IP & Research Development Officer – Medicines Discovery Catapult
Role purpose
As a member of the Commercial team, you will support the Strategy Leader in identifying suitable partners, securing grant funding, and exploring commercial income opportunities via licensing or other IP-related transactions. You will foster business relationships with industry and academic collaborators to establish collaborative projects, often involving multiple parties. Your expertise in partnership development, bid coordination and collaborative writing will be instrumental in facilitating impactful and innovative research and development initiatives. Being adaptable, creative and an effective communicator are essential qualities for this role.
Main Duties And Responsibilities
* Lead the development of collaborative R&D proposals, from concept initiation through to proposal submission.
* Support and drive business engagement activities for collaborative R&D and licensing opportunities across industry and academic partners working with MDC scientists to ensure alignment with our science strategy.
* Generate and analyse market and patent data to support collaborative R&D proposal submissions and licensing transactions.
* Support the due diligence of internal IP opportunities – including patentability and FTO analysis.
* Assist in the management of Internal IP assets.
* Lead negotiation of successful proposals through the contracting stage with the partner/funder.
* Coordinate/write a number of proposals often as lead proposal manager.
* Support internal and external operational aspects of proposal submission during the pre-award phase, including costings, internal governance documentation, Je-S and IFS portal submissions.
Essential Qualifications, Experience And Knowledge
* Strong self-starter, and completer/finisher.
* Experience in either bid development, business engagement, technology transfer or similar role.
* Experience in working with publicly funded or pre‑competitive R&D models, such as Innovate UK and RCUK, especially relating to the creation of proposals and contract negotiation.
* Excellent communicator: orally and in writing, internally and externally, ensuring consistency, clarity and demonstration of a full understanding of the project in discussion.
* Shows broad knowledge of technical subjects and the ability to understand the basic concepts of new technologies quickly. A keen problem solver.
* Minimum of Honours Degree in a life sciences or chemistry discipline.
Desirable Qualifications, Experience And Knowledge
* Experience in intellectual property.
* Proficient with database solutions such as Global Data, Beauhurst and Patsnap (or similar).
Closing date: Friday 28th November 2025. Please note the closing date for applications may be brought forward if a high volume of applications are received.
Seniority level
Entry level
Employment type
Full‑time
Job function
Research, Analyst, and Information Technology
Industries
Research Services
#J-18808-Ljbffr