Associate Director, Business Development and Licensing-(3282378) - Partners Healthcare System

As a not-for-profit organization, Mass General Brigham is committed to supporting patient care, research, teaching, and service to the community by leading innovation across our system. Founded by Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Mass General Brigham supports a complete continuum of care including community and specialty hospitals, a managed care organization, a physician network, community health centers, home care, and other health-related entities. Several of our hospitals are teaching affiliates of Harvard Medical School, and our system is a national leader in biomedical research.

We’re focused on a people-first culture for our system’s patients and our professional family. That’s why we provide our employees with more ways to achieve their potential. Mass General Brigham is committed to aligning our employees’ personal aspirations with projects that match their capabilities and creating a culture that empowers our managers to become trusted mentors. We support each member of our team to own their personal development—and we recognize success at every step.

Our employees use the Mass General Brigham values to govern decisions, actions, and behaviors. These values guide how we get our work done: Patients, Affordability, Accountability & Service Commitment, Decisiveness, Innovation & Thoughtful Risk; and how we treat each other: Diversity & Inclusion, Integrity & Respect, Learning, Continuous Improvement & Personal Growth, Teamwork & Collaboration.

General Overview

Innovation is a 140 person Mass General Brigham business development unit responsible for the worldwide commercial application of the breakthroughs and unique capabilities of the System’s 80,000 employees and faculty. It drives revenue generation and patient benefit through industry collaborations, investing, company creation, licensing, and innovation management for the System’s Harvard Medical School appointed faculty and hospitals including its core Harvard affiliates -- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Eye and Ear and McLean Hospital.

Within the Innovation function, the Business Development & Licensing team manages a significant portfolio of medical innovations, driving business development activities, commercial assessment of early stage inventions, and management of intellectual property. Our team has an impressive track record of identifying, shaping and executing deals to drive commercialization of Mass General Brigham discoveries and innovations through strategic engagement with industry executives, investors and Mass General Brigham innovators.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

The Associate Director combines expertise in science, technology, business and/or law to manage and develop portfolios of complex medical innovations with potential application in biopharma, medical device, diagnostics and digital health. This position drives the commercialization of key and emerging Mass General Brigham discoveries, innovations and other technological capabilities through the sourcing, structuring and negotiating of license agreements and collaborative research agreements. The Associate Director leads and develops strong relationships with leading innovators from Mass General Brigham, industry executives, investors and entrepreneurs.

Overall Responsibilities
• Manages a significant portfolio of medical innovations with assistance from Analysts, Associates, and Managers to deliver high value commercial outcomes.
• Leads all aspects of deal development, commercial assessment of early stage inventions, and management of intellectual property.
• Independently leads the structuring, drafting and negotiation of complex licensing and sponsored research agreements.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in science, engineering, life sciences or healthcare economics required.
• PhD with minimum of 5 years directly relevant business development, licensing, IP management, technology commercialization or deal making experience, or
• Master’s degree in business, law or sciences with a minimum of 7 years of directly relevant business development, licensing, IP management, technology commercialization or deal making experience.
• Individual has a record of being highly organized and has demonstrated ability to prioritize effectively and concurrently manage multiple opportunities and relationships with competing deadlines.
• Candidate has prior experience in healthcare and life sciences with deep interest in new technology, concepts, people and organizations.
• Exceptional verbal, writing, presentation and analytical skills.

Skills, Abilities and Competencies

Invention Assessment
• Independently and proactively assesses, and/or guides team members in the assessment of, commercial potential, translational readiness, and value of early stage inventions, including assessment of commercial market, unmet need, patentability, and stage of development.

Intellectual Property
• Independently develops, and/or guides licensing team members to develop, strategy for IP filings, prosecution and maintenance; maximizes value of IP by identifying and directing outside counsel toward high value aspects of assets and directing interactions with patent attorneys/innovators.
Deal-Making
• Independently develops, and/or works with licensing team members to develop, commercialization strategies to optimize impact of Mass General Brigham discoveries, including identification and engagement of potential licensees, investors, and collaborators. May direct staff to perform internal due diligence of commercialization pathways and potential licensees.
• With minimal supervision, leads the structuring, drafting and negotiation of complex agreements, such as term sheets, options, research agreements and licenses.
• Demonstrates ability to structure agreements and craft financial terms to maximize value creation and impact on patient care.
• Directs assigned licensing team members in the structuring, drafting and negotiation of low complexity agreements.
Portfolio Management
• Independently manages, protects, and licenses a portfolio of up to ~400 medical innovations with optional assistance from a team member and rapidly delivers high value commercial outcomes.
• Identifies, prioritizes, and applies knowledge of market trends to guide decisions regarding high value assets in portfolio.
Leadership
• Proactively leads interactions and fosters new relationships with inventors, licensees, patent attorneys, and other stakeholders.
• Proposes and leads process improvements in Licensing.
• Effectively creates a positive perception of Mass General Brigham and fosters confidence, trust and respect of clinicians, scientists, investors, corporate executives, entrepreneurs and administrators;
• Demonstrates ability to navigate and resolve complex inter-organizational, interpersonal, technological and contractual issues.
• Displays strong judgement in balancing priorities based on value and risk.
• Consistently takes interest and supports management of talent within function. Demonstrates skill in mentoring and guiding team members. Clearly communicates and delegates responsibilities to assigned resources.

Mass General Brigham is an Equal Opportunity Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives, and ideas, we choose to lead. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under the law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment.