Strategic Initiatives Senior Analyst

We have an exciting opportunity for a Strategic Initiatives Senior Analyst at UL Standards & Engagement, based in our Northbrook, IL office. The Strategic Initiatives Senior Analyst is responsible for supporting UL Standards & Engagement (ULSE) strategy development initiatives and organization-wide strategy projects to broaden and deepen the organization’s mission of mobilizing safety science into action through standards and advocacy. This includes support of strategy-based work towards reinforcing standards development for sustained global impact and developing a world-class engagement capability for enhancing human safety.

Underwriters Laboratories

At UL Standards & Engagement (UL), we wake up every day with a common purpose: to make the world a safer, more secure, and sustainable place. Science is in our DNA; we are endlessly curious and passionate about seeking and speaking the truth. We take delight in knowing that our work makes a meaningful contribution to society, and we are proud that our culture is centered on integrity, collaboration, inclusion, and excellence. UL stands at the forefront of technological advancement, and we are continually challenged to find new ways to foster innovation and positive change. Satisfying? Yes. Exciting? Absolutely!

As the Strategic Initiatives Senior Analyst, you will play a key role in the rapid growth of UL as you:

• Work with the Manager of Strategic Initiatives and leaders across the ULSE organization to help drive strategic growth including analyses, content creation, program design, coordinating, and facilitating meetings and presentations.
• Support organization-wide strategy projects including researching and recommending approaches, resources, and tools to increase the effectiveness and impact of the organization.
• Monitor global industry to analyze, document, and report on emerging opportunities that can shape the organization’s focus and future goals.
• Synthesize discrete data and navigate ambiguity to support strategic recommendations and tactical plans that support the growth and development of the ULSE mission.
• Coordinate efforts with finance, executive director, and standards and engagement leaders and provide support with annual strategy reviews, budgeting, and forward outlook reporting.
• Assist manager and other functions to identify, monitor, and report on key performance indicators to support successful growth and development of the ULSE organization and impact
• Support Manager of Strategic Initiatives in planning and preparation for executive leadership meetings.
• Contribute to additional special assignments and other projects.

While no one candidate will embody every quality, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional competencies and personal attributes:

• Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, including use of relevant tools, to identify, analyze, and address complex questions related to the mission, vision, and strategy of the organization.
• Positive and collaborative interpersonal skills to work effectively with leaders and colleagues across the organization.
• Excellent written, oral, and presentation communication skills to convey complex concepts and ideas in a simplified manner to audiences at levels.
• Organization, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects at once, maintain status updates, and follow well-defined processes to meet deadlines and other requirements.
• Problem-solving skills and judgement to analyze situations, identify existing or potential problems, and recommend solutions.
• Process and meeting facilitation skills with the ability to recognize and adapt to the preferences and communication styles of stakeholders of diverse professional and cultural backgrounds.
• Creativity and curiosity to learn new ideas and ways of working, with motivation and initiative to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with MS Office and advanced skills in Excel and PowerPoint.

Professional education and experience requirements for the role include:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Mathematics, Engineering, Science, or a related field plus generally 4 plus years of related experience. Advanced degree is preferred.
• Work experience in quantitative and qualitative data analysis, preferably in a strategy consulting or similar professional services firm.
• Experience working with a range of professional services clients.

UL 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 by law), subject to reasonable accommodation as required by law.

• Mission: For UL, corporate and social responsibility is not new. Making the world a safer, more secure, and sustainable place has been our business model for the last 128 years and is deeply ingrained in everything we do.
• People: Ask any UL employee what they love most about working here, and you will almost always hear, “the people.” Going beyond what is possible is the standard at UL. We are able to deliver the best because we employ the best.
• Interesting work: Every day is different for us here as we eagerly anticipate the next innovation that our customers create. We are inspired to take on the challenge that will transform how people live, work and play. And as a global company, in many roles, you will get international experience working with colleagues around the world.
• Grow & achieve: We learn, work, and grow together with targeted development, reward, and recognition programs as well as our very own UL University that offers extensive training programs for employees at all stages, including a technical training track for applicable roles.
• Total Rewards: All employees at UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement are eligible for bonus compensation. We offer comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans. a generous 401k matching structure of up to 5% of eligible pay. Additionally, we invest an additional 4% into your retirement saving fund after your first year of continuous employment. Depending on your role, you can work with your manager on flexible working arrangements. We also provide employees with paid time off including vacation, holiday, sick and volunteer time off.

UL Standards & Engagement is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing safety science research through the discovery and application of scientific knowledge. We conduct rigorous independent research and analyze safety data, convene experts worldwide to address risks, share knowledge through safety education and public outreach initiatives, and develop standards to guide safe commercialization of evolving technologies. We foster communities of safety, from grassroots initiatives for neighborhoods to summits of world leaders. Our organization employs collaborative and scientific approaches with partners and stakeholders to drive innovation and progress toward improving safety, security, and sustainability, ultimately enhancing societal well-being.

Our wholly owned subsidiary, UL Solutions, advances our shared public safety mission. We fund our work through grants, the licensing of standards documents and the business activities of UL Solutions, which conducts testing, verification, and certification, and provides training and advisory services, along with data-driven reporting and decision-making tools for customers around the world. To learn more, visit our websites ULSE.org.