The Agreements Manager is a strategic member of the Technology Development and Industry Engagement (TDIE) department responsible for advancing St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's research, innovation, and technology commercialization objectives through the development, negotiation, and management of complex research and intellectual property agreements. This role plays a critical part in enabling scientific collaboration while safeguarding institutional interests, ensuring researchers have the contractual infrastructure necessary to pursue transformative discoveries that support the St. Jude mission of finding cures and saving children.
Serving as a trusted partner to investigators, institutional leaders, and external collaborators, the Agreements Manager oversees a diverse portfolio of agreements that facilitate research partnerships, technology transfer activities, intellectual property management, and industry engagement. The role provides strategic guidance throughout the agreement lifecycle, balancing scientific, operational, legal, and business considerations to support both near-term research objectives and long-term institutional goals.
As part of the TDIE team, the Agreements Manager helps bridge the gap between discovery and impact by enabling collaborations that accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative technologies, therapeutics, diagnostics, and research tools. Through effective negotiation, compliance oversight, relationship management, and stewardship of intellectual property assets, this position plays a vital role in maximizing the global reach and influence of St. Jude innovations while supporting the institution's commitment to advancing pediatric health worldwide.
This position may be eligible for remote work. However, St. Jude requires all remote employees to:
Travel to our Memphis campus for the interview process and/or orientation, if selected
Travel to Memphis to work on-site for one week per quarter, or as requested based on business needs, if hired.
By applying, you acknowledge and agree to these travel requirements as a condition of employment.
This position is remote within approved U.S. locations. Due to state-specific employment regulations, we are unable to consider applicants currently residing in California for remote work; however, candidates based in California who are willing to relocate to an approved location may be considered.
Job Responsibilities:
Manage and monitor complex agreements, including confidentiality, material transfer, inter-institutional, option, license, and corporate collaborative research, to disseminate and protect SJCRH intellectual property. Interact with SJCRH investigators. Interact with outside academic and industry representatives. Monitor existing license agreements for compliance with terms. Assist in development of strategies for licensing of inventions. Provide recommendations for structuring of license and collaboration deals to accomplish objectives.
Manage material transfers into and out of SJCRH, and supporting documents; monitor these transactions for compliance with terms.
Ensure researchers are aware of their obligations under new agreements. Compose correspondence and reports as needed.
Manage reporting federally funded inventions to the federal government, including election of title to inventions, patenting and licensing activities, as required by federal law.
Maintain a knowledge base of institution's research activities.
Minimum Education and/or Training:
Bachelor's Degree in life science required.
Advanced degree in life science, law, or business preferred.
Minimum Experience:
Five (5) – Seven (7) years of related experience with agreements.
Special Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:
Drives and monitors clear goal setting, accountability, and feedback for the department (and matrixed teams). Manages ER issues as they arise.
Guides performance of direct reports (or indirect if managing people indirectly) through coaching and…