Services and Technology Transfer Officer

Services and Technology Transfer Officer

Job Reference: Ref.24.25.302

Employer: International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL)

Location: Braga, Portugal

Group/Unit: Services and Technology Transfer Office

Number of Vacancies: 1

Employment Type: Full time

Contract Duration: 24 months

Open Date for Applications: April 30th, 2025

Closing Date for Applications: May 21st, 2025, 23h00m (Lisbon Time)

Key words: #businessdevelopment #sales #strategicplanning #contractmanagement #communication #stakeholderengagement

Overview

INL was created with the aim of boosting Nanotechnology research and its impact in society, at a Regional, Iberian and International level. Starting by putting together a world class research infrastructure, attracting top principal investigators (PIs), creating new know-how and intellectual property, collaborating with existing companies as well as stimulating the creation of new spin-off start-ups.

In order to pursue our strategic goals of innovation, INL is opening a position for an Officer in the Services and Technology Transfer Office (STTO).

Job Duties

The job duties will be the following:

Identify and engage potential clients for commissioned research and R&D services;

Develop and maintain relationships with industry partners;

Create business proposals, service offers, and presentations to attract new projects;

Oversee the entire lifecycle of commissioned research projects, from negotiation to execution and delivery;

Coordinate with researchers and technical teams to ensure projects meet client expectations;

Track project milestones, deliverables, and financial performance;

Negotiate, and manage contracts for commissioned services and partnerships;

Ensure compliance with internal regulations and organisational policies;

Identify market trends and seek business opportunities for R&D services;

Contribute to the development of long-term business strategies and revenue growth plans;

Foster collaboration between academia and industry for joint R&D projects;

Build strategic alliances to enhance the organisation’s market presence;

Collaborate with the IP and technology transfer team to identify commercialisation opportunities;

Support the development of spin-offs, licensing deals, or joint ventures;

Identify funding mechanisms to support innovation and business expansion;

Track and report key performance indicators (KPIs) related to business growth and project success;

Provide insights and recommendations for improving commissioned services.

Mandatory Qualifications

Education

Graduated in any relevant field.

Experience and Technical Skills

Business Development & Sales

Ability to identify and pursue new business opportunities;

Experience in developing and managing client relationships;

Strong sales and negotiation skills for closing deals.

Market Analysis & Strategic Planning

Understanding of industry trends and market demands;

Ability to develop growth strategies;

Experience in positioning R&D services for commercial success.

Project Control & Contract Management

Experience in managing commissioned research projects;

Ability to negotiate contracts, service agreements, and proposals;

Ability to prepare financial proposals and manage budgets for commissioned projects.

Communication & Stakeholder Engagement

Ability to translate technical R&D capabilities into business value for industry partners;

Proficient usage of social media to disseminate and interact with potential clients;

Experience in networking, public speaking, and representing the organisation at events.

Knowledge of R&D & Innovation Ecosystem

Familiarity with technology transfer, innovation policies, and funding mechanisms;

Understanding of public-private collaboration models in research;

Capability to implement in-house projects and processes related to business development activities.

Other Valued Skills

Experience working in RTOs or similar research environments;

Experience in business development and negotiation mechanisms.

Personal Skills

Strong organisational skills to oversee project timelines, budgets, as well as track business contracts and ongoing execution;

Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills for engaging with clients, researchers, legal teams and decision-makers;

Ability to navigate complex deals and resolve conflicts in partnerships;

Strong decision-making skills to handle project and contract-related challenges;

Initiative and autonomy;

Capacity to work in a dynamic research environment with evolving technologies;

Proactive approach to solving legal, financial, and business/negotiation challenges;

Strong problem-solving skills to navigate with IP issues;

Customer orientation;

Ability to work independently and as team player.

Our Benefits

Competitive salary;

Tax benefits and other Diplomatic privileges;

Private health insurance;

Family allowances (according to family situation);

Nursery service at INL premises (subject to availability);

Support for education fees of dependent children;

Relocation support;

30 working days of annual leave.

How to Apply

The application must be in English and include the following mandatory documents:

a) Cover letter;

b) Curriculum Vitae;

c) Academic and/or Professional diplomas.

Online application instructions:

The application is made online by clicking the “Apply” button;

The candidate must complete all required sections of the online application form;

The candidate must submit the mandatory documents mentioned above in pdf format by including them in the “Additional files” section using the “Add portfolio” button.

Important note:

Incomplete applications including the failure to provide mandatory documents or providing inaccurate information will result in the application not being considered.

How the Selection Process works

A. Applications eligibility check

This stage will be carried out on the basis of the mandatory requirements, education, experience and technical skills defined for the job, as well as the validation of the mandatory documents. Only candidates who meet the eligibility criteria will move forward to the next stage.

B. CV Assessment

The Selection Committee will evaluate the eligible applications based on their CV and other submitted documents and the suitability for the position. The best ranked candidates will be shortlisted for the interview stage(s).

C. Interview(s)

The interview(s) may be done in different formats: video recording, online or onsite.

The question based interview will evaluate the match between the candidate’s profile and the requirements for the position, including the technical and personal skills. To better support this stage, the candidate may be requested to prepare a short presentation.

D. Nomination

The selected candidate will be nominated and formally offered the position, including the disclosure of the contractual conditions.

Additional Information

Application feedback

We highly value your interest in becoming part of the INL experience and it is important for us to maintain good communications with all candidates. No matter the outcome of your application, we will always provide you with feedback.

Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Principle

INL follows a non-discrimination and equal access principle, wherefore no candidate can be privileged, benefited, impaired or deprived of any rights whatsoever, or be exempt of and duties based on any possible discriminatory issues.

The advertisement deadline may be extended at any time without previous notice in order to improve the suitability and effectiveness of the recruitment process.

About INL

The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory – INL ( is the first and only Intergovernmental Organisation in the world entirely focused on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.

It was founded under an international legal framework to perform interdisciplinary research, deploy and communicate nanotechnology for the benefit of society. INL aims to be a recognised leading global nanotechnology innovation hub.