Job Posting #896233
Position: Principal, Business Development and Commercialization, Krembil and McEwen Research Institutes
Site: MaRS – Heritage Building
Department: Commercialization at UHN
Reports to: Director
Salary Range: Commensurate with experience and consistent with UHN Compensation Policy
Hours: 37.5 per week
Status: Permanent Full Time (hybrid remote work)
Do you have a passion for seeing research discoveries become life-saving reality? Do you have what it takes to drive winning partnerships with industry to help create a healthier world?
Join the #1 institution in Canada for research commercialization and work with some of the best and brightest in the field!
We are looking for a Business Development and Commercialization Principal to drive the commercial success of two of our most valuable and exciting portfolios at University Health Network (UHN): those of the Krembil Research Institute and the McEwen Stem Cell Institute.
Ranked #1 in Canada’s Top 40 Research Hospitals*, UHN has held that position since 2011 and its four hospitals are among the top ranking globally. As Canada’s largest academic research hospital complex, UHN ranks #1 in research commercialization in Canada. UHN's licensing revenues are fully re-invested into its hospitals and research institutes to fuel and sustain innovation and discovery.
By joining us, you will be involved with the most cutting-edge research and medical innovations at their inception. The business professionals working within Commercialization at UHN shepherd our world-class science and discovery toward maximum patient impact: medical products, devices and therapies that change lives globally– such as insulin, which was discovered here. Your work will equally take such discoveries closer to changing patient lives. In fact, because of the critical value of bringing these ground-breaking discoveries to patients, commercialization is one of UHN’s top 5 organizational Strategic Priorities.
Together with the world-class UHN research community, our work delivers on our recently-launched Commercialization Lives Here strategy, elevating Canada as a world destination for life science commercialization. We compete with the biggest names in the US and at home; our lineup of start-ups includes BlueRock Therapeutics, Trillium Therapeutics, Adela Bio Inc., Treadwell Therapeutics and AvroBio amongst others, boasting more than $5 billion injected into the economy.
What are you waiting for? Join our growing success story. Let’s create a healthier world, together.
- Source: https://www.uhnresearch.ca/news/canadas-top-research-hospital-2
Candidate Profile
The role of Principal, Business Development and Commercialization for the Krembil and McEwen Research Institutes is one of our office’s most critical positions. It requires a dynamic, creative, business development professional with academic credentials, skills in relationship management, and experience in fields related to the discovery areas of these research institutes, which span UHN’s portfolio of neuroscience, regenerative medicine, arthritis, stem-cell therapies, ophthalmology and beyond.
The Principal will develop and implement strategies to maximize the commercial success of the research being conducted at both the Krembil and McEwen Research Institutes and will foster and leverage internal and external relationships to facilitate the identification, development, commercialization, and transfer to practical use of institute- or program-specific inventions, assets and technologies.
Specifically, and in collaboration with the Directors and Program researchers of each institute, the Principal will maintain an overview and pipeline of the various discoveries, research activities, and programs therein. He or she will take the lead in all aspects of revenue generation including evaluation, protection, marketing, licensing, and new company creation. Specifically, he or she will assess the market potential of specific inventions, develop assets/IP and marketing strategies for each, engage in discussions with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, then negotiate research agreements and term-sheets with external parties. He or she will also manage alliances with strategic partners. In addition, the Principal will work to source seed and venture funding, from initial contact with academic inventors through to successful asset commercialization, in collaboration with other members of Commercialization at UHN.
Key responsibilities
- Proactively engage the Krembil and McEwen Institute and Clinical Directors, clinicians, and researchers to deeply understand faculty and programmatic research interests and facilitate commercialization activities including identifying research programs or assets with commercial potential, preparing IP disclosures, developing commercialization strategies and marketing materials, and transacting corporate contracts.
- Drive business development and deal flow activities in a team environment to achieve commercialization objectives, focusing on the entire portfolio of opportunities of each institute.
Provide support and lead opportunities for UHN’s Commercialization funds including the Innovation Acceleration Fund, a multi-million-dollar fund helping advance the next generation of medical products toward commercialization.
- Take ownership of Commercialization at UHN’s relationship with the Krembil and McEwen Institutes including the negotiation of research, service, and other research-related contracts (i.e., material/data/equipment transfer agreements, confidentiality agreements, etc.), as well as provide support for start-up and licensing agreements. In this capacity, he or she will work closely with Commercialization at UHN’s Licensing and Commercialization, IP Management, Marketing, and Operations teams, as well as Research Legal and the UHN Foundation.
Qualifications
- Minimum of 10 years of relevant business experience or equivalent
- Completion of a Master’s degree in Biology, Life Science or recognized equivalent experience required; PhD and/or MBA highly preferred
- Experience working in pharmaceutical or biotech business development, technology transfer, venture capital or related environment required
- Experience in the negotiation of research support, licensing and/or partnership deals is required
- Industry experience and/or scientific background in a field related to Krembil and/or McEwen research areas (i.e. neuroscience, regenerative medicine, arthritis, stem-cell therapies, ophthalmology, etc.) is required
- Very good capacity for understanding and evaluating detailed legal agreements required
- Good knowledge of patent practice required
- Very good knowledge of licensing practice required
- Strong presentation skills required
- Experience launching and leading startup biotech companies (including sourcing seed and venture capital funding and divestments) would be an asset
- Knowledge of internet patent and other database searches desirable
- Ability to multi-task and prioritize while working under pressure with tight deadlines is required
- Self-starter with demonstrated history of taking initiatives
- Ability and comfort communicating to a range of stakeholders, from researchers to CEO’s, from a business and science perspective
Vaccines (COVID and others) are a requirement of the job unless you have an exemption on a medical ground pursuant to the Ontario Human Rights Code.
If you are interested in making your contribution at UHN, please apply on-line. You will be asked to copy and paste as well as attach your resume and covering letter. You will also be required to complete some initial screening questions.
Closing Date: Until filled
For current UHN employees, only those who have successfully completed their probationary period, have a good employee record along with satisfactory attendance in accordance with UHN's attendance management program, and possess all the required experience and qualifications should apply.
UHN thanks all applicants, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
UHN is a respectful, caring, and inclusive workplace. We are committed to championing accessibility, diversity and equal opportunity and welcomes all applicants including but not limited to: all religions and ethnicities, LGBTQ2s+, BIPOC, persons with disabilities and all others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process providing the applicant has met the Bona-fide requirements for the open position. Applicants need to make their requirements known when contacted.