The RoleThe Principal, IP Transactions leads the structuring, negotiation, and execution of complex, customised, and strategically significant commercialisation transactions involving university intellectual property.
Working closely with inventors, founders, investors, industry partners, licensees, and commercialisation teams, this role develops transaction positions, negotiates key terms, and translates commercialisation opportunities into executable agreements.
Success requires strong commercial judgment, transaction experience, and the ability to objectively balance commercialisation objectives, fair market value, and stewardship obligations.
What You'll Do- Assess commercialisation opportunities, business plans, and proposed licensing pathways to determine appropriate transaction structures, economic terms, and performance obligations.
- Develop transaction positions that appropriately balance commercial realities, fair market value principles, stewardship obligations, and long-term institutional interests.
- Structure and negotiate term sheets, definitive agreements, and ancillary commercialisation agreements, including licenses, options, assignments, technology transfer agreements, and other transactions involving university intellectual property, working with counsel where specialised legal expertise is required.
- Exercise sound and objective judgment when evaluating opportunities, negotiating transactions, and recommending transaction positions.
- Support governance, approval, and execution processes for complex transactions.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to inventors, founders, commercialisation teams, and institutional leadership on IP transaction-related matters.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of transaction frameworks, templates, negotiation playbooks, and IP licensing practices.
- Provide guidance, coaching, and technical leadership to transaction professionals and contribute to the development of transaction capabilities, standards, and best practices across the organisation.
Please be informed that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.
RequirementsWhat You Bring- 10+ years of experience structuring, negotiating, and executing intellectual property, technology licensing, strategic partnership, corporate development, venture, or other transaction-oriented agreements.
- Significant experience negotiating intellectual property licensing transactions in either:
- Life sciences, healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, or medical technologies; or
- Semiconductors, electronics, computing, software, artificial intelligence, communications, advanced manufacturing, or other deep-technology sectors.
- Demonstrated ability to evaluate business plans, commercialisation opportunities, execution risk, and value creation potential, and translate those assessments into appropriate transaction structures and commercial terms.
- Strong understanding of licensing economics, valuation principles, incentive alignment, and performance-based transaction structures.
- Sufficient legal and contractual sophistication to develop term sheets, work directly within agreement templates, and translate negotiated business terms into executable agreements.
- Excellent communication skills and a reputation for sound judgment, objectivity, and professionalism.
Bonus Points For- Experience structuring, negotiating, and executing cross-border or multi-jurisdictional transactions involving intellectual property, technology, research collaborations, strategic partnerships, or commercialisation activities.
- Experience working with venture-backed companies, founder-led businesses, institutional investors, or strategic corporate partners.
- Familiarity with university technology transfer, research commercialisation, public-sector innovation, or other stewardship-oriented environments.
