Date Posted: 07/28/2025
Req ID: 44512
Faculty/Division: VP - Research
Department: Innovations & Partnerships Office
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00048975

Description:

About us:

The Vice-President, Research & Innovation (VPRI) portfolio supports the University of Toronto as a top public research university in the world. Our mission is to create the most supportive environment possible, so that our researchers, innovators, and learners can do what they do best: advance understanding and apply new knowledge. Our work supports, fosters, and promotes the research and innovation culture and activities of our faculty, staff, and students, as well as our partner hospitals, funding sponsors, and partners in the public and private sectors. VPRI provides a full range of services, including guidance to faculty, staff, and students on funding opportunities, research agreement negotiation, oversight, and accountability services, including research accounting, environmental health and safety, innovation and entrepreneurship, partnerships, policies and procedures, and institutional awards and honours.

Your opportunity:

The Patent Portfolio Manager supports the management of the University’s broad patent portfolio. The Patent Portfolio Manager serves as a primary point of contact for day-to-day interaction between the University of Toronto and third-party patenting organizations. This position is responsible for conducting patentability assessments, recommending next steps, and guiding patent prosecution by acting as a liaison between patent counsel, inventors, and other members of the Innovation team. The Patent Portfolio Manager relays information to external patent agents regarding the nature and scope of the patent claims based on the patent analysis and commercialization plan.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Conducting prior art research and analysis on inventions disclosed through established procedures
• Advising on the patentability of commercially applicable aspects of inventions
• Advising contacts on best practices and strategies to obtain patents and intellectual property rights
• Advising inventors and sponsors on the drafting of patent applications
• Developing intellectual property protection plans that support strategic objectives
• Verifying that all necessary entitlements of the University to the patents are filed and processed through the patent agent to the appropriate government agencies
• Developing a comprehensive formal training program that supports operational objectives
• Facilitating educational workshops and seminars

Essential Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) discipline, preferably in the physical sciences or computer science disciplines, or an acceptable combination of equivalent experience.
• Six to seven years of relevant experience working in intellectual property protection.
• Excellent attention to detail, with the ability to perform technical review, research and management of the intellectual property portfolio(patent, copyright and trademark)
• Demonstrated ability to interact with inventors to capture and understand the essence, features and limitations of an invention to determine the best strategy for patent application
• Ability to act as a resource and provide guidance, ability to act with tact and sensitivity in dealing with varied clientele, strong sense of judgement in managing relationships.
• Demonstrated understanding of patent rules and the Patent Act in various jurisdictions.
• Ability to execute patent strategy such as (provisional vs. full, PPH process, and/or National filing), including providing advice on patentability, patent scope and claim language.
• Excellent time management and prioritization skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, strong presentation skills.

Assets (Nonessential):

• The ideal candidate has patent agent training; however, being a Registered Patent Agent is not a requirement
• Prior experience working in an academic research environment

To be successful in this role, you will be:

• Meticulous
• Multi-tasker
• Organized
• Team player

Closing Date: 08/12/2025, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing
Schedule: Full Time (Monday - Friday, 8:45 AM to 5:00 PM)
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:
USW Pay Band 17 - $109,761. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $140,365. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Administrative / Managerial

Lived Experience Statement
Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.