Jobs at Member Institutions & APLU

Special Instructions Summary

This position can be filled as a staff or a faculty position. The planned start date is September 5, 2023 but is negotiable. Only applicants currently legally eligible to work in the United States will be considered. This is an open, national, and rolling search. Review of applications will begin immediately as they are received. Candidates meeting all the required qualifications may be contacted immediately for inquiry and interview. It is possible that a preferred candidate may be selected as other applications are still being received. Therefore, the most serious and qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible. To receive the fullest and timely consideration, applications should be submitted prior to August 1, 2023; however, the position will remain open until filled. Applications submitted after August 1, 2023, will be reviewed and considered if the position remains unfilled.

Application materials should include:

• an up-to-date resume
• a cover letter summarizing interest in the position and how the minimum qualifications and any preferred qualifications are met; and
• a list of four (4) references with full contact information. References will only be contacted after consent of the candidate.

For faculty applicants only: Before a conditional offer of employment with tenure is finalized, candidates will be asked to disclose any pending investigations or previous findings of sexual or professional misconduct. They will also be required to authorize an inquiry by Indiana University Bloomington with all current and former employers along these lines. The relevance of information disclosed or ascertained in the context of this process to a candidate’s eligibility for hire will be evaluated by Indiana University Bloomington on a case-by-case basis. Applicants should be aware, however, that Indiana University Bloomington takes the matters of sexual and professional misconduct very seriously.

Department

INNOVATION AND COMMERCIALIZATI (UA-ICO-IUINA)

Department Information

Innovation commercialization is one of the many ways that Indiana University’s research enterprise benefits society. The IU Innovation and Commercialization Office (ICO) works closely with faculty, industry and the entrepreneurial community in Indiana to take IU innovations to market.

The Organization

The ICO organizational structure, with currently 17 FTE personnel positions, includes these divisions:

• Technology Commercialization: The technology commercialization team manages and commercializes IU’s intellectual property, including responsibility for disclosure assessment, IP protection, technology marketing and licensing, and supports faculty startup and SBIR/STTR activities in collaboration with the entrepreneurial program. The team works with preferred law firms on patent protection, collaborates with Director of Contracts on agreement drafting/review, and works closely with the Operations team. Faculty/administrator outreach, collaboration with other IU units, and building local innovation networks are integral to the team.
• Entrepreneurship: This team is focused on developing and supporting a more robust, sustainable pipeline of IU-IP-based startups including monthly IU Research Entrepreneurs Network webinars on entrepreneurship; pitch competitions; and assists startup founders with ideation, problem definition, customer discovery, value proposition, pitch deck, and commercial strategy. The team also networks with venture capitalists and partners in the innovation ecosystem and connects IU startup founders to investors, customers, service providers to potential management team.
• Finance and Operations: The operations team is responsible for the compliance needs and requirements for inventions, IP filings, commercialization and licensing of technologies including reporting to faculty, departments, outside organizations, and federal government, as well as department data and accuracy related to disclosures, IP protection, marketing and licensing, distributions, and administering strategic and targeted IP development grant programs. The team works and provides support to the commercialization managers, entrepreneurship team, and directors. Reporting to the University Budget Office, ICO finance staff manage the ICO budget, provide financial reports, and manage financial transactions for the department.

Job Summary

The Associate Vice President for Innovation & Commercialization (ICO) will lead IU’s Innovation & Commercialization Office which has university-wide responsibility for fostering connections between IU inventors and entrepreneurs with prospective external collaborators, as well as facilitating the transfer of university discoveries to the market. The AVP will enhance strategic research alliances with private-sector and public-sector partners looking to innovate, and enhance knowledge translation that leads to commercialization of IU faculty discoveries and inventions. The Associate Vice President, serving as the University’s chief innovation and commercialization officer, will oversee innovation and commercialization efforts for IU Bloomington, IU Indianapolis including the IU Medical School, and five regional campuses located in Gary, Kokomo, New Albany, Richmond, and South Bend. Due to the broad responsibilities and abundant opportunities, the Associate Vice President will be expected to work extensively on both the Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses; therefore the selected individual may choose to make their home in either location. In addition, for an ideal candidate, this position is eligible for a hybrid remote work arrangement if a strong business case can be made.

Indiana University is one of the top research universities in the world, with $732 million in sponsored research annually. Growing transformative research and creativity, innovation, industry engagement, and commercialization are key goals in IU 2030: The Indiana University Strategic Plan. Developing and implementing a comprehensive roadmap to achieve the goals and objectives, the successful candidate will work to further increase commercialization of IU intellectual property and technology transfer, including enhancing and leading the growth and promotion of an intellectual property pipeline and the process of commercialization. The incumbent will manage and promote the operations of ICO, including building awareness of and administering programs and services with faculty researchers and with external audiences.

ICO works to establish partnerships between research and industry, providing access to resources including but not limited to capital, financial and legal counsel, as well as business connections. The successful candidate will oversee technology transfer services, including but not limited to invention disclosure, patenting and other protections, as well as licensing and start-up assistance, with the goal of producing economic and societal benefit born from the commercialization of IU’s intellectual property.

The position will have influence across the university and upon the university’s relationships with external agencies, foundations, and businesses. Multiple projects are likely to be ongoing at any given time, with differing degrees of complexity and varying scales. The Associate Vice President will collaborate closely with other offices and its leadership across all Indiana University campuses to develop integrated approaches to intellectual property development, technology transfer, licensing, and commercialization. The successful candidate will build on opportunities to establish future partnerships with the IU School of Medicine, including but not limited to the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute and the Indiana Center for Biomedical Innovation. The next AVP will have tremendous opportunity to make major contributions to IU’s involvement in the 16 TECH Innovation District and the IU SciTech Corridor.

The individual in this position will have wide latitude to make decisions and develop and implement policy and procedures, operating with minimal direction. The position determines and directs the strategic use of resources, making choices among competing demands and opportunities. As a member of the IU Research senior leadership team, the AVP will exercise considerable influence on establishing policies and procedures for ICO.

Opportunities for the AVP for Innovation and Commercialization:

• Provide leadership and oversight of innovation and commercialization operations for all campuses. Facilitate productive research-based partnerships; lead and support the development of a culture of innovation at Indiana University. Ensure that the ICO operations are integrated and coordinated so that researchers are supported by service-oriented employees responsible for promoting innovation and commercialization; support faculty innovation by developing and maintaining simple and clear processes that support inventors. Ensure a responsive and engaging process that links faculty researchers with opportunities and the needs of potential partners in government, industry, national labs and academic sectors. Establish and track metrics that illustrate IU’s support and successes in tech transfer.
• Engage, foster, develop and grow strategic partnerships and collaborations that enhance the University’s research competencies, reputation and economic impact. Serve to connect and support diverse stakeholders in developing and commercializing transformational science. Develop and maintain relationships with external public- and private-sector entities, including federal and state agencies, national research centers, foundations, businesses, and industries. Represent the University to external agencies and constituents. Attend and represent the University at national meetings concerning technology transfer, commercialization, licensing, and intellectual property. Provide input representing the university on proposed regulations and monitor national trends in research; benchmark peer institutions’ interpretation of regulations and methods of meeting similar obligations.
• Work with IU shared services partners to meet ICO needs, including but not limited to finance, HR and communications and marketing.

Qualifications

EDUCATION

Required

• A terminal degree.

Preferred

• PhD, MD, or JD with a strong background in mathematics, biological, physical, or social sciences.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Required

• Ten years of demonstrated experience in leading technology intellectual property development, technology transfer, licensing, and commercialization; OR
• A desire, and eligibility to hold, a tenured position as a full professor at Indiana University in an academic department if their experiences are considered by the department to be commensurate with such a position.

SKILLS

Required

• Proven record in negotiating, closing and stewarding complex agreements.
• Demonstrated success in identifying and developing a broad base of new innovation funding sources.
• Extensive experience in recruitment, management, and professional development of staff.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Proven competence in driving consensus and building effective working relationships.
• Possesses an established ability to capitalize on opportunities and a strong business acumen
• Possesses a firm understanding of academic and scientific research and innovation.

Preferred

• Demonstrated experience in successfully negotiating and executing commercialization of university-based discoveries and academic-industry partnerships.
• Demonstrated experience in developing novel technology transfer approaches in a university setting.
• Current or prior leadership positions in the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM).
• Current or prior appointments to state and/or national boards or council for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Work Location

Bloomington, Indiana or Indianapolis, Indiana

Due to the broad responsibilities and abundant opportunities, the Associate Vice President will be expected to work extensively on both the Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses; therefore the selected individual may choose to make their home in either location. In addition, for an ideal candidate, this position is eligible for a hybrid remote work arrangement if a strong business case can be made.

Benefits Overview

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

• Multiple plan options for medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Health Savings Account with generous IU contribution
• Life insurance, LTD, and AD&D options
• Base retirement plan contribution from IU, subject to vesting
• Additional supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition benefit for IU classes
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing our online Benefits Brochure.

Job Classification

Career Level: Executive

FLSA: Exempt

Job Function: Research

Job Family: Research Administration

Click here to learn more about Indiana University’s Job Framework.

Posting Disclaimer

This posting is scheduled to close at 11:59 pm EST on the advertised Close Date. This posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University, but will remain open for a minimum of 5 business days. To guarantee full consideration, please submit your application within 5 business days of the Posted Date.

If you wish to include a cover letter, you may include it with your resume when uploading attachments.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Indiana University is an equal employment and affirmative action employer and a provider of ADA services. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on individual qualifications. Indiana University prohibits discrimination based on age, ethnicity, color, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status. Indiana University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational programs and activities, including employment and admission, as required by Title IX. Questions or complaints regarding Title IX may be referred to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights or the university Title IX Coordinator. See Indiana University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.

Campus Safety and Security

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, containing policy statements, crime and fire statistics for all Indiana University campuses, is available online. You may also request a physical copy by emailing IU Public Safety at iups@iu.edu or by visiting IUPD.