Director Communications

Thousands of us around the world 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!

Senior Manager/Director, Communications   

UL is seeking an experienced, strategic communications senior manager/director to develop a holistic strategy and craft compelling messaging that successfully engages critical internal and external audiences as relevant. The leader is also responsible for rolling up their sleeves and effectively executing key tactics to keep stakeholders informed on important and relevant information related to UL’s strategic objectives, key programs and initiatives, perspectives and insights, and more.

This position reports to the head, Global Communications, and works in close collaboration with Communications and Marketing colleagues on a variety of programs. The role serves as a strategic communications business partner to senior leaders across our businesses and functional areas including but not limited to Marketing, Finance and Legal, and oversees a team of communications leads/managers.

You may be a great match for this role if:

• You enjoy variety and staying curious
• You are skilled at asking the right questions to quickly understand a program or initiative to craft rich narratives
• You are solutions-focused and address challenges by thinking differently and creatively
• You thrive and are flexible in a fast-paced, changing, and growth-minded environment.
• You have a customer-service mindset, are responsive and see things through for both internal and external stakeholders
• You are a people-centric leader who motivates and inspires collaboration and engagement

Join UL and help make the world safer, more sustainable and more secure.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Builds strong relationships with senior leadership and key stakeholders to understand their business functions and formulate appropriate strategies and messages to achieve those objectives
• Work cross-functionally with other team members to align on communication goals, channel strategy, and messaging
• Partner with the Creative Services team or agencies to develop complementary visuals and videos for internal and external use
• Design communications strategies for corporate, shared service, and business initiatives and programs.
• Partner with executive leaders to develop content and materials in alignment with UL’s mission, vision, and values for quarterly corporate-wide all-hands meetings and team townhalls
• Leads communications for organizational initiatives and activities such as laboratory openings, corporate events, webcasts/broadcasts, and internal UL meetings with the broader corporate communications team as appropriate
• Connect and align internal/external communications based on enterprise initiatives
• Develops and manages content for communications channels, including but not limited to SharePoint, social media, newsletters, leadership updates, people stories and more
• Measure reach/effectiveness of communications; Establish benchmarks and leverage results to inform strategic communications plans and report monthly
• Help the team translate complex ideas into simple, authentic, and compelling communications
• Partner with head, Communications to support executive visibility, M&A, crisis and corporate/global projects as needed
• Performs other duties as directed

• BS/BA degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or related field, plus generally 15+ years of related experience
• Experience in a B2B professional services environment is preferred
• Experience working in a global communications role for a complex matrix organization across several global regions is highly preferred
• Creative, strategic thinker and storyteller with exceptional writing and editing skills who can effectively communicate what we need stakeholders to know, feel, and do
• Must have experience translating complex ideas into simple, authentic, and compelling communications
• Proven ability to develop and execute integrated communications strategies
• Strong capabilities in building and cultivating relationships from senior leaders to individual contributors across the organization
• Experience collaborating with outside agencies and vendor partners as needed
• Flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to successfully prioritize and juggle multiple projects simultaneously
• Change management communications experience a plus
• Excellent presentation skills and executive presence
• Experience managing and using a wide array of internal and external communications tools and channels and reporting results
• Values innovation and flexibility, is proactive, motivated, and a self-starter
• Proven ability to lead and engage across functions and geographies
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, delivering high quality and exceptional customer service
• Prior experience successfully leading people and teams
• Strong business acumen

• 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 isn’t new. Making the world a safer, more secure and sustainable place has been our business model for the last 127 years and is deeply engrained in everything we do.   
• People: Ask any UL employee what they love most about working here, and you’ll almost always hear, “the people.” Going beyond what is possible is the standard at UL. We’re 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’re 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 are eligible for bonus compensation and benefits commensurate with the standard rewards offered in each individual location or country, for the relevant position level. We also provide employees with paid time off including vacation, holiday and sick time off.