Details
Posted: 09-Jul-22
Location: D.C.
Type: Full Time
Required Education: 4 Year Degree
Categories:
Public Relations
ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND
UL Standards & Engagement is a nonprofit standards development and advocacy organization that translates data from safety science into practical, action-oriented safety standards and drives safety advocacy campaigns focused on improving public safety. We convene experts worldwide and serve as a vital resource for regulators and policymakers. As a part of our public outreach activities, we share knowledge, advance standards-related safety policy partnerships and advocate for standards and policies that result in positive safety changes. The organization has a long history in the development of safety standards dating back to its founding in 1894 and the first standard in 1903. Since then, it has developed over 1,600 standards that promote safety across a wide range of products and technologies. Along with UL Research Institutes and UL Solutions, the three organizations in the UL enterprise share the same mission of working for a safer world.
UL Standards & Engagement has recently appointed David Steel as its new Executive Director. Under Dr. Steel’s leadership and with renewed funding and resources, UL Standards & Engagement is rapidly expanding its scope of activities, adding capabilities in communications, partnerships, and insights and policy analysis to increase stakeholder engagement and awareness of the value of safety standards and their impact in the world.
THE OPPORTUNITY AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Head of Insights and Policy Analysis will build a world-class research and analysis function to help advance UL’s mission by building awareness of the organization and driving positive change to make the world safer, more secure and sustainable. inform standards development,drive conversations about safety issues and providing insights to drive specific change towards by helping policy leaders to better understand the safety implications of public policy. The Head of Communications has an excellent opportunity to design, set up and run this new function and will need to have an entrepreneurial mindset. For example, hiring 5-8 people, to cover functions such as regulatory analysis and primary research. Key responsibilities include:
- Strategy: Set the agenda for the Insights and Policy Analysis team.
- Research and Insights: Manage a research program combining both primary and secondary research activities for relevant areas of safety, security, and sustainability. This should include the analysis of safety data sources to understand emerging trends, provide insights for specific standards, etc.
- Policy Analysis: Provide intelligence and analysis around safety issues, especially policies and regulations.
- Branded Content: Collaborate with the Communications team to put out periodic newsletters and releases based on research and insights.
- Collaboration: collaborate with the Partnerships team to support testimony, comments on regulations, etc., with the Communications team for the development of talking points, etc., and with the Standards team for guidance around the development of new standards.
- Team management: Manage the Insights and Policy Analysis Department staff, budget and agenda.
- Agency management: Manage relationships with agencies and communications firms to execute on the agenda for the function.
While most of the activities will be focused on the US, there will be opportunities from the beginning to take US insights and research to other UL Standards & Engagement offices worldwide. Over time, the goal is to establish this role as taking global leadership for insights and analysis.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate will have strong partnerships experience, working with a range of diverse stakeholders to deliver against objectives of impact and relationship building. A minimum of ten years of experience in partnerships and member engagements is required. Among the key qualifications are the following:
- Successful record of developing and leading partnership relations, especially around campaigns.
- Experience working effectively with trade associations, public policy, and/or nonprofit organizations is desired.
- Demonstrated subject matter expertise (in any area) will be important, while familiarity with any of the focus areas of UL would be an advantage, especially areas of safety, sustainability, and security.
- Superior written and oral communications and presentation skills, covering a wide range of audiences, including employees at all levels, leadership, executive stakeholders, and public authorities.
- Management experience leading teams, developing strategy, and executing plans.
- Engaging and approachable leadership style to lead and develop a high performing partnerships function, setting high standards and accountability for process and results.
- Positive and collaborative interpersonal skills to work effectively with leaders and colleagues across the organization.
- High degree of curiosity to learn about the mission and impact of the organization and its areas of specialization.
- Responsiveness and a sense of urgency, with focus on outcomes, structure, and process improvement for the short- and long-term.
- Problem solving skills with the ability to identify root causes, develop practical solutions, and work in collaboration with colleagues across the organization to address strategic,operational, and any other roadblocks to success.
- Leadership and influence skills and an approachable and collaborative style to create alignment and deliver results in a matrix organization.
- Entrepreneurial style, with the organizational leadership and the ability to thrive in a fast paced environment, delivering results among competing priorities.
- Ability to operate at a strategic and operational level, including attention to detail and willingness to both lead the work and execute.
ULSE is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion to support the success of internal teamsand advance the mission of the organization.
ULSE has COVID-19 protocols and policies in place to ensure the safety of our employees,customers, and clients. Effective November 1, 2021, the company mandates that employees are vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment (except where prohibited bylaw), subject to reasonable accommodation as required by law.
