Senior Legal Affairs Executive Company Commercial Applications - A Guide

Transcription

1 Senior Legal Affairs Executive Company Commercial Applications are invited for the position of Senior Legal Affairs Executive Company Commercial in the Business & Legal Affairs Section of UCL Business PLC. The following application information is enclosed: 1. Information on UCL Business 2. Job Description 3. Terms and Conditions of Appointment 4. Person Specification To apply - send a CV along with a covering letter highlighting your particular attributes relevant to the position and the Equal Opportunities Classification Form to the address below. You will be expected to explain how you meet the each of the key requirements for this role as listed in the person specification, giving examples that clearly demonstrate your skills, knowledge and experience. Please specify on which website you first viewed this vacancy. Helen Young UCL Business PLC The Network Building 97 Tottenham Court Road London W1T 4TP Telephone: jobs@uclb.com The closing date for applications is 15 March Please note that we will disregard any applications which do not contain all of the documents specified above and only shortlisted candidates selected for interview will be contacted on or before 20 March 2015.

2 INFORMATION ON UCL BUSINESS PLC UCL (University College London) is one of the UK s leading universities, a world-class multidisciplinary research and teaching institution whose staff and former students have included 21 Nobel Prize winners. Founded in 1826, UCL was the first university in England to admit students regardless of race, religion or gender. It continues to thrive on the creativity and diversity of its community which today comprises 10,800 staff and 25,000 students from 130 countries across the globe. UCL has an annual turnover exceeding 800m. UCL Business PLC (UCLB) is a wholly owned subsidiary of UCL. UCLB is set up as an independent company with its own board of directors and is a leading technology transfer company which supports and commercialises research and innovations arising from UCL, one of the UK s top research-led universities. UCLB has a successful track record and strong reputation for identifying and protecting promising new technologies and innovations from UCL academics. It invests directly in development projects to maximise the potential of the research and manages the commercialisation process of technologies from laboratory to market. UCLB is responsible for the delivery of UCL s commercial-facing knowledge transfer activities by generating income and creating capital value for UCL through the commercial exploitation of research arising from the biomedical, life and physical sciences departments at the university and its associated Institutes. The activities of UCLB are nominally split into three principal sections covering project management and medical device development, biomedical, physical sciences, engineering and arts knowledge transfer activities. These sections are expected to be independent, working under their respective director, but complementary to enhance the spectrum of business activities with third parties, including multi-transactional, inter-faculty transactions. Supporting these sections are business and legal affairs, marketing and the financial and secretarial offices, each with their respective director or manager. All directors are members of the Executive Management Team which meets monthly. The mission of UCLB is derived from UCL s knowledge transfer strategy which is set by the Vice- Provost of Enterprise, who is part of the university s senior management. This requires the company to act as the principle organisation for engaging with business, transacting, monitoring and reporting knowledge transfer activity across UCL. To achieve this, the company and its staff endeavour to: 1. identify and develop knowledge transfer activities; 2. serve as a single point of entry and focus for knowledge transfer activity; 3. promote UCL s expertise and technologies to the world; and 4. provide responsive, professional and coherent support for academic/business collaborations. UCLB supports UCL s Grand Challenges of increasing UCL s positive impact on and contribution to Global Health, Sustainable Cities, Intercultural Interaction and Human Wellbeing.

3 JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title: Department: Senior Legal Affairs Executive Company Commercial Business & Legal Affairs Job Purpose: The successful applicant will: Provide pragmatic, commercially focussed legal and intellectual property advice to UCL Business PLC (UCLB), UCL and where appropriate, external entities to whom UCLB provides legal support services; Lead the negotiation and drafting of a wide range of legal documentation including licence agreements, non-disclosure agreements, technology evaluation agreements, research funding agreements (with both Research Council and Industrial funders) and shareholders agreements; Act as Mentor to the more junior members of the Legal Affairs Team; Work to raise the profile of the Legal Affairs Team both within and outside of UCLB; and Work collaboratively to contribute to the continuous improvement of the Legal Affairs Team. Key Accountabilities Reporting ultimately to the Deputy Director - Business & Legal Affairs, and directly to the Deputy Head of Legal Affairs, the successful applicant will: Take an investigative approach to new matters, drilling down, where detail is not forthcoming; Demonstrate flexibility and legal pragmatism whilst retaining a firm grasp of policy and legal principles; Proactively work to ensure compliance with Legal Affairs standard operating procedures; Assist the Deputy Head of Legal Affairs in dealing with complex cases as required; and Work collaboratively, as a key member of the Legal Affairs Team to spearhead and trial new initiatives and contribute to the continuous improvement of the department. Duties and Responsibilities 1. Legal Advice and Support Provide efficient and pragmatic legal and intellectual property advice and guidance to the Commercial and Leadership teams; Draft and negotiate agreements which maximise revenue potential and minimise legal and commercial risk; and Engage with and support the implementation of contracting processes and procedures across UCLB. 2. Communication and Interaction: Work with the wider Commercial Team, IP Management Team, and Leadership Team to prepare, negotiate and manage a wide variety of agreements;

4 Liaise with, and build effective working relationships with, UCL stakeholders and affiliated contracting offices; and Assist the Deputy Head of Legal Affairs in managing external legal service providers where required. 3. Continuous Improvement Assist the Deputy Head of Legal Affairs in reviewing and updating UCLB model form agreements; and Perform due diligence on potential contracting parties if required. 4. Spin-out company formation Lead the production of company incorporation documentation, working collaboratively with the Finance Team and wider Commercial Team; Lead the drafting and negotiation of corporate agreements such as Shareholders Agreements and Articles of Association; Co-ordinate investment and share distribution processes, drafting, reviewing and negotiating related documentation; and Provide legal support to selected spin-out companies, if appropriate. 5. Post-contract management Support and maintain high standards of post-signature record keeping, in accordance with UCLB standard operating procedures. Support post-signature activities such as enforcement of licence terms, in close cooperation with the wider Legal and Commercial Team. 6. Supervision Act in a supervisory capacity where required, inputting on the preparation and negotiation of agreements by more junior members of the Legal Affairs Team, such as inter-institutional agreements, intellectual property assignment and revenue sharing documents; Participate in the appraisal of the performance of the more junior members of the Legal Affairs Team as required; and Escalate matters to the Deputy Head of Legal Affairs as appropriate. 7. Professional Development Engage with professional development and training opportunities as identified by the Deputy Head of Legal Affairs, and take personal responsibility for own professional development, proactively seeking out appropriate opportunities. In carrying out the above duties the Senior Legal Affairs Executive Company Commercial is expected to: Work expeditiously and with professionalism; Maintain absolute confidentiality regarding sensitive personnel, financial and commercial information, including UCLB s terms of contracting; Adhere to UCLB policies including organisational standards, Financial Regulations and Equal Opportunities; Participate in company-wide meetings, team meetings and training as required; Maintain an awareness and observation of Fire and Health & Safety Regulations; and Undertake any other duties that are within the scope, spirit and/or purpose of the job, the title of the post and its remuneration, as requested by the Deputy Head of Legal Affairs and/or the wider Leadership Team. Note: The duties described above reflect the present requirements of the post. Duties and responsibilities may evolve and develop and the job description may be subject to amendment in consultation with the post holder.

5 TERMS AND CONDITIONS Job title: Department: Senior Legal Affairs Executive Company Commerical Business & Legal Affairs Section Salary The full time salary range is 40,000 to 50,000 depending on qualifications and experience. UCLB also operates a Performance Related Pay Scheme under which employees can achieve up to a further 10% of gross annual salary based on agreed targets, both personal and company based. Hours of Work The normal hours of work are 35 hours per week, excluding lunch hours. Office hours are 9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday. Pension The post holder will be eligible to join the Company s pension scheme. The company operates two pension schemes - SAUL for new employees and USS for any employee who is an existing member of USS and has left a USS institution. Holidays The leave year runs from 1 October to 30 September. The holiday entitlement is twenty five working days per annum, which may be taken with the approval of the Deputy Head of Legal Affairs. There are also eight Public Holidays, and a further six days leave given to mirror the UCL closure days over Christmas and Easter. Probation The appointment is subject to receipt of satisfactory references and to a probationary period of nine months. Season Ticket Loans & Child Care Voucher Scheme Season ticket loans are available to staff who have successfully completed their probationary period, UCLB operates a Child Care Voucher scheme. The season ticket loan and Child Care Voucher scheme are processed via a monthly deduction from salary. Voluntary Healthcare Scheme Members of staff at UCLB are able to access the voluntary healthcare scheme offered by UCL, the scheme is provided by AXA PPA. Professional Subscriptions Should you be required to be a member of a professional body in connection within your role, UCLB is willing to pay the cost of the professional subscription/membership with the agreement of your line manager.

6 Other UCLB operates a no smoking policy. Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner whilst in the work environment and should be well presented.

7 PERSON SPECIFICATION This form lists the essential (E) and Desirable (D) requirements necessary to fulfil the role. The competencies will be observed in one of the following ways, by application (A), by interview (I) or by test (T). Applicants will be shortlisted solely on the extent to which they meet these requirements. Job Title Department Senior Legal Affairs Executive Company Commercial Business, Legal Affairs & Project Management Competency Qualifications Knowledge & Experience Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience. Qualified Solicitor in relevant area of law. Experience in intellectual property law. Comprehensive experience of working in a demanding environment, either academia, private practice or industry. Experience of drafting and negotiation of a broad variety of legal documents, e.g. licence agreements, non-disclosure agreements. Experience of commercialisation of technologies. Experience of company set up. Experience of drafting and negotiating corporate agreements e.g. Shareholders Agreements. A, I D A, I D A, I D A, I D Professional Attributes Ability to operate effectively in highly ambiguous situations, and to handle numerous projects simultaneously. Ability to work under pressure without sacrificing quality and whilst balancing commercial and legal risk. Ability to handle a challenging role with confidence, demonstrating initiative and self-motivation.

8 Sound judgment, ability to escalate matters appropriately according to policy framework. Ability to quickly grasp legal concepts and apply legal knowledge to scenario in question. Solution-based approach to challenging, multi-faceted scenarios. Ability to demonstrate excellent organisation skills, being able to prioritise work, meet deadlines, and work independently without undue supervision. Enquiring mind, confident to ask for clarification where needed, ability to appropriately and incisively question where information provided is ambiguous. Attention to detail and understanding of the importance of accuracy in drafting. Excellent IT skills. A E Communication Personable and proactive with experience of agreement management and ability to demonstrate negotiation and influencing skills with a wide range of stakeholders. Excellent liaison and negotiation skills with the ability to respond appropriately, confidently and sensitively in relation to academic and commercial partners/clients. Strong interpersonal skills with an ability to communicate confidently, intelligently and effectively with academic colleagues, senior management and global companies. Ability to hold difficult conversations. Teamwork Ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-legal colleagues and clients. Ability to work as part of a team. Ability to work autonomously. Other Requirements Willingness to occasionally undertake business travel both within the UK and abroad. A flexible approach to tasks, travel and hours of work. I I D D