Chief Innovation Officer

Job Title

Chief Innovation Officer

Agency

Texas A&M University System Offices

Department

Texas A&M Innovation

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

The System Offices is one of several system members within the Texas A&M University System representing one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a network of 11 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, and the RELLIS Campus. The Texas A&M University System mission is to provide education, conduct research, commercialize technology, offer training, and deliver services for the people of Texas and beyond.

The System Offices, within the Texas A&M University System, provides an outstanding benefits package including, but not limited to: competitive health benefits; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; a defined benefit retirement plan with 8.25% employer contribution through Teachers Retirement System of Texas (TRS); tuition assistance; and wellness programs to promote work/life balance.

Salary:

Commensurate with experience.

Job Description Summary:

Reporting to the Vice Chancellor for Research of The Texas A&M University System, the CINO oversees a comprehensive intellectual property and commercialization program for the entire A&M System. The CINO will lead staff in establishing and implementing overall plans for intellectual property protection and commercialization strategies for disclosed innovations developed by TAMUS member institution/agency researchers. The CINO represents the System concerning various intellectual property and commercialization matters both internally and externally. The position is located at the Texas A&M main campus in College Station.  

Responsibilities:

- Provide general operational oversight and supervise assigned TI staff.
- Propose and implement practices of intellectual property management and commercialization in compliance with TAMUS IP policy.
- Review, assign, and manage the process for incoming invention disclosures, including review of initial assessment results for ownership and third-party obligations.
- Propose and/or review and oversee intellectual property protection strategies and their implementation.
- Coordinate actions for intellectual property protection with outside counsel.
- Propose and/or review and oversee commercialization strategies and their implementation.
- Engage with potential industry partners to promote interest in TAMUS technologies for licensing and/or potential research opportunities.
- Propose and/or review and oversee negotiation of business terms for license, option and evaluation agreements.
- Ensure final agreement terms are reviewed and approved by the Office of General Counsel (OGC).
- Serve as primary contact for all TAMUS Members and OGC for IP management issues.
- Monitor accuracy of IP and agreement information in TI databases and records.
- Assist all faculty and researchers in disclosing their innovations.
- Provide educational activities to increase the general awareness of intellectual property matters among all faculty and staff.
- Assist the TAMUS Office of Research as a resource for intellectual property matters.
- Provide training and mentoring to licensing staff on compliance with TAMUS policies, requirements for IP developed with federal funding, and other relevant regulations for managing intellectual property.
- Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree required.

- Ten years of demonstrated strategic leadership within complex, matrixed organizations focused on research commercialization.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

- Knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet applications. 
- Effective verbal and written communication skills.

- Strong public speaking, organizational, leadership, and supervisory skills.

- Maintains attention to detail and utilizes sound judgment.  

- Ability to draft and interpret legal language in contracts and other documents.

- Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Ten - Fifteen years of demonstrated strategic leader