Washington State University

Technology Licensing Associate

Washington State University$65K — $100K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Graduate degree in business, law, physical/biological science, or engineering, OR Bachelor's with 3 years of relevant experience.
  • Graduate degree in a physical science such as Physics, Chemistry, or Materials Science.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Proven ability to set priorities effectively.
  • Experience in managing and completing multiple projects.
  • Ability to assess and understand innovations in physical sciences and engineering.

Responsibilities

  • Identify and evaluate inventions for commercial potential.
  • Market and license WSU inventions actively.
  • Manage patent prosecution with outside counsel.
  • Prepare, negotiate, and execute agreements and contracts.
  • Monitor compliance with existing agreements.
  • Collaborate with inventors and industry representatives on technology transfer.

Benefits

  • Paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays.
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, life, and disability insurance.
  • Retirement and deferred compensation plans.
  • Employee training and development opportunities.
  • Tuition waiver for employees and their dependents.
Full Job Description
Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on:
October 20, 2026
If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.

Available Title(s):
1200-NN_ADMINPRO - Technology Licensing Associate, 1200-YN_ADMINPRO - Technology Licensing Associate

Business Title:
Technology Licensing Associate

Employee Type:
Admin. Professional

Position Details:

The Opportunity:

A Technology Licensing Associate (TLA) is responsible for identifying, evaluating, marketing, and licensing inventions made by Washington State University (WSU) inventors. With delegated authority, a TLA represents the Office of Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship team, in working with inventors, outside patent counsel and industry to ensure that the commercial potential of WSU inventions is preserved and that the quality and quantity of the intellectual property portfolio is enhanced. A TLA is responsible for the overall management of agreement/contracts. This includes preparation and negotiation, full execution, and monitoring of existing agreements for contractual compliance. Types of agreements/contracts include licenses, options, material transfer agreements, confidential disclosure agreements, and interinstitutional agreements. A TLA works closely with WSU inventors and administrators, outside patent counsel, licensing attorneys, and industry representatives in the conduct of technology transfer activities.

Percentage Breakdown of Job Functions:
  • Evaluation of Inventions and Management of Patent Prosecution by Outside Patent Counsel - 40%
  • Marketing & Licensing - 35%
  • Manage Portfolio - 15%
  • Related Duties - 5%
  • Other - 5%


Additional Information:

This is a full-time (100% FTE), permanent position. Overtime eligibility will be determined upon salary placement.

Monthly Salary:

$5,485.73 - $8,402.20 | Commensurate with experience and qualifications

In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.

Benefits:

WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts; training and development; and employee tuition waiver. For additional information, please review the detailed Summary of Benefits offered by WSU for AP staff and Total Compensation.

Required Qualifications:
  • Positions require a graduate degree in business, law, a physical or biological science, or an engineering discipline, OR, a Bachelor's Degree and three years of directly related work experience in the fields of technology transfer or intellectual property management.
  • Graduate degree in physical science field such as: Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, or other physical science discipline.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communications skills.
  • Experience establishing priorities.
  • Experience managing multiple projects and bringing extended projects to completion.
  • Ability to understand and evaluate physical sciences and engineering innovations.


Preferred Qualifications:
  • A PhD in business, physical science, engineering or related discipline.
  • Demonstrated experience in marketing, sales, licensing, negotiating and/or business development, and significant record of successful technology transfer involving physical sciences, advanced materials, chemistry, energy, manufacturing, devices, instrumentation, photonics, semiconductors, engineering systems, software-enabled hardware, or related fields.
  • An additional two (2) years experience working with intellectual properties administration or technology transfer.
  • Knowledge of policies and procedures relating to intellectual properties within a research university setting.
  • Knowledge of university intellectual property policies, U.S. patent law, copyright law, contract law, and university-industry technology transfer trends.


Position Sponsorship Eligibility:

Not eligible for work visa sponsorship

Area/College:

Office of Research

Department Name:

Innovation & Entrepreneurship team

Location:

Pullman, WA

Application Instructions:

Applicants must upload the following required documents to their online application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.

1) Resume
2) Cover Letter
  • External candidates, upload all documents in the "Application Document" section of your application.
  • Current WSU Employees (internal candidates), before starting your Workday application, please use these instructions to update your education and experience in your worker profile in Workday. Internal candidates, upload all documents in the "Resume/Cover Letter" section of your application.
  • Documents may be submitted as one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF, if possible.
  • Reference contact information will be requested later in the recruitment process through Workday.


Background Check:

This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

Time Type:
Full time

Position Term:
12 Month

About Washington State University

Washington State University is a public land-grant research university with its flagship, and oldest, campus in Pullman, Washington. Founded in 1890, WSU is also one of the oldest land-grant universities in the American West. With an undergraduate enrollment of 24,278 and a total enrollment of 28,581, it is the second largest institution for higher education in Washington state behind the University of Washington. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity". The WSU Pullman campus stands on a hill and is characterized by open spaces and a red brick and basalt material palette—materials originally found on site. The university sits within the rolling topography of the Palouse in rural eastern Washington and remains closely connected to the town and the region. The university also operates campuses across Washington at WSU Spokane, WSU Tri-Cities, and WSU Vancouver, all founded in 1989. In 2012, WSU launched an Internet-based Global Campus, which includes its online degree program, WSU Online. In 2015, WSU expanded to a sixth campus at WSU Everett. These campuses award primarily bachelor's and master's degrees. Freshmen and sophomores were first admitted to the Vancouver campus in 2006 and to the Tri-Cities campus in 2007. WSU's athletic teams are called the Cougars and the school colors are crimson and gray. Six men's and nine women's varsity teams compete in NCAA Division I in the Pac-12 Conference. Both men's and women's indoor track teams compete in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
Learn more about Washington State University

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