Licensing Specialist / Licensing Executive - Cell Lines & Biological Materials
Saffron Walden, GB, CB10 1XL
For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform. In return, we’ll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.
Job Overview
Are you a licensing specialist with expertise in cell lines and biological materials, ready to guide complex IP and commercial agreements across a dynamic life sciences business?
Do you enjoy translating complex licensing terms—such as derivatives, reach‑through rights, and ownership structures—into clear, practical guidance for scientific and commercial teams?
This role will act as a central point of expertise for agreements involving cell lines, biological materials, derivatives, and related intellectual property, providing hands on support to Legal, R&D, and commercial teams.
A subject matter expertise in cell lines and biological materials licensing to support the negotiation, review, and ongoing management of inbound and outbound licenses across the business.
Main Tasks
- Review and support negotiation of cell line, biological materials, and related licenses.
- Identify and manage key commercial, IP, and operational risks, including ownership of progeny, derivatives, and modifications; grant‑back obligations and reach‑through rights; and the appropriate use of sublicensing, CROs, and affiliates.
- Support drafting and revision of non-boilerplate clauses under Legal oversight.
- Serve as the day‑to‑day licensing advisor to internal teams, providing clear, practical guidance on permitted use and escalating complex issues to Legal.
- Maintain oversight of the licensing portfolio, including trackers, summaries and reference materials.
- Create and develop licensing templates, clause libraries, and playbooks to support consistent, efficient, and risk‑aligned deal execution, enabling clear negotiation positions, fallback options, and guidance on key commercial and IP terms.
- Collaborate cross‑functionally with Legal, R&D, Business Development, and external licensors to support innovation and drive long‑term business growth.
- Deliver informal training or guidance sessions on cell line and materials licensing fundamentals.
What We Offer You
- A very comprehensive benefits package from day one, including a large pension contribution, private medical for you (and can add family members), private dental care, critical illness cover, bonus and more!
- Access to great discounts via our employee discount scheme.
- Global opportunities and strong career progression.
- The chance to work on several varied projects and liaise globally and nationally with other business areas.
- To be able make a difference to health and wellbeing of people.
- To continue your own career growth.
- Parental leave.
- Group Life Assurance and Group Income Protection.
- Remote GP access 24/7.
- Well-being support and initiatives.
- Cycle to work scheme.
Skills and Qualifications
- 5+ years’ experience in life sciences licensing, contract management, or technology transfer, with exposure to cell lines, biological materials & platform technologies.
- Strong working knowledge of:
- MTAs vs commercial licenses.
- IP ownership concepts (background IP, foreground IP, derivatives).
- Common academic and biotech licensing positions. - Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Proven ability to review and negotiate complex agreements in collaboration with Legal.
- Ability to operate independently as an internal subject matter expert.
Advantageous but not essential:
- Scientific background (life sciences degree) or strong technical fluency.
- Experience in pharma, CROs, or life sciences platform companies, university technology transfer offices or IP adjacent functions (licensing, alliances, research contracting.
- Experience working with global, multi-jurisdictional teams.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain and interpret legal and commercial concepts to non-legal stakeholders.
About Discovery
Discovery from Charles River is industry-proven in the successful development of novel therapies, with over 350 patents and 80 preclinical drug candidates delivered to our sponsors in the past 17 years. Backed by more than 650 scientists, our comprehensive, integrated portfolio employs the latest technology and platforms to provide chemistry, biology, and pharmacology services that support clients from the earliest stages of hit identification all the way through to IND. Our client-focused, collaborative approach creates true partnerships that anticipate challenges, overcome obstacles, and move us forward together on the journey of getting new drugs to market.
About Charles River
Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients’ clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market.
With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in over 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client’s unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world.
At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people’s lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. We have proudly supported the development of 86% of the drugs approved by the FDA in 2021.
At Charles River Laboratories, we recognize and recruit all talent. We are a company committed to the principle of diversity and inclusion and work daily in this direction.
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