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Head of Technology Transfer Office
As a Head of Technology Transfer Office you are requested to provide strategic leadership, operational direction, and oversight for the University of Sharjah’s Technology Transfer Office (TTO). The role is responsible for driving intellectual property (IP) protection, technology commercialization, venture creation, industry partnerships, and building a thriving innovation ecosystem aligned with the University’s overall mission and strategic goals.
Strategic Leadership and Governance
1. Lead the development and execution of the TTO’s long-term strategic and operational plans, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities, international best practices, and the University's overall mission.
2. Establish a clear vision for the TTO that emphasizes innovation, economic impact, and societal benefit.
3. Formulate and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to evaluate the TTO's operational efficiency, financial metrics, and overall strategic success.
Intellectual Property (IP) Management and Disclosure
4. Oversee the identification, evaluation, disclosure, protection, maintenance, and expansion of the University’s intellectual property portfolio.
5. Liaise directly with researchers and inventors to evaluate the commercial potential of inventions and guide them through disclosure and application processes.
6. Facilitate patent applications in coordination with legal/IP counsel, tracking application progress, managing filing requirements, and taking necessary actions to ensure successful registration and maintenance.
Commercialization, Licensing, and Entrepreneurship
7. Formulate and implement comprehensive marketing and business development strategies to showcase university innovations, attract investors, and identify prospective licensees.
8. Lead contract negotiations and finalize licensing, option, and technology transfer agreements with industry partners to commercialize university IP.
9. Foster and support the creation of university-affiliated spin-offs and startups by providing access to incubation resources, mentorship, funding opportunities, and venture guidance.
10. Develop and manage strategic partnerships with external ecosystem players, including incubators, accelerators, venture capital firms, corporate partners, and government entities.
Operational Management and Continuous Improvement
11. Drive continuous improvement across TTO systems, workflows, and policies—benchmarking against global best practices to maximize productivity and cost-efficiency.
12. Supervise the preparation, review, and timely delivery of accurate departmental reports, executive briefs, and analytical dashboards for senior leadership.
13. Perform any other job-related tasks or special projects as assigned by the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies.
People and Team Leadership
14. Supervise daily department operations, setting clear individual/team performance goals, assigning responsibilities, and ensuring equitable workload distribution.
15. Conduct regular performance appraisals, offer constructive feedback, and provide on-the-job training to foster personal and professional staff development.
16. Lead recruitment and talent acquisition for the TTO, including defining job profiles, screening candidates, and participating in interviews to secure top talent.
17. Perform any other strategic or operational duties as assigned by the Line Manager, ensuring alignment with the department’s objectives and the University’s broader institutional priorities.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to prepare professional documents, in both
- Excellent working knowledge of personal computer applications with an emphasis on MS Office applications
- Deep understanding of national and international patent laws, filing procedures, and statutory requirements.
- Ability to conduct comprehensive IP audits and maintain multi-disciplinary patent portfolios.
- Expertise in assessing invention disclosures for novelty, non-obviousness, and commercial viability.
- Capability to perform freedom-to-operate (FTO) analyses, landscape reviews, and competitive intelligence
- Proficiency in sizing target markets, validating value propositions, and identifying prospective industry
- Proven track record in negotiating complex licensing terms, royalty structures, equity stakes, and milestone
- Ability to navigate multi-party negotiations involving university researchers, corporate entities, and investors.
- Sound knowledge of contract law, IP indemnification, term sheets, and material transfer agreements.
- Expertise in guiding academic entrepreneurs through spin-off incorporation, cap table structuring, and
- Proficiency in designing entrepreneurship bootcamps, incubator programs, and pitch showcases.
- Expertise in ensuring institutional compliance with university governance, export control laws, and
- Ability to conduct due diligence on corporate partners and investors to protect institutional assets and
- Minimum of Business Administration (MBA), Law (LL.M.), Engineering, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences,
- A Ph.D. in a STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) will add an advantage.
- Professional Certificates in Licensing, Technology Transfer, or Patent Registration will add an advantage.
- 8-10 years of UAE experience in technology transfer, intellectual property management, corporate business
- At least 4-5 years in a senior supervisory or management capacity, leading teams, managing department
- Priority to UAE Nationals.
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