The University of Tennessee seeks a dynamic and strategic Executive Director of Intellectual Property & Licensing to lead the University’s trademark, brand protection, collegiate licensing, and commercial brand strategy initiatives. Reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor of Brand Partnerships & Licensing, the Executive Director provides vision, leadership, and operational oversight for the University’s brand intellectual property portfolio, including trademark protection, licensing, brand enforcement, strategic partnerships, and revenue-generating commercialization opportunities that enhance and protect the Tennessee brand.

The Executive Director will align intellectual property management with UTK’s institutional and athletic brand, corporate partnerships, and commercialization goals, ensuring that trademark, copyright and related creative works are translated into meaningful strategies, supporting efforts to expand and elevate our brand. The role sits at the intersection of business and brand advancement, requiring both technical expertise and collaborative leadership with key campus stakeholders.

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The University of Tennessee seeks a dynamic and strategic Executive Director of Intellectual Property & Licensing to lead the University’s trademark, brand protection, collegiate licensing, and commercial brand strategy initiatives. Reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor of Brand Partnerships & Licensing, the Executive Director provides vision, leadership, and operational oversight for the University’s brand intellectual property portfolio, including trademark protection, licensing, brand enforcement, strategic partnerships, and revenue-generating commercialization opportunities that enhance and protect the Tennessee brand.

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Required

• Bachelor’s degree

• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in licensing, brand marketing, intellectual property management, or related fields.

• 5+ years supervisory experience.

• Demonstrated leadership experience in a complex academic, corporate or innovation-driven organization.

• Deep knowledge of U.S. intellectual property law and commercialization practice.

• Solid working knowledge of U.S. intellectual property law and licensing methods.

• Proven experience negotiating and managing sophisticated intellectual property arrangements.

• Familiarity with brand licensing, corporate partnerships, athletics, or consumer-facing intellectual property programs.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strategic, integrative thinking across legal, brand, and partnerships

• A collaborative, solutions-oriented leadership style

• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills

• High ethical standards and sound judgment

• Strong judgment, integrity, and communication skills

• Proven ability to lead complex negotiations and manage diverse stakeholder interests

Preferred

• Advanced degree in business, marketing, intellectual property, law or a related field.

• Experience at a university or within a corporate intellectual property division or firm is preferred.

Work Location

• Knoxville, TN

• This is an onsite position

Compensation and Benefits

The university offers a highly competitive benefits package that includes health insurance and retirement plans through the State of Tennessee, generous annual and sick leave accruals, longevity pay, tuition waivers and discounts, and more. Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions

For full consideration, applicants must apply electronically and submit a cover letter, resume, and the names, email addresses and phone numbers of three references. A minimum of two references should be current or previous supervisors. Interested candidates should formally apply and include a letter of intent, CV/Resume, and names and contact information for three (3) professional references. Nominations and confidential inquiries are encouraged and may be sent via e-mail to Anthony Lanagan, Executive Recruiter, alanaga1@utk.edu.

About The College/Department/Division

The Office of Communications and Marketing is dedicated to advancing the university’s reputation. Staff members support the institution’s mission and goals, promote its successes and achievements, inform and engage its stakeholders, and ensure the integrity of its brand. We craft audience-focused communications based on data, best-practices, and emerging trends.

The division comprises several cross-functional teams, employing professionals with expertise in design, development, video production, content strategy, feature writing, editing, marketing, media relations, internal communication, and special events.

Additional Information on all postings provided by UTK

About Us

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!

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• Develop and implement a comprehensive intellectual property strategy aligned with UTK’s mission, brand stewardship, athletic vision and partnership objectives.

• Provide executive oversight of trademark licensing, retail brand commercialization, and related licensing agreements that advance and protect the University’s brand while driving revenue growth across key licensing categories.

• Work closely with the brand creative teams within campus and athletic departments to ensure consistency across all.

• Lead contract and vendor agreements with licensing contracts and retail distribution rights.

• Lead the interpretation and application of UTK, UT System, state and federal intellectual property policies while actively participating in the identification, maintenance, and need for other policies.

• Work with the licensing team members to manage budgets, revenue distribution, and financial reporting related to their licensing activities.

• Advise senior leadership on risks, opportunities, and emerging trends affecting branding and commercialization.

• Oversee and evaluate brand-related intellectual property disclosures, protection strategies, prosecution, portfolio management, and maintenance, specifically for university trademarks and copyrights.

• Manage and direct relationships with outside counsel and service providers.

• Ensure compliance with applicable state, federal and collegiate regulations.

• Collaborate with campus partners including athletics, campus operations, research administration, corporate engagement, and advancement.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to campus units on brand intellectual property and commercialization matters.

• Promote a culture of innovation and asset development through education, outreach, and training related to intellectual property, trademark licensing and copyright.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing intellectual property and licensing team.

• Establish performance metrics and reporting structures to assess impact and continuous improvement.