Intellectual Property Manager - Innovation Development & Licensing

Intellectual Property Manager

Edinburgh Innovation– Innovation Development & Licensing

Edinburgh Innovations is the University of Edinburgh’s commercialisation service. We connect industry with world-leading research, identify promising innovations and helping turn them into real-world solutions. Working in close partnership with academic colleagues, we support the protection, development, and exploitation of research outputs to deliver academic, economic, and societal impact.

We are recruiting an Intellectual Property (IP) Manager to join the Technology Transfer team within our Innovation Development & Licensing unit. Reporting to the Head of Technology Transfer, the postholder will oversee and coordinate the University’s IP portfolio, ensuring the effective management, protection, and governance of intellectual property arising from the University’s research activities. 

Working closely with technology transfer colleagues, academics, external patent attorneys, and professional services teams, the IP Manager will manage the University’s patent portfolio, provide practical advice on patenting processes, and manage associated operational responsibilities, including compliance, reporting, and data integrity.

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of a dynamic research and innovation environment, working with academics and technology transfer colleagues to manage a diverse IP portfolio and help translate academic research into real-world impact.

This post is full-time (35 hours per week), we welcome applications from candidates seeking part-time hours or flexible working patterns.  We also support hybrid working on a non-contractual basis, offering a blend of home and on-site working to help you balance work and life effectively.

The salary for this post is Grade 7 £39,234 to £48,136 per annum.

Your priorities will include:

• Managing the operational aspects of the University’s patent portfolio, including patent filings, prosecution, renewals, and maintenance, in collaboration with appointed patent attorneys

• Supporting IP governance processes and portfolio review activities

• Ensuring procedural compliance with internal policies and patent services framework agreements

• Maintaining accurate, complete, and up-to-date records within the University’s IP management system to support reporting and effective monitoring of key performance indicators (KPIs)

• Coordinating IP-related reporting for research funders and sector bodies, working with internal stakeholders as required

• Preparing and maintaining procedural guidance, templates, and documentation to support consistency, training, and business continuity

• Contributing to outreach and training activities to improve awareness and understanding of IP and patenting processes across the University

• Coordinating patent-related expenditure and administering associated purchase order and approval processes

Who we’re looking for:

Essential criteria

• Demonstrable experience in intellectual property or patent management, gained within a university, research organisation, or professional services environment.
• Working knowledge of patent prosecution processes, timelines, and associated procedural requirements.
• Ability to organise complex information, manage competing and multiple priorities accurately and to fixed deadlines.
• Experience using IP or patent management systems to record, organise, and extract data for operational and reporting purposes.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.

Desirable criteria

• Formal training, certification or qualifications in intellectual property or a related discipline.
• Familiarity with technology transfer, research commercialisation, or innovation environments.

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Why join us?

You will be part of a collaborative and dynamic Innovation Development and Licensing team, working across a broad and varied research portfolio. This role offers the opportunity to deepen your expertise in IP portfolio management within a university setting, develop specialist knowledge and contribute to portfolio decisions that help translate pioneering research into real-world impact.

At Edinburgh Innovations (EI), our culture is built on three core values: Collaborative, Progressive and Innovative.   We believe the best results come from working together, sharing ideas, and supporting one another. We’re always looking forward, embracing change, challenging assumptions, and pushing boundaries to grow.  Innovation is at the heart of what we do, encouraging creativity and fresh thinking at every level of the business. 

If you thrive in a team-driven environment that values bold ideas and continuous improvement, you’ll fit right in.

Championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive.  At EI we celebrate diversity in all its forms and actively seek to create a team that reflects the communities around us. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities because different perspectives make us stronger.

As a valued member of our team, you can look forward to:

• A competitive salary that reflects your skills and experience
• An exciting, positive, and creative workplace that’s as rewarding as it is challenging
• A generous 40 days of combined annual leave and public holiday entitlement
• A comprehensive benefits package, including a defined contribution pension scheme (currently 3.5/4.5% employee and 9/14.5% employer contributions), family-friendly policies, flexible working options, and more
• Ongoing support to develop your skills, grow your career, and recognise your achievements

About You

At EI, we look for people who live our core behaviours in everything they do

• You work well with others, build strong relationships, and believe that teamwork drives better outcomes. 

• You're curious, creative, and not afraid to challenge the norm to find smarter solutions. 

• You take responsibility for your work, follow through on commitments, and are driven to deliver results. 

• You seek feedback, grow from experiences, and are always looking to improve. 

• You genuinely care about the impact of your work on colleagues, customers, and the wider community. 

If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.

Application Information

Please submit your CV along with a covering letter that tells us why you’re interested in the role and how your skills and experience make you a strong fit.

Right to Work

All applicants must have the right to work in the UK at the time of application.  Unfortunately, we are not able to offer sponsorship for this role.  You will be required to provide documentation as part of the recruitment process to confirm your eligibility to work in the UK.

Key dates to note

The closing date for applications is 27 November 2026 and interviews will be held in the first half of December. 

 

Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:55pm GMT. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone.