New

Associate Licensing Manager

CU Boulder
paid time off, tuition assistance
United States, Colorado, Boulder
Jul 31, 2026
Requisition Number: 73817 Location: Boulder, Colorado City Boulder State Colorado Employment Type: University Staff Schedule: Full-Time Posting Close Date: 06-Aug-2026 Date Posted: 28-Jul-2026 Close All Job Summary Venture Partners CU Boulder is excited to announce an opening for a collaborative team member with a passion for innovation. The Associate Licensing Manager for Physical Sciences is responsible for managing innovations and their intellectual property (IP) from world leading scientists and engineers, and is a central figure in the CU Boulder entrepreneurial ecosystem. The contributions of the Associate Licensing Manager are integral to Venture Partners' mission to translate research innovation into positive social and economic impact. The Associate Licensing Manager catalyzes the commercialization of research innovations. To promote successful commercialization, the Associate Licensing Manager uses an entrepreneurial approach and skills to guide the inventors through entrepreneur education and funding resources, as well as building a startup or industry partnerships. The Associate Licensing Manager has the confidence and interpersonal skills necessary to connect withth senior level faculty, administration, and industry partner executives, and the ability to build relationships within the campus and ecosystem. The Associate Licensing Manager uses best practices to ensure IP strategy and related transactions meet high quality of professional criteria including all pertinent policies, regulations, and laws associated with the management of IP. The Associate Licensing Manager will report to the Assistant Director of Licensing at Venture Partners. CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Who We Are CU Boulder is one of 34 U.S. public research institutions belonging to the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU)-and the only member in the Rocky Mountain region. Our goal is to directly benefit the world through collaborative research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Boulder has been ranked by Forbes as the best city in America in which to start a business, and as the top city in America by Bloomberg's Brain Concentration Index. Venture Partners is the commercialization arm for CU Boulder and a recognized national leader in translating university research into market-ready solutions and products. CU Boulder has spun out 11 unicorns-a startup valued at $1 billion or more while still privately held-including Infleqtion, Forge Nano, Ball Aerospace & Technologies, Amgen and SomaLogic. In fiscal year 2024, CU Boulder launched more startups based on university intellectual property than any other U.S. campus that year. In addition to holding the No. 1 spot for that year, the achievement also placed CU Boulder No. 2 for the most startups launched in a single year by a U.S. campus. What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be Licensing Manage a portfolio of inventions in various areas of engineering and physical sciences. Build strong relationships with faculty, graduate students and post-doctoral inventors. Solicit and assess early inventions, including analysis of the potential value proposition, intellectual property (IP), and technology readiness. Implement IP strategies for the protection, prosecution, and enforcement of patent and other IP rights within a portfolio. Liaise with and advise the CU Boulder contracts and grants unit to ensure IP strategies align with IP terms in sponsored research contracts. Interface closely with Venture Partners' team members and resources for advancing innovations, including participation in our various startup development programming. Prioritize portfolio assets and make optimal referrals to resources for inventor education, mentorship, funding, licensee identification, and startup formation. Provide portfolio expertise for ecosystem partners such as accelerators, incubators, and investors. Draft, negotiate, and manage a variety of IP agreements, including options, licenses, and joint-owner management plans. Programs & Support Support key venture partner programs for licensees. What You Should Know This position offers a hybrid work modality with 3 days per week in the office. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position. What We Can Offer The hiring range for this position is $70,000-$80,000. Benefits At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program. Be Statements Be ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder. What We Require Bachelor's degree in engineering or physical sciences from an accredited institution. Experience in technology and IP management, licensing and/or innovation commercialization roles. Equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute. What You Will Need A creative and entrepreneurial approach Demonstrated ability to lead the negotiation and execution of IP agreements Ability to identify the needs of early-stage innovations, and the tenacity to pursue the right connections for those needs Impeccable professionalism, communication, and relational maturity in all interactions with faculty and business leaders Ability to thrive within a team matrix Excellent organization and attention to detail for a large portfolio and high deal volume Positive demeanor with the ability to adapt to new situations Collaborative and problem-solving approach Ability to build productive relationships with people from a diverse set of backgrounds and perspectives in a collaborative and inclusive environment What We Would Like You to Have Graduate degree in engineering, physical sciences, and advanced professional degree, such as an MBA or JD 2+ years of commercialization experience of deep tech innovation that included management of a large invention portfolio Experience managing a large portfolio of inventions and patents Startup or other entrepreneurial experience and/or corporate experience Special Instructions To apply, please submit the following materials: A current resume. A cover letter that specifically tells us how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications, and responsibilities of the position. We may request references at a later time. Please apply by 8/6/26 for consideration. Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs. In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.