Research Licensing & Commercialisation Principal

Working Style: 3 days a week in office, 2 days from anywhere

Why this job matters

We want to improve people’s lives for the better and enable BT to deliver world-class telecoms services and networks. Creating and commercialising innovative software products, platforms and underlying technologies is central to helping BT connect for good.

This role plays a key strategic and operational function in realising value from software, technology and intellectual property (IP) arising from BT’s research and development activities, particularly in telecoms and networking software.

You’ll be joining a specialist team whose focus is on revenue generation, building strategic value for BT Group through external commercialisation of research and IP by licensing, and venture building.

The role will be based in London. Our hybrid working model means you are required to be in the office three days per week. Some travel may be required from time to time to our other sites in the UK.

What you’ll be doing

Contribute to the development and execution of a software-focused research commercialisation strategy, working with the Senior Manager, Research Commercialisation and the wider team, to define value-driven approaches for early-stage software products and services, working with stakeholder input and agreement you will:

• Lead commercialisation activities across BT’s research portfolio - including software – from proof-of-concept to market and revenue creation – including licensing, venture creation, software build-out and go-to-market planning.
• Perform ecosystem and opportunity analysis, identifying and prioritising early-stage opportunities with strong market potential.
• Identify, evaluate, and progress opportunities for external commercialisation of research assets, including software, whether through strategic licensing, joint ventures, or spin-out formation – ensuring alignment with BT’s strategic goals.

• Develop and pitch commercial proposals for internal and external investment in research development opportunities, building compelling value cases backed by market and technical evidence.

• Lead partner and customer engagement for research commercialisation, targeting key players in a range of appropriate target markets.

• Negotiate licensing and commercial agreements with a focus on maximising revenue and market adoption.

• Support outbound litigation where required to protect BT’s IP interests.

• Maintain reporting on commercialisation activities, including sales pipeline, forecast revenues, and key performance indicators.

What you'll bring

Essential:

• 5+ years in technology transfer or commercialisation roles, preferably with a software focus.
• Experience of technology commercialisation, such as with research-derived intellectual property, including monetisation strategies, licensing, spin-out formation, and technology transfer mechanisms.
• Excellent relationship-building skills with research and development teams, sales teams, customers and external partners.
• Strong analytical capability to assess market fit, competitive positioning and potential routes to market.
• Commercial negotiation skills, particularly for licensing and partnership agreements.
• Good track record of taking early-stage technologies to market with demonstratable deal sheet.
• Familiarity with telecoms technology such as networking, information technology, computing, software, cloud services, or cyber-security.
• Experience working across multi-disciplinary teams including researchers, developers, researchers, product managers, sales, and legal.
• Degree in STEM such as Computer Science, Software Engineering, or Business Administration or a related discipline (postgraduate preferred).

Nice to have:

• Ability to develop investment-ready business cases for early-stage research commercialisation propositions.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into compelling commercial proposals.
• Understanding of legal and contractual frameworks relevant to software/IP agreements.

What we’d like to see on your CV:

• Experience in licensing and/or venture creation regarding IP exploitation, such as in a software context.
• University or corporate technology transfer / IP commercialisation / venture experience.
• Previous experience of project management and/or team leadership.

What's in it for you

• 15% on target bonus
• Health Care
• Car Allowance
• BT Pension scheme, minimum 5% Employee contribution, BT contribution 10%
• Life Assurance Cover
• Exclusive colleague discounts on our latest and greatest BT broadband packages, BT TV with TNT Sports and NOW Entertainment
• From January 2025, equal family leave: receive 18 weeks at full pay, 8 weeks at half pay and 26 weeks at the statutory rate. It’s for all parents, no matter how your family is made up.
• Enhanced women’s health support: including help with menopause symptoms, cancer screenings, period care and more.
• 25 days annual leave (not including bank holidays), increasing with service
• 24/7 private virtual GP appointments for UK colleagues
• 2 weeks carer’s leave
• World-class training and development opportunities
• Option to join BT Shares Saving schemes.

Application Process

• Please provide a cover letter alongside your CV drawing attention to relevant experience.
• Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a face-to-face interview.
• During the process shortlisted candidates have the opportunity for an informal chat with other members of the team.

About us

BT Group was the world’s first telco and our heritage in the sector is unrivalled. As home to several of the UK’s most recognised and cherished brands – BT, EE, Openreach and Plusnet, we have always played a critical role in creating the future, and we have reached an inflection point in the transformation of our business.

Over the next two years, we will complete the UK’s largest and most successful digital infrastructure project – connecting more than 25 million premises to full fibre broadband. Together with our heavy investment in 5G, we play a central role in revolutionising how people connect with each other.

While we are through the most capital-intensive phase of our fibre investment, meaning we can reward our shareholders for their commitment and patience, we are absolutely focused on how we organise ourselves in the best way to serve our customers in the years to come. This includes radical simplification of systems, structures, and processes on a huge scale. Together with our application of AI and technology, we are on a path to creating the UK’s best telco, reimagining the customer experience and relationship with one of this country’s biggest infrastructure companies.

Change on the scale we will all experience in the coming years is unprecedented. BT Group is committed to being the driving force behind improving connectivity for millions and there has never been a more exciting time to join a company and leadership team with the skills, experience, creativity, and passion to take this company into a new era.

A FEW POINTS TO NOTE:

Although these roles are listed as full-time, if you’re a job share partnership, work reduced hours, or any other way of working flexibly, please still get in touch.

We will also offer reasonable adjustments for the selection process if required, so please do not hesitate to inform us.

DON'T MEET EVERY SINGLE REQUIREMENT?

Studies have shown that women and people who are disabled, LGBTQ+, neurodiverse or from ethnic minority backgrounds are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification and criteria. We're committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace where everyone can be their best, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement on the Job Description, please apply anyway - you may just be the right candidate for this or other roles in our wider team.