Recruitment Pack - University of Huddersfield

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IP & Commercialisation Manager
(0.4FTE Job Share)
Recruitment Pack
January 2015
Ref: R1446
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Dear Applicant
Thank you for your interest in this post and in the University.
Research & Enterprise is a strategic and innovative Service within the University of
Huddersfield charged with supporting the effective delivery of our targets in research,
enterprise, business development and graduate entrepreneurship.
Working with colleagues and academics across the institution, you will have responsibility
and accountability for delivering a high quality service in relation to Intellectual Property (IP)
& Commercialisation. Your role will incorporate a wide range of legal, due diligence and
compliance matters, providing advice and support on a wide range of IP, contractual &
commercialisation matters, making decisions and giving advice in the best interests of the
University.
I hope the information in this booklet proves useful and gives you sufficient guidance to
pursue your application. Further information is also available on our website www.hud.ac.uk.
If you would like to have an informal discussion about the post please do not hesitate to
contact Barry Timmins on 01484 471165 or email b.timmins@hud.ac.uk
I look forward to receiving your application.
Yours sincerely
Liz Towns-Andrews
Director of Research & Enterprise
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1.
The Role
Job Description
Post:
Service:
Grade:
Reporting to:
Hours:
IP & Commercialisation Manager (Job Share)
Research & Enterprise
8
Head of Business Development
0.4 FTE
Job Function
To provide a high quality, professional IP & commercialisation service incorporating a wide
range of legal, due diligence and compliance matters including management of, and overall
responsibility and accountability for, intellectual property services and Due Diligence on
behalf of the University of Huddersfield in relation to exploitation and intellectual property
management.
Principal Duties
1. To provide advice and support on a wide range of IP, contractual & commercialisation
matters, making decisions and giving advice in the best interests of the University.
2. To draft, review and amend a wide variety of IP & commercialisation-related contracts
and other legal documents and advise staff on the viability of entering into these.
3. To identify any concerns with IP and commercialisation proposals and resolve issues
accordingly.
4. To draft and support implementation of internal guidelines and procedures ensuring
the consistent application of University policy and relevant legislation.
5. To manage the commercialisation framework procedures.
6. Creating, maintaining and updating records which will enable a detailed justification or
qualification to be produced of the University's title to any invention which it purports
to deal in any context (e.g. licence or assignment as part of a spin-out investment
agreement) (“Due Diligence”); undertaking / managing all Due Diligence in relation to
University IP;
7. Devising, implementing and managing appropriate processes for identification of any
provisions potentially affecting the University‟s rights to intellectual property, advising
on the implications of any such provisions and, where necessary, proposing
appropriate solutions to problems;
8. Being responsible for creating and providing appropriate Due Diligence reports
accurately advising the University of its risk position to inform the University‟s
negotiations with external parties in relation to such intellectual property;
9. Managing and having overall responsibility for proper prosecution and maintenance
of University Patent Portfolio and devising, implementing and managing appropriate
processes to ensure patent coverage is maintained.
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10. Managing the University‟s relationship with its external patent agents to ensure
efficient provision of services in relation to the above, including dealing with queries at
management level, negotiating appropriate fees and rates and being responsible for
managing process of tendering for and appointing external patent agents as and
when necessary.
11. Managing copyright commercialisation queries, including advising University
management at policy level in relation to copyright within the University and the
dissemination of such policy via the creation of appropriate guides etc;
12. Delivering talks and presentations accurately reflecting University IP policy and
procedure with a view to increasing overall awareness of proper IP management.
13. When necessary, drafting, negotiating and administering legal agreements including
but not limited to MTAs, Heads of Agreement, Memoranda of Understanding and
Licence Agreements;
14. Providing general IP and legal advice to University staff / providing information to
University staff to raise awareness of Intellectual Property function and process and
to inform University strategy in relation to IP.
15. Aiding and assisting any appropriate employee may be requested in the furtherance
of duties consistent with good business practice.
16. Continuing to enhance professional knowledge in those areas related to University
technology transfer activities, including attending other courses which may be of
relevance and undertaking any training necessary to fulfil the University‟s strategic
objectives and the specific duties of the job.
17. To manage any legal proceedings, to assist senior management in other claims and
liaise with external solicitors and insurers as appropriate.
18. To assist with the provision of corporate and company secretarial services for
University owned and associate companies.
19. To undertake any other duty pertinent to the grade of the post that might be
requested.
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Person Specification – IP & Commercialisation Manager
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following attributes:
Attributes
Experience
Essential
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Qualifications/
training
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Skills and Abilities

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Communication

Personal Qualities
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Considerable knowledge of a wide range of legal matters
particularly company/commercial, intellectual property, data
protection and freedom of information. Experience of
relevant legislation. Good drafting skills. Extensive relevant
post-qualification experience in a firm of solicitors or an inhouse legal service
Experience of managing and resolving complex legal and
compliance enquiries
First degree or equivalent qualification
Legal qualification (ILEX or similar)
Ability to analyse, interpret and resolve problems, make
decisions and act independently on own initiative without
supervision
Ability to balance priorities and work with the pressure of
competing deadlines
Ability to deal with confidential and sensitive matters in a
discreet manner
Ability to interpret legislation, codes of practice and standard
procedures
Competent IT skills with a good level of proficiency in
Outlook and word processing
Excellent written and oral skills, with the ability to
communicate solutions effectively and articulately with a
diplomatic approach. The ability to deal with people at all
levels is essential
A flair for attention to detail
A team player
Reliable and conscientious
Willing to undertake further training and regular updating on
legal and compliance matters
Desirable
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Evidenced
Knowledge and experience of equality and
diversity issues
Experience of working within a support
environment
Experience of working within higher or further
education
Application form
/interview/test
Qualified Solicitor with a current practicing
certificate
Application form
Application form
/interview/test
Application form
/interview/test
Application form
/interview/test
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3.
Our Offer
The post provides the opportunity to work in a friendly, dynamic environment in a growth
area. In return we offer a generous remuneration and benefits package:
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4.
Starting salary grade 8: £15,095
A Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) Pension Scheme (Local Government
Pension Scheme)
30 days annual leave plus statutory holidays (pro-rata)
Significant opportunities for professional development
A friendly and supportive work environment
A range of voluntary benefits
How to Apply
Applicants are asked to complete an application form. Attention is drawn to the person
requirements listed above and applicants are asked to provide evidence of their match to
these criteria in some detail in their supporting statements. This information will be used to
shortlist candidates.
The timetable is as follows:
Advert closes:
Shortlisting:
Interviews:
26 January 2015
9 February 2015
23 February 2015
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Director of Research & Enterprise
Research & Enterprise
Deputy Director
of Research & Enterprise
Directorate Office
Support
Policy, Strategy &
Engagement
Researcher
Environment
Office
Manager
(R&E)
Graduate Education
& Business
Intelligence Manager
Research
Environment &
International
Research
Collaboration
Programme Manager
Office
Administrator
Web Assistant
Researcher
Development
Framework
Administrator
PGR Admin Officer
English Language
Lecturer
Bids & Proposals
Development
Manager
Pre-Award
Research Support
Officer
Pre-Award
Research Support
Officer
Head of Post Award
(Strategic Projects)
Senior Accounting
Technician
Head of
Business
Development
Head of
Enterprise
Business
Development
Manager
Senior
Business
Advisor
Accounting
Technician
CRM
Manager
Accounting
Technician
PGR Admin Officer
Technical
Development Officer
Research Support
Officer
Innovation & Enterprise
Research & Enterprise
Funding
Pre-Award
Research Support
Officer
Business
Advisor
Innovation &
Enterprise Coordinator
Accounting
Technician
Research
Administrator
Accounting
Technician
Business
Advisor
(Vacant)
Enterprise
Administrator
IP &
Commercialisation
Manager
(0.4FTE Vacant)
Projects
Director of
Libyan
Forensics
Industrial
Programme
Manager
Special
Projects
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6.
The University
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The University‟s vision is, „To be an inspiring, innovative university of international renown‟.
The University‟s achievements were recognised by the award of the Times Higher
Education University of the Year for 2013. This follows hot on the heels of its success at the
awards last year where it collected the Entrepreneurial University of the Year award.
The University of the Year is awarded to „an institution that has demonstrated exceptional
performance in the past academic year‟ providing evidence of „particular bold, imaginative
and innovative initiatives that have advanced the institution‟s reputation‟. Just some of those
initiatives are:
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A commitment to our students with nationwide top 10 ratings for student satisfaction
and graduate employability as well as a top 10 rating for financial security.
The opening of the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre, a collaboration with conglomerate
3M to foster business partnerships leading to new research, technology transfer and
entrepreneurial ideas.
The award of a Queen‟s Award for Enterprise – International Trade as well as a top
10 position in the 2012 International Student Barometer.
A commitment to excellence in teaching – Huddersfield is the only University in the
UK where 100 per cent of academic staff are fellows of the Higher Education
Academy – which provides professional recognition of their teaching abilities.
These factors, combined with a continued commitment to being „a university that is at the
heart of its home town‟ and a strong commitment to be a great employer makes the
University an interesting and rewarding place to work.
The University‟s staff are involved in scholarship, research and reach-out activities. We want
to attract and retain the best staff, provide opportunities for them to remain professionally
engaged and up-to-date. We were one of the first universities in the country to achieve
institutional recognition under the Investors in People Award in 1999 and we have
maintained this standard ever since. We are committed to the development and support of
our staff. In the Quality of Working Life Survey, looking at the satisfaction and well-being of
our staff, the University of Huddersfield has higher scores across all six factors than the
Higher Education benchmark, showing lower levels of stress and greater satisfaction with
working conditions than the benchmark data.
Our striking town centre campus straddles the refurbished Huddersfield Narrow Canal and
offers extensive views of the wooded Pennine foothills. The campus combines both new and
historic buildings, and since 2008 £73 million has been invested in new facilities and
buildings for our students. The University has won Civic Trust Awards for the imaginative
refurbishment of historic mill buildings for the teaching of Computing, Engineering and
Architecture. However, we are also very proud of our contemporary architecture. Our £17
million Business School building opened in 2010 and a £22.5 million Student Central Building
which opened in January 2014 providing new sports, leisure, learning and catering facilities.
7.
Huddersfield
The University is located close to the centre of the thriving West Yorkshire town of
Huddersfield. Huddersfield has an extensive range of new retail and social developments
with many new shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. Near to areas of outstanding natural
beauty publicised in TV programmes such as “Last of the Summer Wine” and “Where the
Heart Is” we are also in easy reach of Leeds and Manchester. Both are just 45 minutes by
road and with quicker access via the regular cross Pennine rail service. Huddersfield is
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surrounded by a number of attractive villages in the Holme and Colne valleys and within easy
reach of the Yorkshire Dales, the Peak District and the major urban centres of Leeds and
Manchester. The cost of housing compares very favourably with other regions in Britain and
the choice of where to live is outstanding. The town is well known for its musical traditions,
including the world famous Huddersfield Choral Society and the internationally renowned
Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. The Lawrence Batley Theatre and a large sports
stadium host various cultural and sporting events respectively.