Sr Manager, Business Development & Tech

Join the leader in collaborative licensing and help us advance inclusive and efficient new patent licensing approaches to drive innovation globally. Via Licensing Alliance is dedicated to accelerating global technology adoption, fostering participation, and generating return on innovation with balanced IP licensing solutions for innovators and manufacturers of all sizes around the globe. Via administers dozens of patent licensing programs in audio, video, broadcast, power, and more for a variety of technologies, consisting of 25,000 patents in over 130 countries, with nearly 100 current patent holders and over 3,000 current licensees.

Via Licensing Alliance, a subsidiary of Dolby Laboratories, is an independently managed company owned by industry-leading participants with over 25 years of intellectual property licensing leadership. We are the world's largest patent pool administrator. We aggregate patents around key innovations and offer licensing solutions that give companies streamlined access to standardized technologies. For decades, we have served as a trusted bridge between our licensors and licensees, driving a strong and efficient IP licensing environment that yields better products and technologies for people around the world.

As Senior Manager, Business Development & Technology, you will play a key role in identifying, evaluating, and advancing new patent pool and licensing program opportunities at the intersection of emerging technology, intellectual property, standards development, and market adoption. This role will focus on developing actionable market insights, building business cases, engaging with ecosystem stakeholders, and supporting the formation and growth of new licensing programs.

The ideal candidate will bring strong business development instincts, analytical rigor, technical curiosity, and a solid understanding of intellectual property and technology markets. This individual must be comfortable working across legal, licensing, finance, program management, and technical teams, while also engaging externally with patent owners, technology companies, standards participants, industry associations, and prospective strategic partners.

This is a highly collaborative and externally focused role that requires the ability to translate complex technology and market dynamics into clear commercial strategies. The Senior Manager will help Via identify where collaborative licensing solutions can address market inefficiencies, support broader technology adoption, and create value for innovators and implementers. This hybrid role is based in San Francisco and requires in-office presence three days per week, Tuesday through Thursday.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, evaluate, and develop new business opportunities for patent pools and other collaborative licensing programs across emerging and established technology markets, including artificial intelligence, data center infrastructure, semiconductors, connectivity, media, power, and other standards-based technologies.
• Monitor emerging technology trends, standards activity, market adoption patterns, patent ownership dynamics, and competitive licensing models to identify opportunities before they mature into established licensing markets.
• Develop market landscapes and opportunity assessments covering technology adoption, addressable markets, value chains, key patent holders, implementers, standards organizations, industry associations, competitive dynamics, and commercialization pathways.
• Build business cases for new licensing opportunities, including market sizing, adoption forecasts, revenue considerations, potential licensing models, target licensors and licensees, stakeholder maps, implementation risks, and recommended go-to-market approaches.
• Translate complex technical, legal, and market information into clear, commercially actionable recommendations for senior management and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Support the creation, development, and launch of new patent pool programs and strategic initiatives by helping define the opportunity, value proposition, participation model, commercial framework, and stakeholder engagement strategy.
• Lead or support outreach to prospective licensors, strategic partners, technology companies, standards participants, and other ecosystem stakeholders to assess market interest and build alignment around potential licensing solutions.
• Develop and maintain trusted relationships with patent owners, implementers, industry participants, standards organizations, and other external stakeholders to support program development and long-term business growth.
• Partner closely with legal, licensing, finance, program management, and technical teams to assess patent landscapes, standards relevance, essentiality considerations, commercial viability, regulatory considerations, and operational requirements for new programs.
• Support the development of licensing concepts that align royalty structures, licensing terms, and participation models with how technologies are implemented, adopted, and monetized in the market.
• Prepare strategic recommendations, executive presentations, research summaries, market analyses, and business cases to ensure Via leadership and other stakeholders are well informed on new program opportunities and related market developments.
• Support negotiation preparation and program launch activities, including commercial terms, governance structures, participation models, stakeholder communications, and go-to-market planning.
• Maintain and manage a pipeline of potential business development opportunities, including establishing evaluation criteria, prioritization frameworks, tracking mechanisms, and regular reporting for internal stakeholders.
• Represent Via professionally in external business development discussions, industry forums, conferences, working groups, and other settings where new technology and licensing opportunities may emerge.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of Via’s business development processes, tools, research methods, market intelligence capabilities, and opportunity evaluation frameworks.

Qualifications and Skills

• 8+ years of experience in business development, technology strategy, intellectual property, patent licensing, standards-based technology markets, strategic partnerships, consulting, or a related field.
• Experience working in or supporting technology-driven industries such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, data center infrastructure, connectivity, consumer electronics, media technologies, software, telecommunications, automotive technology, power, or other standards-based markets.
• Demonstrated understanding of intellectual property, patent licensing, patent pools, standards development, or other collaborative licensing models; experience with SEP/FRAND concepts is preferred.
• Strong ability to evaluate emerging technologies, market opportunities, patent ownership dynamics, standards ecosystems, and commercial adoption trends.
• Proven ability to develop business cases, market landscapes, opportunity assessments, financial or commercial models, executive presentations, and strategic recommendations.
• Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesize complex technical, legal, financial, and market information into clear business insights.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including the ability to explain complex topics clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively with internal teams and external partners across legal, licensing, technical, financial, and executive audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, prioritize effectively, and drive work forward in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• High degree of initiative, ownership, intellectual curiosity, and sound business judgment, with the ability to operate independently while collaborating closely with cross-functional teams.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, computer science, economics, law, or a related field required; advanced degree such as an MBA, JD, technical master’s degree, or PhD is preferred.
• Experience with market intelligence tools, patent analytics, CRM systems, financial modeling, data analysis, or business development pipeline management tools is a plus.

Benefits & Perks

• Flexible work options (9/80 schedule) – employees in the U.S. get every other Friday off. That’s 26+ three day weekends a year
• Competitive compensation (base + bonus)
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with Health Savings Account contribution
• 401(k) with 50% company match on the first 6% of eligible pay you contribute on a pre-tax or Roth basis
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Generous holiday, vacation and sick leave
• Supportive maternity, child bonding, and family care leave programs as well as short and long-term disability benefits
• Programs and resources to support your physical, financial and social well being
• Social activities including team events and onsites, all-company updates and retreat
• Catered weekly lunch + snacks and drinks when working in the office
• Temporary remote work option for qualified positions – employees can temporarily work remote from a location that is different from their designated office and home locations for up to 30 calendar days/20 workdays in any 12-month period with manager and company approval
• Tuition Reimbursement Program

The San Francisco/Bay Area base salary range for this full-time position is $190,000 - $261,000 and can vary if outside of this location. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job‑related skills, competencies, experience, market demands, internal parity, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range and perks and benefits for your location during the hiring process.

Via will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of San Francisco Police Code, Article 49, and Administrative Code, Article 12

Equal Employment Opportunity

Via is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Our success depends on the combined skills and talents of all our employees. We are committed to making employment decisions without regard to race, religious creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, marital status, family status, medical condition, disability, military service, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions or any other classification protected by federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.