Description
The Opportunity:
As the Director of CAHNRS Intellectual Property (IP) Commercialization, you are responsible for conducting technology transfer activities that arise from research within the Washington State University (WSU) College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS). You evaluate and manage inventive research within CAHNRS and lead strategic planning and project management in coordination with administrative personnel to support longterm value creation. In this role, you serve as a key liaison between the WSU Office of Research and CAHNRS administration, faculty, and students, ensuring that commercialization strategies align with the college’s priorities.
Key activities include:
- Interfacing with commodity commissions as a primary function to align intellectual property (IP) deployment with industry needs.
- Building consensus among internal and external stakeholders regarding which IP assets should be prioritized and how they should be deployed to relevant industries.
- Collaborating with faculty for technology evaluation and commercialization opportunities.
- Supporting the Office of Research in option and license agreements, while ensuring contractual and procedural compliance.
- Coordinating royalty collection and management, product development, and brand management in partnership with external entities marketing WSU IP.
These activities are conducted under the direction of the Associate Dean for Research, College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences.
This is a full time (100% FTE), permanent position. This position is overtime exempt.
Monthly Salary: $8,342 - $13,317 | 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.
Position Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for work visa sponsorship
CAHNRS Office of Research http://cahnrs.wsu.edu/research/: We support a sustainable future through the powerful combination of both discovery and translational research designed to address the grand challenges of the 21st century—regionally and globally. For more information about the great work we are doing and to view our mission and values, please visit our website linked above.
Area/College: College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) http://cahnrs.wsu.edu/
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
Online applications must be received before 11:59 on: April 5, 2026
External candidates, upload all documents in the “Application Document” section of your application.
Current WSU Employees (internal candidates), before starting your Workday application, please 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.
Requirements
Required Qualifications:
Positions require a Bachelor’s degree in relevant field and six (6) years experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified within the project specialty (Intellectual Property). A Master’s degree in a related field may be substituted for up to one (1) year of the required experience. Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis.
Experience using the Microsoft Office suite is required, as is fluency using Zoom and other videoconferencing platforms.
Preferred Qualifications:
- A PhD or JD.
- Experience in a role that was a primary interface with third party stakeholders, preference given to experience with stakeholders such as commodity commissions or similar groups.
- Experience building consensus among diverse groups representing diverse interests.
- Experience in a research development and support role.
- Experience with handling intellectual property, especially in the academic technology transfer setting.
- Experience supporting active research faculty, staff, and students.
- Experience developing and delivering outreach and educational materials.
- Experience protecting, and licensing new plant varieties.
- Demonstrates a highly proficient communication style, verbally and in writing.
- Experience in marketing new products and/or services.
- Experience in customer service.
- Experience working with commodity commissions or other similar industry stakeholder groups.
- Experience utilizing Inteum Minuet, and/or Wellspring Sophia, for the management of IP and licenses.
