SHORT DESCRIPTION

The Institute seeks a Senior R&D Project/Technology Transfer Manager who, under the supervision of the Projects and Technology Director, will be responsible for coordinating the Pre-Award Unit and serve as the head of the Technology Transfer and Innovation Office (TTIO).

OTHER DETAILS

Ref. num. 2025-MAR_ADM-ADM-300

Head of the Technology Transfer and Innovation Office and Pre-Award Coordinator - Responsable de subárea

IMDEA Materials Institute is a public research organization founded in 2007 by Madrid’s regional government to carry out research of excellence in Material Science and Engineering by attracting talent from all over the world to work in an international and multidisciplinary environment. IMDEA Materials has grown rapidly since its foundation and currently includes more than 120 researchers from 22 nationalities and has become one of the leading research centers in materials in Europe which has received the María de Maeztu seal of excellence from the Spanish government. The research activities have been focused on the areas of materials for transport, energy, and health care and the Institute has state-of-the-art facilities for processing, characterization and simulation of advanced materials.

More information can be found at our webpage.


Description

Under the supervision of the Projects and Technology Director, the selected candidate will coordinate the Pre-Award Unit and lead the Technology Transfer and Innovation Office (TTIO). The candidate should be a proactive, dynamic, self-motivated person with proven experience in research and development (R&D) proposal writing, consortia building, project management, IPR and commercialization of technologies. Main responsibilities include:

Project and Proposal Management

  • Support Principal Investigators in writing collaborative project proposals for competitive calls. Draft impact and implementation sections.
  • Review and optimize proposals.
  • Coordinate pre-award activities and supervise pre-award project managers.

Technology Transfer and Innovation

  • Design, implement, and monitor strategies for technology transfer, exploitation, and commercialization of R&D results.
  • Support researchers in protecting intellectual property (patents, software registrations).
  • Manage and administer the Institute’s intellectual and industrial property rights.
  • Support participation in external innovation programs focused on technology industrialization.
  • Establish tailored proof-of-concept programs to mature intellectual property.
  • Identify companies or entities interested in developing products based on Institute technologies.
  • Negotiate and monitor licensing agreements, including royalty payments.
  • Establish contact with potential industrial collaborators to negotiate research agreements/contracts with a high intellectual and industrial property component.

Entrepreneurship Support

  • Coordinate the programme for the maturation and acceleration of ideas with the potential to become spin-offs.
  • Support the launch phase of IMDEA Materials spin-offs.

Institutional Support

  • Assist in creating content and agendas for Industrial Advisory Board meetings.

Submission of all required documents is mandatory.


Requirements

Academic qualifications:

  • PhD in Materials Science or related fields.
  • Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
  • Training in Intellectual Property Rights and Technology Transfer.
  • Training in EU framework programme proposal writing.
  • Knowledge of regional, national, and international R&D and innovation funding programmes.

Professional experience:

  • Minimum 10 years in similar roles within research organizations.
  • Experience in personnel management and supervision.
  • Experience in regional, national, and international R&D and innovation funding programmes.
  • Experience in grant writing and coordination, especially in EU framework programmes.
  • Experience in license contract negotiation.

Technical skills:

  • Knowledge of materials science and engineering.
  • Knowledge of Intellectual Property Rights and technology transfer.
  • Expertise in grant writing.
  • Familiarity with IDINET ERP software.
  • Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
  • Intermediate to advanced proficiency in AI tools for proposal writing and technology transfer.

Languages

  • High level of spoken and written Spanish and English (C1 level).

Conditions

Contrato indefinido con cargo a la tasa de reposición para 2025 autorizada por la Consejería de Economía, Hacienda y Empleo de la Comunidad de Madrid.

Permanent contract under the 2025 replacement rate authorised by the Department of Economy, Finance and Employment of the Community of Madrid.


Applications are processed upon reception. The position might be closed once ten working days have passed since publication, so we encourage early application.

The working language of the Institute is English. Full command of the English language is required in all positions.

WHAT YOU WILL FIND AT IMDEA:

Stimulating environment where you can grow professionally.

IMDEA Materials Institute is committed to equal opportunities, diversity and the promotion of a healthy work environment and work-life balance. Female applicants are encouraged to apply to our research and technical positions. See our Gender Equality Plan here and our Code of Ethics here.

Besides on-the-job technical training, IMDEA Materials Institute is committed to training the Institute’s scientists and staff in “soft” or transversal skills. See the available training here.

Meet some of our alumni to see what it is like to work with us.