Innovation Partners Director

Department: Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation
Appointment Type and Duration: Regular, Ongoing
Salary: $150,000 - $170,000 per year; commensurate with experience
Compensation Band: OS-OA12-Fiscal Year 2024-2025
FTE: 1.0

Application Review Begins

Application review begins immediately, apply by July 31, 2024 to ensure consideration; position open until filled

Special Instructions to Applicants

With your online application, please upload a resume and a cover letter describing how you meet the minimum requirements, professional competencies, and any preferred qualifications. You will also be asked to enter the names and contact information of three professional references; candidates will be notified prior to contacting references.

The position is full-time and based out of Eugene, Oregon. Flexible work arrangements are possible to allow some work from home.

Department Summary

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI) serves as an advocate and catalyst within the University of Oregon (UO) for expanding the range and impact of UO's research, scholarship, and creative endeavors. The OVPRI oversees sponsored programs, research compliance, technology transfer, economic development, industry engagement, research-based ventures, and research development and administrative responsibility for numerous high-profile research centers and institutes and core research facilities, which provide opportunities for faculty across the university to collaborate on research efforts that are inherently interdisciplinary, and of significant societal importance. As a university that holds the distinction of a “very high research activity” ranking (R1) in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, the UO is also one of only two Pacific Northwest members of the Association of American Universities (AAU).

OVPRI, including centers and institutes, has over 700 employees across faculty, classified and unclassified staff, postdoctoral scholars, graduate and undergraduate students, with a $45m annual budget.

Industry, Innovation and Translation (IIT) within OVPRI supports innovation and translation based on UO’s research enterprise to maximize both economic and societal impact. IIT manages the university’s intellectual property, corporate engagement, corporate-sponsored research, and support for entrepreneurs and startups advancing UO intellectual property.

The OVPRI is committed to a respectful work environment. We value the cultural, educational, and life experiences of each employee. We believe that a diverse workforce enables us to deliver culturally responsive services to all members of our community. As part of our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, we welcome, respect, and foster a sense of belonging for a wide range of identities and experiences in our workforce. We strongly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and/or LGBTQIA+ community members.

Position Summary

The Innovation Partners Director will drive optimization of outcomes for research translation; expand the university’s capacity to generate use-inspired, market-driven innovations; and accelerate discovery at the intersection of academic research, innovation, and commercialization. The position focuses on developing, managing, and continuously improving the technology transfer process for all UO innovation assets. The Director will primarily lead the day-to-day operations of the technology transfer office, including protection of intellectual property, negotiation and execution of a wide array of technology transfer agreements, and management of faculty and student outreach and training. Additionally, the Director will serve as the case manager for a subset of the portfolio, complemented by direct reports that manage the portfolios for the physical sciences and social sciences. Notably, the UO portfolio consists of innovations protected by either patens or copyrights, with a sizable percentage of the portfolio being copyrighted works.

This position has broad latitude and authority to accomplish goals and objectives. The successful candidate must have strong communication and management skills, the ability to plan both strategically and tactically, high-functioning organizational skills, attention to detail, adherence to confidentiality, and discretion.

This is a full-time position reporting to the Associate Vice President for Industry, Innovation & Translation (IIT). The Director will collaborate closely with the AVP and other units in IIT for the overall strat