Senior Specialist - Commercialisation N000970
Listing reference: nwu_002169
Listing status: Under Review
Apply by: 5 November 2023
Position summary
Industry: Education & Training
Job category: University and Academy
Location: Potchefstroom
Contract: Permanent
Remuneration: Market Related
About our company
NWU
Introduction
NORTH-WEST UNIVERSITY (POTCHEFSTROOM CAMPUS)
DIVISION: DVC RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
DEPARTMENT: TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND INNOVATION SUPPORT OFFICE
POSITION NUMBER: N000970
POSITION: SENIOR SPECIALIST - COMMERCIALISATION
PEROMNES GRADE: P7
EMPLOYMENT TYPE: PERMANENT APPOINTMENT
Job description
PURPOSE OF THE POSITION:
The purpose of the position is to improve the impact of the Technology Transfer and Innovation Support Office by promoting NWU intellectual property (IP) policy and enabling commercialisation of technologies and innovations developed at NWU. The Senior Specialist: Commercialisation will be responsible for developing commercialisation strategies for NWU intellectual property (IP) and for managing a portfolio of early-stage up late-stage development projects, with responsibility for driving the commercialisation aspects. The incumbent will be expected to establish and manage working relations with NWU researchers and innovators, as well as with external partners including funders, commercialisation and development partners. The incumbent will furthermore be required to closely collaborate with team members and colleagues within Technology Transfer and Innovation Support Office to achieve a common goal.
The support provided by the Senior Specialist: Commercialisation role extends across multidisciplinary functions including IP assessments, undertaking prior art searches, market assessments, stakeholder engagements, development of commercialisation strategies, performing due diligence exercises as well as promotion and marketing of NWU innovations. The successful incumbent for will be expected to be proficient in dealing with scientific and technical aspects of the job, integrated with solid business acumen and commercial skills. The job also requires strong written and oral communication skills.
All applicants are required to provide a covering letter to accompany your CV as part of the job application explaining how you are suitable for the role and how your education, skills and experience match the job requirements.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Technology development support and pre-commercialisation activities:
- Engaging with NWU research and innovation community to source appropriate innovation projects and maintaining a project pipeline.
- Exploring, identifying and evaluating NWU technologies and innovations with prospects of intellectual property protection and commercialisation.
- Advising and engaging NWU researchers and innovators on opportunities for protection and commercialisation of NWU intellectual property.
- Handling, evaluating and finalising innovation disclosures.
- Facilitation of IP protection processes.
- Undertaking prior art searches and analysing patent landscapes.
- Performing competitive analyses and market research.
- Fund-raising for technologies and innovation projects.
- Finding industry partners collaborative development of new products and solutions.
2. Management of individual commercialisation projects and implementation of commercialisation strategy and transactions:
- Critically assessing projects and innovations for commercially viability and licensing opportunities.
- Developing commercialisation roadmaps with understanding of current and future opportunities.
- Proactive identification of project risks and portfolio opportunities.
- Developing commercialisation strategies for innovations and technologies.
- Writing, re-modelling and/or assessing proposals and business plans for technology development and commercialisation.
- Drive the execution of commercialisation strategies to deal conclusion.
- Evaluating IP using appropriate IP valuation methodologies.
- Engaging in structuring and negotiations of licensing agreements.
3. Internal and external stakeholder engagements:
- Visiting of NWU departments/units/entities to encourage and source for potential technologies/ new IP.
- Supporting the development of networks within technology industries.
- Maintaining relationships with external stakeholders such as funders, government agencies and industry partners.
- Developing and maintaining relevant stakeholder database(s).
4. Marketing and promotion of innovations and technologies:
- Implementation of marketing strategies to increase the visibility of NWU’s innovations and partnership opportunities for commercialisation.
- Preparing innovation and technology marketing material for publication on various platforms.
- Identifying and pursuing appropriate marketing opportunities for NWU innovations.
5. Training and awareness:
- Preparing and delivering presentations, webinars, workshops on IP, technology transfer and commercialisation to various audiences.
6. Other:
- Implementation of quality process and records management.
Minimum requirements
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- A 4-year Bachelor’s degree or Honours degree (NQF level 8) in Engineering, Natural or Biological Sciences.
- A minimum of 5 years’ experience in a technology commercialisation environment or in new product development.
- A minimum of 5 years' experience in identifying and developing commercialisation opportunities based on research outputs and market needs.
- A minimum of 1 year experience managing multi-disciplinary, multi-party R&D and technology development projects in an innovation environment.
- A minimum of 5 years' experience in writing funding applications and business proposals and securing such funding; managing budgets and financial projections.
- A minimum of 1 year experience building and managing relationships and networks with role-players industry, government, and academia.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
- A Postgraduate qualification (NQF level 8) in Business, Finance or Project Management.
- A Master’s degree (NQF level 9) in Engineering, Science or Business.
- Must be registered as a Technology Transfer Professional.
KEY FUNCTIONAL/ TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES:
- Excellent communication skills with clear evidence of effective presentation skills, proposal and report-writing skills, people management skills and the ability to converse authoritatively and persuasively with a range of stakeholders at all levels.
- Effective communicator and networker able to establish and develop a network of commercialisation, industry and investment networks.
- Analytical skills for prior art searching, market research and due diligence.
- Scientific and technical training and ability to translate technical and scientific language to non-academic audiences. Practical experience of the product development cycle.
- Knowledge of the regulatory framework for intellectual property management and commercialisation.
BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES:
- Must be a self-starter, capable of prioritising and setting own working strategies and practices with the minimum of supervision/guidance and actively able to seek information from internal or external sources as required.
- Must be a team player able to work collaboratively with others to disseminate and share knowledge and information.
- People Leadership: Making decisions; Empowering individuals; Challenging ideas; Directing people; Convincing people; Interacting with people.
- Personal Leadership: Embracing change; Thinking positively; Showing composure; Understanding people; Valuing individuals; Team working; Values aligned with organisation’s values; Adaptability & Flexibility.
REMUNERATION:
The annual total remuneration package will be commensurate with the level of appointment as advertised and in line with the NWU policy guidelines.
ENQUIRIES REGARDING JOB CONTENT MAY BE DIRECTED TO: Dr Mesuli Mbanjwa, Tel: 018 299 4902
ENQUIRIES REGARDING RECRUITMENT PROCESS MAY BE DIRECTED TO: Mr Zenyo Seboko, Tel: 018 299 4951
CLOSING DATE: 05 November 2023
PLANNED COMMENCEMENT OF DUTIES: As soon as possible
Kindly take note: applications must be submitted online through the official nwu vacancy website.
Incomplete applications and those submitted through any other platform will not be considered.
The University subscribes to and applies the principles of Employment Equity (EE) Act and is committed to transformation. Preference will be given to candidates from the designated groups, in accordance with the principles of the EE Act and NWU Employment Equity Plan.
The University reserves the right not to make an appointment. Communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates only.
If you are not contacted within two months from the closing date of this advertisement, please accept that your application was unsuccessful.
