Innovation Support Manager

6 months ago

Johannesburg, South Africa University of the Witwatersrand Full time

Reporting to the WIC Senior Programme Manager and Senior Manager Innovation Support, the incumbent will inter alia, be responsible for a range of activities, soliciting and managing innovation disclosures, and associated IP portfolio management, commercialisation, general management and
to manage the unit assessing, marketing and progressing Wits innovations towards successful commercialisation outcomes.
1. Soliciting and Managing Innovation Disclosures, and associated IP Management
- Awareness raising and promotion of the value of innovation as an outcome of research through participation and/or presentations to faculty, meetings with innovators, etc.
- Preparing reviews of commercial potential of innovations, and recommendations on commercialisation strategies, including market analyses, protection strategies, etc.
- Managing all aspects of the process for securing statutory protection for specific innovations.
2. Commercialisation
- Undertake directly, or through other resources available in the unit, market and industry analysis and marketing of innovations to identify and secure interest of potential commercialisation partners
- Participate in conferences/trade shows with the relevant innovator(s) to secure interest from potential partners
- Work closely with innovators to provide advice and clarify processes to be followed, engage in discussions on IP and commercial strategies, agree benefit sharing arrangements where there is more than one originator, etc.
- In consultation with the innovator(s), as well as the Wits Enterprise Research Support unit, to develop proposals and secure funding for development and commercialisation of innovations, including but not limited to the Wits Seed Fund, to ensure meaningful outcomes are achieved, and to deliver sound reporting to stakeholders/funders
- Prepare draft term sheets for commercial deals for review and approval of mandate from the Director Innovation Support and relevant principals in Wits, as well as concluding deals within the mandate parameters including supporting the drafting of agreements
- Development of business plans and financial models for spinouts, soliciting potential investors/partners, preparing draft term sheets for the transaction including IP arrangements, shareholder agreements and/or investment agreements etc for review by Director Innovation Support, obtaining approval of mandate, as well as negotiating within the mandate parameters to successfully establish and, where applicable, capitalise the spinout
- Manage receipt of royalties or other consideration and disbursement to the University and inventors.
- Identifying and establishing commercialisation channels/opportunities
- Engaging with a broad range of stakeholders from researchers/innovators, Wits Enterprise and University management, investors, commercial partners, external entrepreneurs, incubators, etc.
3. General Management
- Assist in all organisational, management (including the unit’s management systems) and administrative activities of the office to ensure optimal functioning of the office
- Manage and/or support the unit’s initiatives and programmes to reach Wits innovators and support their innovation journeys
- Manage and/or support preparation of various submissions to NIPMO including disclosures, referrals, IP Fund rebate submissions, etc.
- Prepare inputs to and/or, manage audits of and/or review submissions to funders (Wits, NIPMO, etc) in respect of reports required, capacity development initiatives, etc.
4. Additional / Developmental Functions
- Provide assistance to, and work with, less experienced staff in the Innovation Support unit, to ensure their growth and development, and in so doing develop/improve own management and leadership skills
- Participate in internal and external workshops, conferences etc. to broaden own skills and contribute to the profession.
- Any other functions/activities as may be required by the Director and other Wits Enterprise/Wits principals.

**QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS**:
Minimum Requirements
The successful incumbent shall have as a minimum:

- A bachelor’s degree in engineering and/or science (NQF level 7 or higher)
- 2 years’ directly relevant experience in innovation development and commercialisation specialist areas such as assessing the commercialisation potential of innovations in a University technology transfer office; and/or exposure to research commercialisation strategy development and implementation.
- Appreciation of the role and usefulness of IP management in innovation.
- Understanding of the SA tech transfer landscape and statutory framework as it pertains to Universities.
- Excellent communication, organisation skills and attention to detail
- Demonstrated interest in working across different scientific/technology disciplines
- Exposure to IP/commercialisation systems, fluency in general office systems.
- Appreciation of the typical processes involved in, and challenges of, protecting an

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