Job description

The Director of Commercialization & Licensing – AgriTech R&D Center role is based in the United Arab Emirates within a large research and development center focused on developing agricultural solutions for harsh desert climates. The organization collaborates with governments, universities, and global corporations to develop innovative agriculture technologies aimed at transforming food systems and agricultural sustainability in the region. The Director will define and lead commercialization strategy, transitioning R&D outputs into revenue-generating products, services, ventures, and licensing opportunities. The role includes developing go-to-market strategies covering pricing, positioning, and customer segmentation, building commercial pipelines across technologies, pilots, and ventures, and designing business models including licensing, joint ventures, venture building, and spinouts. The Director will identify and secure strategic partnerships with government entities, corporates, research institutions, and global innovation hubs while ensuring partnerships deliver pilots, funding, commercialization outcomes, and scale. The position includes leading international expansion strategies, identifying priority markets, and representing the organization at executive forums to position the R&D center as a leader in desert agriculture innovation. The role requires defining commercial KPIs including revenue growth, deal pipeline, and ROI on innovation, developing financial models, securing funding through partnerships, grants, co-investment, and venture capital, and leading commercial due diligence and investment decisions. The Director will build and lead high-performing business development and commercialization teams, drive commercial mindset and accountability, mentor teams on partnerships and commercialization strategies, and own full P&L for the commercial department. The role requires extensive experience in commercialization of innovation, partnership structuring, venture development, global markets, and AgriTech, food systems, biotech, or deeptech environments, with mandatory experience in IP licensing and technology commercialization.