About the opportunity

The RTCM Trailblazer is a $200 million initiative funded by a $50 million Trailblazer grant from the Australian Government over four years, backed by industry and innovation partners, along with Curtin University (the lead university), The University of Queensland and James Cook University. It will more effectively commercialise university innovations, accelerate industry technology readiness, and open up access to university infrastructure and human resources to support start-up and growth of Australian businesses in the field of resources technology and critical minerals processing.

UniQuest is the commercialisation company of The University of Queensland and is leading the commercialisation activities for the initiative.

The Commercialisation and Business Development Manager will be integral to this exciting initiative.  You will build new partnerships and commercialisation opportunities with industry and research partners. This will involve the creation, negotiation and delivery of commercial opportunities including licences and start-up companies based on IP from research outcomes.

The successful incumbent will also provide support to build a broader ecosystem of industry engagement, workforce development and commercialisation associated with the resources technology and critical minerals processing sector both in Queensland and nationally. The role will work closely with the Trailblazer Management Team and other partners and project leaders.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Understand and translate the strategic aims of the RTCM Trailblazer into commercial outcomes through the translation of new products, services and industry processes;
• Implement innovative IP strategies and structures to facilitate business and industry engagement;
• Support engagement with industry partners, government agencies and partner institutions including securing partner investments into the RTCM Trailblazer;
• Identify RTCM Trailblazer commercialisation opportunities from UQ research to feed into the pipeline of projects and secure sources of funding and investment for UQ start-up companies; and
• Support the development of commercialisation training and upskilling within the UQ researcher community and RTCM Trailblazer start-ups.

About you:

• Tertiary qualifications in a field relevant to the position, preferably to post-graduate level
• Broad international and local contacts/networks in the resources technology and critical minerals industry
• Knowledge and practice of commercialisation pathways including licences and start-ups
• Demonstrated deal track record (licences and/or start-up investments)
• Experience of identifying and cultivating new corporate partnerships
• Demonstrated skills in managing and influencing multi-stakeholder, complex projects and achieving outcomes to deadlines

This is a fixed term contract for up to four years and the role is based at UniQuest’s offices on The University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.