Senior Communications Specialist

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Communications Specialist at UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement, based in our Evanston, IL office.

The Senior Internal Communications Specialist will be responsible for providing communication support for UL Research Institutes (ULRI) and UL Standards & Engagement (ULSE) by developing and executing internal communication strategies that connect, inform, and engage employees across the organization.

This role ensures that employees have a clear understanding of organizational priorities, initiatives, and cultural values while fostering collaboration and alignment across both groups. The Senior Internal Communications Specialist partners with leadership, HR, ULRI-ULSE communications teams and colleagues across functions to deliver consistent, transparent, and meaningful messaging that enhances employee engagement and strengthens organizational culture.

UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement

At UL Research Institutes (ULRI) and UL Standards & Engagement (ULSE), we expand the boundaries of safety science to create a more secure and sustainable world. For more than a century, we have studied the unintended consequences of innovation, designed solutions to mitigate risk, created new safety standards and shared our findings with academia, scientists, manufacturers, and policymakers across industries. We identify critical safety and sustainability issues, asking the tough questions because we believe a safer world begins with knowledge.

What you’ll learn and achieve:

As the Senior Communications Specialist, you will play a key role in the rapid growth of UL as you:

• Develop and execute internal communication strategies, campaigns, and initiatives that promote organizational goals, programs, and culture across ULRI and ULSE.

• Create and manage content for employee-facing channels including intranet, newsletters, internal announcements, virtual town halls, and collaboration platforms.

• Partner with leadership to craft messaging that ensures employees are informed, engaged, and aligned with organizational priorities.

• Translate complex or technical information into clear, accessible communications for employee-wide audiences.

• Support change management and organizational initiatives with communication plans that drive clarity, alignment, and adoption.

• Monitor communication effectiveness, gather employee feedback, and recommend improvements to enhance engagement and impact.

• Ensure internal communications reflect organizational tone, values, and brand standards. · Collaborate with HR, leadership, and functional teams to strengthen employee engagement, recognition, and development through effective communication.

• Support other department and organizational initiatives as required.

What you’ll experience working at UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement: We have pursued our mission of working for a safer, more secure, and sustainable world for nearly 130 years, embedding conscientious stewardship into everything we do.

• People: Our people make us special. You’ll work with a diverse team of experts respected for their independence and transparency and build a network, because our approach is collaborative. We collaborate across disciplines, organizations, and geographies to build the global scientific response that today’s global challenges require.

• Interesting work: Every day is different for us here. We see what’s on the horizon and use our expertise to build the foundations of a safer future. You’ll have the opportunity to push the boundaries of human understanding as part of a team working to advance the public good.

• Grow and achieve: We learn, work, and grow together through targeted development, reward, and recognition programs.

• Values. Four core values guide our work: collaboration, respect, integrity, and beneficence. By living our values, we inspire the trust essential to fulfilling our mission and foster the partnerships that enable us to pursue a beneficent future in which we all can thrive.

• Total Rewards: All employees at UL Research Institutes are eligible for bonus compensation. We offer comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans and a generous 401k matching structure of up to 5% of eligible pay. Moreover, we invest an additional 4% into your retirement saving fund after your first year of continuous employment. Depending on your role, you may be able to discuss flexible working arrangements with your manager. We also provide employees with paid time off, including vacation, holiday, sick, and volunteer days.

What makes you a great fit:

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

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage diverse employee audiences.

• Strong understanding of internal communications best practices, strategies, and platforms (e.g., intranet, Microsoft Teams, newsletters, SharePoint).

• Ability to build relationships and partner effectively with leaders and teams across the organization.

• Demonstrated project management and organizational skills.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to measure communication effectiveness and apply insights.

• Collaborative, proactive, and adaptable with excellent attention to detail.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office and familiar with internal communications tools and technology.

Professional education and experience requirements for the role include:

• University degree in communication, public relations, education, marketing or related field.

• Minimum six years of related professional experience in communications and marketing.

• Experience in a nonprofit, scientific or research organization is preferred.

About UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement

UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement are nonprofit organizations 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.

To learn more, visit our websites UL.org and ULSE.org.

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