INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT OFFICER – Midlands State University (MSU) 96 views

Vacancy

Qualifications and Experience

• A relevant Bachelor’s degree.
• A Master’s degree in Intellectual Property or equivalent.
• A techno-legal background is an added advantage.
• At least three (3) years of working experience and a track record in innovations and Intellectual Property (IP) management.
• The candidate must possess good leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills at all levels within and outside the University.
• Ability to collaboratively translate the IP management objectives into a set of instruments, and to implement, evaluate, and review the resulting activities.
• A thorough understanding and appreciation of the IP issues arising in the context of academic research and particular software development methodologies, open-source licensing strategy, and software patentability among others.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Managing disclosures, non-disclosures and IP database.
• Guiding in the drafting of IP documents and reviewing the documents.
• Registering of IPR with relevant bodies.
• Using legal and scientific knowledge or working with legal and business development officers to negotiate and draft agreements as well as to ensure that contractual obligations are met.
• Works closely with the Technology Transfer Officer (TTO).
• Manage the coordination of IP agreements and IP transfer between MSU and its various affiliated projects.
• Assisting innovators and TTO in coordinating and managing IP across projects from diverse funding sources.
• Conducting IP audit, training and advisory services.
• Serve as a point of communication with faculty, staff, students, external attorneys, paralegals, managers, administrators, and researchers at companies, universities, and nonprofit organizations for IPR related issues.
• Carry out any other duties as assigned by the Innovation Manager.

NB: Midlands State University is an equal opportunities employer.  In the interest of promoting gender parity, female candidates are encouraged to apply.