Technology Director

We are looking for a suitably qualified individual to lead the UK Federated Telecoms Hubs' Technology, Commercialisation and Innovation Office (TCUI). TCUI is funded by a grant from the DSIT's Technology Mission Fund through EPSRC to improve the translation of research in telecoms sector in the UK by: (i) delivering strategies to enhance the UK telecoms patent portfolio; (ii) the engagement with standards development organisation (SDOs) to ensure that the UK is more successful in creating standards essential patents (SEPs); and (iii) the development of patent pools and intellectual properties (IP) exploitation strategies to foster commercialisation successes of UK assets stemming from research; in partnership with Federated Hubs universities' Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs). 

Based at the Electrical Engineering Division in West Cambridge, you will lead the TCUI to set the overall strategic direction, provide intellectual leadership, and develop and direct the overall work programme to meet the Unit's strategic objectives. To this end, you will closely work with the other telecoms hubs and JOINER Directors. You will strengthen and grow links with key senior decision-makers in policy and across the university sector to ensure the work of the unit is directed towards filling very critical telecoms translational research gaps and is disseminated effectively to deliver high impact. Furthermore you will be required to engage with senior decision-makers across the University of Cambridge to ensure the University and its Schools/Departments benefits from the work of the Unit. 

The successful candidate will be expected to develop and nurture the strategic partnership with more than 50 TTOs and around 50 industry partners to deliver on the TCUI's ambitions and objectives. You will work with the UK Telecoms Innovation Network (UKTINs) expert working groups and taskforces set up to inform and develop UK policy in relevant areas.  Reporting to the TITAN Director, you will have co-management responsibility for four members of staff as well as a budget for commissioning papers, engagement and dissemination events etc. to deliver the work programme, and will be responsible for developing and implementing a long-term sustainability plan for TCUI during the lifetime of the initial grant. 

The successful candidate will hold a PhD or equivalent in Engineering, science or relevant discipline, with equivalent research experience desirable in the field of technology and innovation policy, technology transfer / commercialisation, innovation/technology management or similar, with prior involvement company spin-out processes and fund raising, ideally having led fund raising rounds in spin-out companies. You will have experience of working with policymakers and strategists on university commercialisation and innovation in academia, industry and the public sector, operating at a high level in this area, developing high-impact evidence and insights on university-driven commercialisation and innovation that shape national policy and university practice.  Additionally, you will have proven experience of directing and managing projects or significant tasks within projects and be able to demonstrate good project management skills. You will possess excellent interpersonal, networking and communication skills, including high-level relationship management skills combined with good organisational skills and attention to detail.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 31 March 2025 in the first instance.

Please ensure that you upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a covering letter in the Upload section of the online application.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

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