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Senior Director, Technology Transfer & Business Development
Job Location:
Job Location:
Novato, CA - USA
Yearly Salary:
USD 200000 - 290000
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
1 October 2026 (22 hours ago)
Posted:
Application Deadline:
29 December 2026
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Vacancies:
Job Summary
POSITION SUMMARY
The Senior Director Technology Transfer & Business Development leads the Buck Institutes deal-making function and plays a key leadership role in business development and alliance management. Reporting to the Executive Vice President Partnering & Administration this individual serves as the Institutes lead negotiator for technology licenses corporate sponsored research and collaboration agreements and U.S. Government agreements including Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) and is responsible for building the program and alliance management systems that carry those agreements through execution. The Senior Director works closely with Institute leadership faculty and external partners to structure negotiate and execute complex agreements oversees the processes to effectively manage these relationships following execution including contract revisions and amendments as programs evolve. The position also provides leadership for the Institutes core technology transfer responsibilities including protecting managing and commercializing Buck intellectual property in compliance with applicable law sponsor requirements and Institute policies.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Deal Leadership and Negotiation (primary responsibility)
Education
The anticipated salary range for this position is $200000 to $290000 annually. Actual compensation will be based on relevant experience qualifications internal equity and other job-related factors. The Buck Institute offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical dental vision and basic life insurance.
PHYSICAL AND WORK REQUIREMENTS
Ability to perform essential functions of the position without accommodation. The position primarily involves computer-based work participation in meetings review and preparation of complex documents and frequent communication with internal and external stakeholders. The role requires regular movement between offices laboratories and meeting locations on the Institute campus. Occasional business travel may be required. The position may require participation in meetings or negotiations outside normal business hours to accommodate external partners government agencies and stakeholders in different time zones.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by most people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities duties and requirements. Responsibilities may change as organizational and business needs evolve.
The Senior Director Technology Transfer & Business Development leads the Buck Institutes deal-making function and plays a key leadership role in business development and alliance management. Reporting to the Executive Vice President Partnering & Administration this individual serves as the Institutes lead negotiator for technology licenses corporate sponsored research and collaboration agreements and U.S. Government agreements including Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) and is responsible for building the program and alliance management systems that carry those agreements through execution. The Senior Director works closely with Institute leadership faculty and external partners to structure negotiate and execute complex agreements oversees the processes to effectively manage these relationships following execution including contract revisions and amendments as programs evolve. The position also provides leadership for the Institutes core technology transfer responsibilities including protecting managing and commercializing Buck intellectual property in compliance with applicable law sponsor requirements and Institute policies.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Deal Leadership and Negotiation (primary responsibility)
- Serve as the Institutes lead negotiator for exclusive and non-exclusive license agreements option agreements corporate sponsored research agreements research collaborations and hybrid license-and-collaboration structures.
- Lead negotiations of U.S. Government agreements including Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) cooperative agreements and contracts with ARPA-H DARPA and other federal sponsors including terms governing intellectual property data rights milestones payable events and consortium or subaward arrangements.
- Structure deal terms including upfront and milestone payments royalties equity diligence obligations IP ownership data rights publication rights indemnification and termination provisions to maximize scientific impact and return to the Institute. Model deal economics and present recommendations to the EVP.
- Prepare term sheets and draft review and redline agreements through execution engaging outside counsel as needed.
- Partner with the EVP and faculty on deal origination. Qualify inbound opportunities and run the deal process including diligence from first contact through signature.
- Support company formation and spinouts including startup licenses equity terms and coordination with compliance on faculty conflict-of-interest management.
- Provide guidance to team members responsible for negotiating supporting agreements including confidentiality agreements material transfer agreements data use and data transfer agreements inter-institutional agreements and service agreements.
- Provide leadership for the Institutes program and alliance management function including governance structures (e.g. joint steering committees and project teams) operating procedures templates and reporting.
- Ensure every executed agreement has an operating plan that tracks obligations deliverables milestones payment schedules reporting deadlines and decision points from kickoff through close-out.
- Serve as or oversee the alliance manager for major relationships by controlling information flow facilitating forward progress and managing stakeholders across Buck laboratories and partner organizations. Anticipate and resolve disagreements before they escalate.
- Lead contractual revisions during operations including amendments scope and budget changes milestone renegotiations no-cost extensions option exercises assignments and terminations.
- For government programs manage milestone-based deliverables required reporting and agreement modifications in coordination with Finance and Sponsored Research.
- Implement and maintain systems for tracking agreement obligations revenue and compliance including a contract and IP management database.
- Manage the invention evaluation disclosure process. Assess disclosures for patentability and commercial potential and make recommendations on patent filing prosecution and maintenance working with outside patent counsel within budget.
- Work with inventors to market Buck technologies data assets and platform capabilities to prospective licensees corporate partners and investors consistent with the Institutes mission.
- Ensure compliance with Institute intellectual property and conflict-of-interest policies.
- Advise and educate faculty on intellectual property their obligations and the Institutes and pathways to commercialization.
- Monitor licensee performance including royalty reports diligence milestones sublicensing and audit rights as needed.
- Maintain and update Institute technology transfer and IP policies and stay current on legislation federal funding mechanisms and market trends.
- Lead and collaborate with a team of technology transfer contracts and alliance management professionals. Set priorities and manage workflow across the deal and alliance portfolio.
- Collaborate closely with Finance Sponsored Research Legal Compliance Philanthropy and scientists.
- Provide regular reports on the deal pipeline IP portfolio and active alliances to the EVP for use with Board committees and the Board of Trustees.
- Perform other duties as required or assigned.
Education
- Advanced degree (PhD in the biological sciences or chemistry MD JD or MBA) or masters degree combined with substantial directly relevant experience may be considered. A combination of scientific training with legal or business training is strongly preferred.
- 8 years of progressively responsible experience in technology transfer licensing business development or alliance management in the life sciences including at least 5 years in a biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry setting.
- Demonstrated track record as lead negotiator on license sponsored research and collaboration agreements.
- Direct experience negotiating Other Transaction Agreements or other federal agreements (e.g. ARPA-H DARPA BARDA DoD) preferred.
- Experience establishing or running an alliance or program management function.
- Experience managing mentoring and developing staff.
- Certified Licensing Professional (CLP) or Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP) preferred; not required.
- Expert negotiator with sound judgment on when to hold a position and when to close and the ability to preserve long-term partner relationships through difficult negotiations.
- Working knowledge of intellectual property law the Bayh-Dole Act federal acquisition and assistance frameworks including Other Transaction authority and contract law as applied to licensing and research agreements.
- Strong financial acumen including deal valuation and modeling of royalty milestone and equity terms preferred.
- Scientific fluency sufficient to evaluate technologies and engage credibly with faculty and partner scientists across basic biology computational biology and AI and clinical research.
- Team-oriented leader who builds durable processes and systems rather than relying on individual effort.
- Outstanding drafting written and verbal communication skills with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
- Extremely well organized with the ability to manage multiple complex negotiations and relationships simultaneously.
- Exercises judgment and tact and maintains a strict degree of confidentiality.
- Interacts effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and viewpoints.
- Highly proficient with Microsoft Office and contract or IP management databases.
The anticipated salary range for this position is $200000 to $290000 annually. Actual compensation will be based on relevant experience qualifications internal equity and other job-related factors. The Buck Institute offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical dental vision and basic life insurance.
PHYSICAL AND WORK REQUIREMENTS
Ability to perform essential functions of the position without accommodation. The position primarily involves computer-based work participation in meetings review and preparation of complex documents and frequent communication with internal and external stakeholders. The role requires regular movement between offices laboratories and meeting locations on the Institute campus. Occasional business travel may be required. The position may require participation in meetings or negotiations outside normal business hours to accommodate external partners government agencies and stakeholders in different time zones.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by most people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities duties and requirements. Responsibilities may change as organizational and business needs evolve.
Required Experience:
Exec
