Intellectual Property Officer

Position Number: 40033639

Payroll Title: IP OFCR 2 (6237)/IP OFCR 3 (0338)

Job Code: 6237/0338

Job Open Date: 8/27/2026

Application Review Begins: 9/14/2026

Department Code (Name): RESD (VICE CHANCELLOR OF RESEARCH)

Percentage of Time: 100

Union Code (Name): 99 - Non-Represented (PPSM)

Employee Class (Appointment Type): Staff: Career

FLSA Status: Exempt

Classified Indicator Description (Personnel Program): MSP

Salary Grade: IP OFCR 2 (Grade 23)/IP OFCR 3 (Grade 26)

Pay Rate/Range: The full salary range for this position is $90,600 to $166,400/yr. for IP OFCR 2 and $123,000 to $237,800/yr. for IP OFCR 3. The budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $100,000 - $175,000/yr., depending upon classification. Salary offers are determined based upon final candidate qualifications and experience; the budget for the position; and the application of fair, equitable, and consistent pay practices at the University.

Work Location: 3227 Cheadle Hall

Working Days and Hours: M-F, 8am - 5pm

Benefits Eligibility: Full Benefits

Type of Remote or Hybrid Work Arrangement, if applicable: Hybrid (Both UC & Non-UC locations)

Special Instructions:

For full consideration, please include a resume and a cover letter as part of your application.

Department Marketing Statement:

The primary mission of UCSB's Office of Technology & Industry Alliances (TIA) is to build the foundation for long-term, productive and mutually beneficial relationships between UCSB and its industry collaborators. TIA was established in August 2005 with two main responsibilities: 1) to manage the intellectual property (IP) developed through UCSB research and license these UCSB-owned IP to companies (handled by the patent and licensing team; this position is within the patent and licensing team) and 2) to manage the many agreements with industry partners that support research collaborations (including research agreements-both funded sponsored research agreements and unfunded research collaborations, material transfer agreements, non- disclosure agreements, data use agreements and memorandums of understanding; handled by the industry contracts team). This intellectual property administration includes implementation of the University of California intellectual property policies, the evaluation and marketing of inventions and copyrightable works, the prosecution of patent applications, and the negotiation and administration of a variety of legal agreements related to licensing UCSB-owned intellectual property. TIA also performs outreach to both the campus community and industry sector concerning technology transfer and research activities at UCSB, including working closely with UCSB startups who have or may license UCSB inventions.

Benefits of Belonging

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Brief Summary of Job Duties:

Intellectual Property Officer 2 (or Intellectual Property Officer 3): This hybrid position will require approximately two or three days per week, on average, on the UCSB campus. Under the general direction of the Director of the Office of Technology & Industry Alliances (TIA) within the Office of Research at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), the Intellectual Property Officer 2 or Intellectual Property Officer 3 supports the office's licensing activities. Responsibilities include managing all aspects of patent prosecution for UCSB's portfolio of more than 650 inventions, monitoring licensing agreements and licensee compliance, and performing complex data analysis. In addition, the position manages approximately one-half of UCSB's technology portfolio, including evaluating assigned technologies; overseeing their legal protection and related legal fee expenditures; negotiating, drafting, and overseeing licensing agreements related to those technologies; and monitoring revenues received by the University under those agreements. At the Intellectual Property Officer 2 level, the incumbent performs these responsibilities with a modest degree of independence and with support and supervision from senior colleagues and the TIA Director. At the Intellectual Property Officer 3 level, the incumbent performs these responsibilities with a high degree of independence and autonomy. The incumbent is expected to have a strong scientific background, preferably in chemistry or the biological sciences, and an understanding of relevant technology transfer, industry and university practices, and patent prosecution principles. The incumbent must also be able to interpret and apply applicable UCSB and University of California systemwide technology transfer and licensing policies; resolve a wide range of issues; exercise good judgment in selecting appropriate methods and techniques; perform moderately complex to complex analysis; and track multiple deadlines and issues. Note: This recruitment is for one position. The classification level will be determined at the time of hire and will depend on the skills, knowledge, and experience of the selected candidate.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree in a Scientific/STEM Field

For IP OFCR 2: 0-2 years of experience in tech transfer, with familiarity with all aspects of the field.

For IP OFCR 3: minimum of 2-4 years of experience in tech transfer, with familiarity with all aspects of the field.

Deep knowledge of intellectual property law, particularly patent law.

Adept at drafting contracts and term sheets, evaluating early stage technologies, and managing patent budgets.

Strong knowledge of physical sciences, materials science or other engineering disciplines.

Strong computer skills and ability to learn applicable business systems.Highly proficient working with IP data information systems, typical academic policies and standard operating procedures while performing the core responsibilities of technology transfer.

Strong analytical thinking, communication, negotiation and writing skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

For IP OFCR 2: Bachelor's degree in a scientific/STEM field and/or is a registered patent attorney/patent agent, a Certified Licensing Professional (CLP) or a Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP) Bachelor's Degree

For IP OFCR 3: Master's Degree or a Ph.D. in a scientific/STEM field and/or a JD, MBA and/or is a registered patent attorney/patent agent, a Certified Licensing Professional (CLP) or a Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP). Master's Degree

5 or more years of licensing experience at an academic, governmental or non-profit research entity.

Special Conditions of Employment:

• Form 700 Statement of Economic Interests Filer
• Satisfactory criminal history background check
• UCSB is a Tobacco-Free environment

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement:

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Job Functions and Percentages of Time:

• 20% Campus Portfolio: IP strategy and management - Exercising a modest degree (IP OFCR 2) with some support of senior colleagues/TIA Director or high degree (IP OFCR 3) of independence and autonomy, manage the patent prosecution for UCSB patent portfolio. Management includes, but is not limited to, overseeing invention disclosure intake review and evaluation process, with the assistance of Licensing Analyst, to assure it occurs efficiently and accurately and to assure any legal issues (including, for example, third party obligations) are accurately identified to licensing officer; assuring applicable federal and state compliance regulations are followed, oversee maintenance of internal databases to assure accuracy thereof (with assistance of Licensing Analyst). Serve as primary contact for, and issue instruction to, outside legal counsel. Oversee and authorize as much as $1M (IP OFCR 2) to $2+M (IP OFCR 3) in expenditures to outside legal firms prosecuting patents on behalf of UCSB. Advise TIA Director on patentability of new inventions disclosed to the office. Develop and implement patent strategies, either independently (IP OFCR 2) or in collaboration with outside legal counsel and in consultation with other licensing officers/TIA Director (IP OFCR 2), as appropriate, that strive to maximize the breadth of patent coverage while minimizing expenditures. When complex issues arise during patent prosecution, develop and implement potential strategies, with modest support/supervision (IP OFCR 2) or a high degree of independence (IP OFCR 3), to overcome or address the issues, in collaboration with other TIA licensing officers, the Director, UCOP, UC Legal and/or outside legal counsel. Review patent portfolio regularly to recommend actions to the Director to promote prudent fiscal management, including, but not limited to, reviewing issued patents for continued viability and relevance, and identifying patent prosecutions encountering significant challenges and recommend whether to continue the prosecution. Execute powers of attorney and other patent prosecution documents on behalf of UCSB (with assistance of Licensing Analyst). Assure Evolve database invention and patent records are maintained accurately and complete, and reporting requirements to the federal government and other research sponsors are performed as required (with assistance of Licensing Analyst). Monitor Bayh-Dole filing deadlines and assure extensions are obtained, when needed, with support of Licensing Analyst. Monitor and analyze changes in external regulations, legislation and UC policies form impact on patent prosecution, updating and modifying attorney instructions, patent prosecution strategies, and internal business processes as necessary (with assistance of Licensing Analyst and consent of Director).
• 20% Assigned IP: Negotiation/Management of Agreements - For assigned technology portfolio, with modest support/supervision (IP OFCR 2) or a high degree of independence (IP OFCR 3) makes, negotiates complex license, option and other agreements related to the licensing of substantial invention portfolio. Requires excellent communication and interpersonal skills to professionally, tactfully and efficiently handle all aspects of the negotiation of licenses as well as post-execution monitoring and compliance. With modest support/supervision (IP OFCR 2) or a high degree of independence (IP OFCR 3), develops negotiation strategies, including business, financial and due diligence terms. Gather, analyze, prepare and provide input on exceptions to policy, when appropriate and necessary to fulfill office objectives. Work with UC general counsel during legal review of proposed complex license agreement prior to the execution of a license agreement. Assure licensees meet all complex licensing obligations and intervene or initiate corrective action when commitments are not met. Identifies and documents terms of agreements to be actively enforced and ensures that appropriate administrative and support staff are informed of and understand these terms, and that the agreement is appropriately entered into tracking databases. Resolves problems arising after execution, send notices of default and termination, renegotiate terms as appropriate. Drafts and negotiates amendments to the terms of license and option agreements and submit amendments to the Director for execution. Oversees the process of collecting sales/royalty reports and payments from licensees. Identifies and resolves collection issues or unexplained or diminishing royalty streams in coordination with UCOP finance team. With modest support/supervision (IP OFCR 2) or a high degree of independence (IP OFCR 3), recommends, as appropriate, that the General Counsel and, as appropriate outside legal counsel, take legal action to bring licensees into compliance with the terms of agreements or to abate infringement by non-licensees.
• 10% Campus Portfolio: Agreement Intake Review and Post-Execution Agreement Monitoring - Exercising a modest degree (IP OFCR 2) with some support of senior colleagues/TIA Director or high degree (IP OFCR 3) of independence and autonomy, upon execution, analyze agreement terms (including licensing, options and letter agreements) to identify key licensing terms. Establish relationships with UCSB licensees. Monitor and manage licensee compliance with key agreement terms, identifying when certain terms (such as milestone or sublicense payments) are triggered, by among other things, reviewing licensee press releases and required progress and royalty reports. With irregularities or questions arise concerning progress or royalty reports, engage the licensee to understand and/or verify the information and develop strategy for, then implement, appropriate corrective action, consulting with the director and/or assigned licensing officer, as appropriate. With modest support/supervision (IP OFCR 2) or a high degree of independence (IP OFCR 3), recommend royalty audit candidates to the Director. With assistance of the Licensing Analyst, assure agreement database remains accurate and up-to-date and advise University of California Office of the President (UCOP) Innovation Transfer and Entrepreneurship (ITE) and accounting office on agreement financial terms and monitor to assure appropriate invoicing and rebilling procedures are adopted.
• 10% Assigned IP: Evaluation, Protection and Strategy - Using skills as an experienced technology transfer professional with an in-depth understanding of the field, with modest support/supervision (IP OFCR 2) or a high degree of independence (IP OFCR 3), perform the following duties with good judgment, with respect to complex inventions and/or working within complex legal and business landscapes: Evaluate commercial potential and formulate licensing strategy for a substantial portfolio of inventions that are relevant to a diverse array of markets. Reviews complex funding agreements to identify all intellectual property obligations (including those to the federal government) owed to research sponsors or center members for assigned technologies and assures all such obligations are timely and appropriately fulfilled. Evaluate potential licensees and development teams to evolve licensing strategies, considering the market data, interest and longer-term public benefit. Determine the patentability of assigned technologies and assure the legal rights of The Regents, particularly patent rights and copyrights, are protected and preserved for inventions and software under the officer's management. When appropriate, recommend to the Director the need to authorize and review patentability opinions and patent searches by patent attorneys. Market new technologies to potential industrial partners in collaboration with the Marketing Manager. Coordinate with faculty and researchers on commercialization strategy. Requires ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally with a wide range of individuals ranging from university scientists to patent attorneys to other offices with the Office of Research and UCSB Office of General Counsel as well as central UC Legal, other UC campus technology transfer offices, University of California Office of the President (UCOP) policy, patent, financial, IT and administrative staff to various company representatives.
• 10% Assigned Technologies: IP Protection - With modest support/supervision (IP OFCR 2) or a high degree of independence (IP OFCR 3), oversees the activity of outside patent attorneys prosecuting intellectual property rights on behalf of the University for assigned disclosures, including: Provides recommendations to the Director concerning filing patent applications on assigned disclosures. Gives initial instructions to patent attorneys and monitor patent prosecution to ensure that adequate and appropriate protection of commercially important aspects of the invention is sought. Reviews invoices from attorneys to verify that work has been done within cost estimates/caps and that charges are reasonable. Recommends payment of reasonable fees and resolve billings that exceed estimates, caps or otherwise reasonable levels. Assists and coordinates approvals from Director and obtains prior approval of Director for payment of invoices that exceed certain thresholds established by TIA. Monitors and periodically evaluates whether to continue prosecution of individual patents applications and, when appropriate, request authorization to terminate prosecution. When appropriate, and with modest support/supervision (IP OFCR 2) or a high degree of independence (IP OFCR 3), performs research and analysis on patentability of inventions and/or surveys the existing prior art.
• 10% Assigned IP: Outreach to and Identification of Potential Licensees - With modest support/supervision (IP OFCR 2) or a high degree of independence (IP OFCR 3), markets new technologies and inventions to potential industrial partners in collaboration with the TIA Marketing Manager through direct contact with inventors, independent research, professional networking, and various databases, develops a licensing and marketing strategy for assigned disclosures, including the identification of potential markets for assigned disclosures, with modest support/supervision (IP OFCR 2) or a high degree of independence (IP OFCR 3) makes the determination of an appropriate licensing strategy and the proactive identification of potential licensees for assigned technologies. Determines licensing interest by initiating contact with companies and/or responding to company inquiries. Prepare or coordinate preparation of appropriate marketing materials for such contacts with assistance of the Marketing Manager. With modest support/supervision (IP OFCR 2) or a high degree of independence (IP OFCR 3), evaluate complex potential licensees and development teams to evolve licensing strategies considering the market data, interest and longer-term public benefit. Obtains and evaluates business and marketing plans of potential licensees. With modest support/supervision (IP OFCR 2) or a high degree of independence (IP OFCR 3), evaluates specific potential licensees for suitability and, if multiple potential licensees request a license, manages multiple requests consistent with UC policy and practices. Select appropriate company or companies with whom to negotiate licenses. Serves as liaison between industry representatives, University inventors and patent attorneys during marketing process.
• 10% Campus Portfolio: Inventor/Faculty Outreach - With modest support/supervision (IP OFCR 2) or a high degree of independence (IP OFCR 3), conduct outreach and provide advice and consultation to University faculty and staff on issues related to invention disclosures, technology commercialization and patent law. With modest support/supervision (IP OFCR 2) or a high degree of independence (IP OFCR 3), develop/co-develop and participate in campus and TIA training seminars, workshops and courses on innovation, technology transfer, licensing and patent-related topics, including taking on teaching and public speaking opportunities at conferences and professional association-organized webinars when appropriate.
• 10% Special Projects - Perform special projects as requested by the Director including Campus Portfolio: Data Analysis/Report Preparation with the support of the Marketing Manager, with modest support/supervision (IP OFCR 2) or a high degree of independence (IP OFCR 3), design novel, complex and customized reports to pull and synthesize multiple data points about the UCSB intellectual property portfolio to monitor a wide array of metrics including, but not limited to, financial metrics, upcoming legal deadlines, and licensing or other trends within the intellectual property portfolio. Prepare appropriate reports for departments, UCSB scientists and individual licensees, upon request, assuring all confidentiality obligations are properly addressed. Needs to be proficient (IP OFCR 2) or highly proficient (IP OFCR 3) working with IP data information systems and have the ability to learn to use applicable business systems.

UC Vaccination Programs Policy:

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccinations Programs.

As a condition of Physical Presence at a Location or in a University Program, all Covered Individuals* must participate in any applicable Vaccination Program by providing proof that they are Up-to-Date with any required Vaccines or submitting a request for Exception in a Mandate Program or properly declining vaccination in an Opt-Out Program no later than the Compliance Date (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.). Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

For more information, please visit University of California Policy on Vaccinations - https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/5000695/VaccinationProgramsPolicy

*Covered Individuals: A Covered Individual includes anyone designated as Personnel or Students under this Policy who physically access a University Facility or Program in connection with their employment, appointment, or education/training. A person accessing a Healthcare Location as a patient, or an art, athletics, entertainment, or other publicly accessible venue at a Location as a member of the public, is not a Covered Individual.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

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