Technology Transfer& Contracts Officer: Department of Research and Innovation

SUMMARY:
The University of Fort Hare is a vibrant, equitable and sustainable African university, committed to teaching and research excellence at the service of its students, scholars and the wider community.

The University of Fort Hare (UFH) invites applications from suitably qualified and experienced candidates for the position of Officer: Technology Transfer and Contracts. The main purpose of the position is to facilitate commercialisation of intellectual property emanating from research conducted at UFH through activities that include protecting intellectual property, writing licensing agreements and fostering relationships with researchers, funding organisations, industry partners and other relevant stakeholders.

POSITION INFO:
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• An LLB degree or Honours degree in a relevant field
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience in one or more of the following areas:
• Technology transfer
• Intellectual property management and/or intellectual property law
• Contract negotiation/drafting
• Commercialisation of technologies

• At least 2 years’ experience in administration, preferably within a university, institution of higher learning or research institution

• Admission as an Attorney or Advocate
• Working knowledge of South African IPR laws and contract law
• Familiarity with public research and higher education environments

• Manage the identification, evaluation, and protection of university-owned IP
• Draft and negotiate contracts and agreements, including licensing and MoUs
• Facilitate the commercialization of technologies through strategic partnerships
• Ensure legal compliance and support risk mitigation measures in contracts and IP operations
• Liaise with stakeholders including university researchers, legal experts, and external funders (e.g., TIA, NIPMO, CSIR):
• Maintain accurate documentation and reporting on contract lifecycles and IP matters
• Conduct awareness sessions and training workshops on IP and contract compliance

• In-depth understanding of IP legal framework/laws , particularly in the South African context
• Strong contract negotiation and legal drafting skills
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines
• Attention to detail and high level of accuracy
• Sound understanding of stakeholder engagement and collaborative practices
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) for drafting contracts, tracking IP portfolios, and preparing presentations.
• Familiarity with IP and contract management systems (e.g., Inteum, PatSnap, WIPO IP Portal, or equivalent).
• Experience with legal and patent databases (e.g., CIPC, WIPO, Espacenet, Google Patents) for IP searches and monitoring.
• Competence in digital document management platforms (e.g., SharePoint, OneDrive) for secure storage and collaboration.
• Ability to use email and calendar management tools (e.g., Outlook) for scheduling and communications.
• Experience with digital signatures (e.g., DocuSign, Adobe Sign) for secure contract execution.
• Basic project management software skills (e.g., MS Project, Trello, Asana) for managing multiple initiatives.