ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, LICENSING & TRANSACTIONS

Responsibilities

• Leads the negotiation of complex technology licensing transactions, including exclusive and non-exclusive license agreements, option agreements, co-development agreements, and inter-institutional agreements, with a high degree of autonomy and accountability for deal outcomes.
• Drafts, reviews, and refines term sheets and agreements for complex licensing transactions, establishing deal frameworks including license scope, field-of-use definitions, financial terms (upfront fees, milestones, royalties, sublicensing income), equity provisions, and diligence obligations.
• Negotiates and executes a wide range of transactional agreements including sponsored research agreements, material transfer agreements, confidentiality agreements, collaboration agreements, inter institutional agreements and amendments to existing agreements.
• Applies expertise in software and computational technology licensing to structure agreements for software tools, algorithms, databases, AI/ML models, and research platforms, including appropriate source code provisions, use restrictions, and open-source compatibility considerations.
• Develops and presents proposed deal terms and negotiation strategies to OTD leadership and faculty, synthesizing market intelligence, comparable transaction data, and institutional priorities to inform recommendations.
• Leads industry outreach and relationship development for priority technologies, including targeted engagement with prospective licensees, presentation of licensing opportunities, and cultivation of long-term commercial partnerships.
• Negotiates founders' equity arrangements, start-up license structures, and related agreements in connection with spin-out venture formation, working closely with institutional leadership and counsel.
• Serves as a senior advisor and resource to OTD licensing staff on deal strategy, term sheet construction, and negotiation tactics for complex or novel transactions.
• Maintains current knowledge of market deal terms, licensing trends, and best practices across the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and software/technology sectors, applying this knowledge to strengthen the institute's negotiating position.
• Represents Scripps Research OTD in external forums including AUTM, LES, and other professional associations relevant to academic technology transfer and licensing.
• Provides senior-level guidance on compliance matters arising from complex licensing transactions, including interpretation of Bayh-Dole obligations, federal agency reporting requirements, and contractual diligence and milestone provisions; advises OTD leadership on risk exposure and recommends appropriate courses of action.
• Proactively engages licensees to monitor and enforce compliance with agreement obligations, including diligence milestones, royalty reporting, sublicensing notifications, and development progress requirements; leads communications and negotiations with licensees where compliance deficiencies are identified and works to resolve issues in a manner consistent with institutional interests.
• Responsible for the supervision of Licensing and Contracts Officers. Will provide guidance on deal strategy and agreement execution.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, or a related field required; advanced degree (PhD, JD, or MBA) preferred.
• Minimum 7–10 years of progressive experience in transactional law, business development, technology transfer, IP licensing, or technology transactions, with a demonstrated track record of independently leading complex deal negotiations to successful conclusion.
• Exceptional expertise in drafting and negotiating technology licensing agreements, term sheets, and sponsored research contracts across a range of transaction types and technology areas.
• Experience negotiating software licensing agreements, including familiarity with software-specific deal terms such as source code escrow, open-source license compliance, SaaS and cloud-based deployment models, and data use provisions.
• CLP certification (Licensing Executives Society) strongly preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of Bayh-Dole Act obligations, NIH and federal funding compliance requirements, and applicable export control regulations as they pertain to licensing transactions.
• Strong technical breadth to evaluate and negotiate across diverse technology domains including biomedical, chemical, and computational/software technologies.
• Proven ability to build trust-based relationships with faculty investigators, industry counterparts, legal counsel, and institutional leadership.
• Outstanding negotiation, analytical, and communication skills; adept at presenting complex deal structures and rationale to diverse audiences including scientists, executives, and legal professionals.
• Strong working knowledge of U.S. and international patent law, copyright, and trade secret principles as applied in licensing contexts.
• Experience with start-up formation and equity licensing structures preferred.
• Proficiency with contract management systems (e.g., Inteum or comparable platforms) and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to manage a high-value transaction portfolio with competing timelines, exercising sound judgment and decisive action in a fast-paced environment.

Position Details

This is an on-campus position requiring a minimum of 4 days per week working onsite from our La Jolla campus, with flexibility to work 1 day per week remotely from home.

Compensation

The expected hiring range for this position is $125,000 to $180,000/annually, commensurate with experience.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Benefits Include Employer Contributed Retirement Plan – Depending on eligibility, employees receive an employer contributed retirement plan (no employee contribution required) and the option to contribute to a 403(b) (which is similar to a 401(k) using your own pre or post-tax dollars)
• Full Suite of Health and Welfare plans including three medical plan options (including an HSA available option), dental, vision, life insurance, disability, EAP and more
• Access to Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical/Dependent Care)
• Competitive vacation and sick leave policies
• Free, on-site parking