The Senior Innovation Manager (SIM) is a mid-senior position in the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) that focuses the commercialization of University of Calgary research and the promotion of societal impacts in the life and medical sciences space. The SIM position builds on the responsibilities of Innovation Manager (IM), with greater degree of autonomy in terms of managing files, negotiation with potential partners and licensees, as well as participation in more strategic activities. The SIM will be responsible for managing some of the more demanding portfolio components in the Life & Medical Sciences TTO team with a greater degree of autonomy and self-regulation. They will also provide support to the TTO leadership team and participate in the planning of the Life & Medical Sciences TTO team’s activities. The SIM is also expected to be a mentor to more junior colleagues. This SIM will report to the Director, Life & Medical Sciences, Technology Transfer.

Key Accountabilities:

• Support Innovate Calgary’s mandate of excellence in technology commercialization
• Work closely with the Commercialization and Disclosure Office at the University of Calgary to ensure faculty members and the University meet their goals and priorities
• Identify new inventions derived from research executed at the University of Calgary by proactively sourcing leads from recently awarded grants, attending research seminars and events, and maintaining relationships with faculty members, students and post-docs
• Perform assessments of patentability, market potential, and overall commercial potential
• Meet with investigators/researchers as needed to evaluate and define strategy for the commercialization of inventions
• Design and initiate commercialization strategies for each technology in the  portfolio
• Develop marketing strategies and conduct market analysis for technologies in the portfolio
• Develop intellectual property protection strategies and manage ongoing prosecution of intellectual property in a timely and cost-effective manner
• Identify and initiate contact with potential licensees
• Negotiate and close license and equity agreements with industry partners and University startup companies with a high degree of autonomy, but in collaboration with TTO leadership
• Maintain and efficiently utilize all aspects of a technology and intellectual property project management database for each technology in the portfolio
• Provide training and mentorship to junior colleagues in the TTO
• Make recommendations to TTO leadership
• Participating in developmental projects for the TTO in order to improve team performance
• Participate in Innovate Calgary strategic projects which necessitate TTO involvement (UCEED, ElevateIP and the like)
• Support TTO leadership with ideas for programming and activities to drive TTO metrics
• Support UCalgary faculty members with grant writing for IP related grant applications
• Deliver workshops and seminars to UCalgary and external community
• Attend and participate in events and panels as an expert in IP
• Attend Innovate Calgary Office hours at different locations on UCalgary campus
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned