Licensing Associate

The Berkeley Lab's Intellectual Property Office is hiring a Licensing Associate to draft, negotiate, and manage licensing for Lab IP. Reporting to the Licensing Manager, you'll collaborate with teams across business development, legal, and research to commercialize our technology. The role involves crafting agreements like licenses, inter-institutional agreements, and NDAs, while adhering to industry best practices and Lab policies.

What You Will Do:

• Negotiates the terms of IP agreements.
  • Reviews business terms negotiated by technology commercialization function.
  • Prepares IP agreements based on business terms and templates.
  • Negotiates legal terms of IP agreements with counterparties in a timely manner.
    • Collaborates with technology commercialization functions to ensure business terms and legal terms are consistent and proportional.
    • Confers with legal function on unique or risky terms as needed.
    • Collaborates with counterparties to ensure legal terms are acceptable to both parties.
  • Shepherds negotiated IP agreements through licensing checklists, as needed, and execution.
  • Collaborates with technology commercialization and compliance functions to execute amendments to IP agreements as needed.
  • Collaborates with technology commercialization, compliance and finance functions to ensure all obligations of negotiated agreements are met.
• Negotiates and executes IP-related agreements, including inter-institutional pacts, bailments, NDAs, and material transfers.
• Contributes to improving agreement practices within IPO and participates in marketing technologies and evaluating invention disclosures.
• Proposes enhancements to accelerate technology transfer and manages compliance with the patent license portfolio.
• May represent Berkeley Lab in committees such as the Department of Energy (DOE) Tech Transfer Working Group (TTWG) TTWG or University of California-wide IP Managers groups.
• Maintain the database, which is crucial for tracking performance metrics and supporting key responsibilities.

What is Required:

Licensing Associate Level 2:

• Bachelor's degree in the life sciences or a related technical area and at least 2 years of experience negotiating and drafting complex IP and licensing agreements; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Excellent judgment in intellectual property and industry relationship management issues.
• Strong communication skills, capable of presenting material persuasively and professionally, orally or in writing, regarding matters of law, policy, and science to diverse audiences.
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to proactively stay updated on national and international developments in IP agreement management.
• Proficiency in computer literacy, including web-based research, utilization of intellectual property databases, and office productivity software.
• Strong grasp of drafting contract language.
• Detail-oriented and accurate.
• Understanding of IP data and processes.
• Proficient in office software (e.g., Google Suite, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe).
• Capable of managing and maintaining software tools, databases, and web portals.
• Skilled in creating and running queries.

Licensing Associate Level 3, in addition to Level 2:

• Bachelor's degree in the life sciences or a related technical area and at least 5 years of experience negotiating and drafting complex IP and licensing agreements; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. JD is preferred.

Desired Qualifications:

• M.B.A., and/or advanced technical degree.
• Industry experience, particularly in the life sciences.
• Experience with University of California and Department of Energy policies regarding intellectual property and related matters.
• Project management experience.
• Proven understanding of contract language.
• Experience in agreement compliance and license agreements in a research setting.
• Familiarity with DOE and UC policies.
• Experience with Wellspring’s Sophia and/or iEdison software.

Notes:

• This is a full-time career appointment, exempt (monthly paid) from overtime pay.
• The Licensing Associate Level 2 is expected to pay $105,000 to $128,000, which fits within the full salary range of $93,120 to $157,176. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary for this position will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualifications and experience (including skills, knowledge, relevant education, certifications), as well as aligned with the internal leadership peer group.
• The Licensing Associate Level 3 is expected to pay $128,000 to $157,000, which fits within the full salary range of $114,000 to $192,384. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary for this position will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualifications and experience (including skills, knowledge, relevant education, certifications), as well as aligned with the internal leadership peer group.
• This position may be subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
• This position is subject to the financial disclosure requirements of the California Political Reform Act of 1974. The successful candidate for this position will be required to file financial interest statements upon assuming this position, annually while holding this position, and when leaving this position.
• This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule - a combination of teleworking and performing work on site a minimum of 1 day per week at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA. Work schedules are dependent on business needs.

Want to learn more about working at Berkeley Lab? Please visit: careers.lbl.gov

Berkeley Lab is committed to inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility and strives to continue building community with these shared values and commitments. Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We heartily welcome applications from women, minorities, veterans, and all who would contribute to the Lab's mission of leading scientific discovery, inclusion, and professionalism. In support of our diverse global community, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

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