related queries by running regular IP Open Sessions in Twickenham, Southampton and Leeds where NIHR programme managers can request support and advice.
• Manage a portfolio of routine commercialisation cases on behalf of DHSC to maximise return on investment on NIHR-funded IP with a focus on delivering patient benefit and mitigation of state aid. Negotiations of return models (including financial and non-financial return mechanisms) for NIHR and preparation of briefing notes for DHSC.
• Providing IP training to NIHR programme managers and staff at NIHR-funded organisations.
• Using the IP Unit’s established project management tools for managing allocated activities.
• Identifying and implementing improvements to the IP Unit’s processes and systems.
• Ensure that a consistent approach to IP management is used across the NIHR for all activities including advising potential applicants, reviewing project proposals, resolving contractual queries, reviewing and short-listing of proposals for funding, advising during project monitoring, closure and follow up activities.
• To co-ordinate legal advice for DHSC on all issues relating to research funding on a commercial basis
• To represent NIHR on monitoring and audit committees on an ad hoc basis
• To provide broader support for CCF and NIHR colleagues in the area of commercial processes, IP management and advice, when required.
• Contribute to cross NIHR IP coordination meetings.
• Attending and when relevant leading meetings such as IP Management Groups with funding recipients
• Developing and updating the NIHR IP Unit website and web materials.
• Drafting regular progress reports and ad-hoc papers required by internal and external bodies.
• Contributing to the response to Freedom of Information requests, Parliamentary Questions or briefing requests from DHSC.
• With all relevant parties, encourage and foster effective communication, consultation and co-ordination
• Quality checks of the activities of the Innovations Directorate and other NIHR staff.

Successful candidates will be expected to demonstrate the following:

• A degree in a relevant subject (a relevant professional qualification would be desirable) or comparable professional experience
• Detailed knowledge of life science research gained from working in a university, NHS Trust, company or charity
• Knowledge of intellectual property management in the public and private sectors to generate impact from research
• Understanding of the different organisational goals of universities, NHS Trusts, charities and companies and how these need to be balanced when negotiating with organisations.
• Knowledge of the regulatory framework for intellectual property management
• A proven track record in obtaining appropriate legal advice on intellectual property management issues
• An ability to analyse situations taking qualitative and quantitative factors in to account, including return on investment models 
• An ability to draft succinct and informative documents for senior level decision makers providing them with sufficient information for decisions to be made
• Experience of project management, including organisational skills and meticulous record keeping
• Effective planning, organisational and prioritisation skills with the ability to manage own time to deliver multiple priorities with demanding deadlines
• Excellent interpersonal skills and customer focus, including successful senior level external liaison and meeting management to agree mutually acceptable outcomes
• An understanding of technology transfer licensing arrangements
• Willingness to travel to locations across England (including Southampton and Leeds on a weekly basis) to provide support and advice  

Why work for us
Join our team and you’ll be working with an exceptional organisation who manage high quality health and care research for the benefit of patients and the public. NIHR is one of the UK’s largest funders of health and care research. 

Salary & Benefits

• £45,700 to £53,500 PA
• 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

We offer a range of work life balance and family friendly, flexible working arrangements.
This is an office based, home working (hybrid) role with an expectation for all employees to attend our offices a minimum of 4 days a month, which might increase, subject to team requirements.

To Apply 
If you are interested in working with us and feel you have the appropriate background and skills, please apply with your CV, (with the cover letter attached in the same document), outlining your suitability for the role and highlighting your experience against the required criteria. If you wish to make an informal enquiry about this post, please contact: [email protected]

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early application is strongly encouraged to avoid disappointment. 

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.