Job Details
Technology Acceleration Partners (TechAccel, LLC) is a private capital firm that acquires, and advances early-stage, disruptive technologies in the agriculture and human health sectors. TechAccel is headquartered in Leawood, KS and is developing multiple early-stage partnerships which are physically located in the St. Louis, MO area.
The University Technology Advancement Manager, is a senior-level position with TechAccel and will be located in Leawood, KS or St. Louis, MO. The position reports to TechAccel s Chief Executive Officer.
The University Technology Advancement Manager will be responsible for maintaining existing and developing new university relationships and will be a key team player in identifying early-stage technology interests in agriculture and human health and associated assets and resources at universities that will help drive and support TechAccel s initiatives. This is a high-impact position for the right person.
The Manager, University Technology Advancement, is critical to our science advancement and commercialization success. TechAccel s interest in universities is in four core source areas: 1) novel technology, 2) subject-matter expertise, 3) research services and 4) spin-outs/start-ups.
Responsibilities:
- Maintain and expand an existing search strategy to identify and prioritize universities that are of high potential interest to TechAccel.
- Develop a prioritized plan for communicating with universities that TechAccel already has a relationship with as well as new ones of interest.
- Initiate contact with universities to introduce TechAccel and our business model.
- Participate in visits to universities with the goal of having technical exploratory conversations with professors, principal investigators, and others to identify capabilities, interests, and opportunities. This will include taking point in arranging the logistical details with the institution and the TechAccel travel team.
- For those institutions that TechAccel has a relationship with, conduct periodic ongoing conversations with each university s technology transfer and/or commercial relations office to seek new technology opportunities that are aligned with TechAccel s interests, and to maintain a relationship.
- Be a continuous learner to gain familiarity with those technical areas that are of interest to TechAccel that will allow the Manger to participate and contribute to:
- Identifying institutional research resources that have the capability and capacity to perform the needed TechAccel work.
- Triage early-stage companies in university business accelerators to identify opportunities matching TechAccel interests.
- Identify new opportunities for innovative products and services .
- Assist TechAccel s Project Managers with project planning and university execution.
- Develop and expand a broad-based network of university contacts within the tech transfer offices as well as agriculture and human health departments.
- Attend conferences such as AUTM to promote the TechAccel brand, network, and seek new opportunities and relationships.
- Prepare NDAs, Master Research Agreements, Research Addendums, Term Sheets, Options, License Agreements and similar documents.
Minimum Requirements:
- Master s Degree in a plant or human science discipline
- Five (5) years of experience with at least two (2) years of experience managing a technology portfolio.
- Solid understanding of agriculture and/or human health markets and trends.
- Firm understanding of university commercialization, venture and tech transfer programs and processes.
- Exceptional time & project management
- Highly self-motivated, flexible, able to follow through, and capable of working under pressure with associated deadlines.
- Self-starter with high level of initiative, resourcefulness; strong work ethic.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
- Independent thinking, technical passion, curiosity and creativity.
- Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Demonstrated ability to lead through influence.
- Organized, detail oriented, and proactive.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills required to clearly explain complex issues to both technical and non-technical audiences across functions and levels via progress reports and technical roadmaps.
- Proficient in Microsoft Applications: Word, Excel, Project, and PowerPoint.
The ideal candidate has additional skills including:
- Ph.D. in a plant or human science discipline
- Strong understanding of dsRNA research
- Strong understanding of epigenetic methylome analysis in plants and/or humans
- Experience as a technology licensing officer or patent scientist, and the mindset that this is a fun and rewarding occupation.
- Comfortable having and contributing to detailed scientific discussions with university professors, and researchers both academic and industrial, and be regarded by them as a colleague.
- Experience working in and/or with industry, particularly agriculture and/or human health
- Network of colleagues in organizations and fields relevant to TechAccel interests.
- Experience searching for and understanding technical patent literature. Patent science experience is a real plus.
- Experience scouting for and evaluating technical opportunities for acquisition.
- Demonstrated passion for continuous learning, and scientific curiosity.
- Experience translating academic thinking and research into commercial possibilities.