Be Part of Something World-Changing
Salary – Competitive
We are seeking a pioneering leader to join the University of Glasgow as the inaugural Director of our
Technology Transfer Office.
The University of Glasgow is investing strategically to support its innovation and commercialisation activity to deliver our vision to change the world for the better. With our world-leading research capability, we have exceptionally strong foundations to catalyse our efforts for delivering meaningful positive impact at a local, national and global scale.
This is an exciting role that offers the chance to join us at a pivotal time, as we transition from our inaugural Innovation Strategy 2022-2025 to embedding a long-term sustainable approach for enabling impact
through commercialisation and innovation.
The Director will oversee the commercialisation of research outputs, managing intellectual property, and developing partnerships with industry and investors to maximise outcomes from our University’s research and innovation activities. You will be responsible for leading our team of Intellectual Property & Commercialisation Managers.
About the Position
Reporting directly to the Vice Principal of Innovation and Economic Development, you will provide visible leadership across the institution and work collaboratively with academics, enterprise and economic development directorate, legal teams, procurement, external partners and funding bodies to support innovation within the University. You will be responsible for demonstrable improvements in our key innovation performance metrics – disclosures, licensing income, and increasing the number of our quality spin-outs. You will deliver a culture of service excellence in providing support to academics and in improving our policies and processes, undertaking opportunity audits, de-risking and in accelerating propositions along the commercialisation pathway to venture creation and incorporation. In doing so, you will enable a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship to flourish within the University of Glasgow.
Appointing a Director to lead our Technology Transfer Office will be a significant step in accelerating the delivery of Glasgow’s Innovation and Economic Development goals. The role is truly distinctive with a unique range of carefully designed critical responsibilities. Most important will be identifying a candidate with the right personal attributes to ensure the innovation ecosystem in Glasgow is sector-leading and serves its stakeholders effectively and, ultimately, profitably.
We are keen to hear from individuals with substantial senior experience of leading the commercialisation of intellectual property generated from university research via spin-out company creation and licensing, and demonstrable experience of successful venture creation and maximising licensing opportunities. You will have a proven track record of developing incubation programmes that successfully advance opportunities within target industry sectors.
Key to your success in this role will be your expert knowledge of corporate and investor requirements in relation to university intellectual property commercialisation, together with a comprehensive understanding of the legal, financial and legislative aspects of commercialisation.
The deadline for receipt of applications is midnight on Monday 6th October 2025.
Please send applications to glasgow@networkedpeople.com.
Applications must include a full CV and a letter of application setting out your interest in the role and details of how your knowledge, skills and experience match the essential criteria being sought (no more than two pages).