Director of Government Affairs

UL Standards & Engagement • Washington, DC

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

We have an exciting opportunity for a Director of Government Affairs at UL Standards & Engagement. This is a hybrid opportunity based in our Washington, DC office. The Director of Government Affairs will oversee the organization’s government relations and public policy strategy to advance the mission of UL Standards & Engagement (ULSE) to make the world safer, more secure, and more sustainable. With strong command of the legislative and regulatory landscape, the Director of Government Affairs will lead ULSE’s policy agenda, and design and execute the legislative and regulatory strategy. The Director of Government Affairs will drive government engagement with key policymakers, partners, and industry representatives, and lead advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill to strengthen ULSE’s visibility and position as a trusted authority in safety standards. Reporting directly to the VP Government Affairs & Partnerships, the Director will deepen awareness and understanding of ULSE and the impact of its standards and identify opportunities for the organization to shape and influence public policy and advocacy. As a people leader, the Director of Government Affairs will lead and mentor a high-performing team that will advance public policy objectives.

UL Standards & Engagement: At 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 created new safety standards and shared our findings with academia, scientists, manufacturers, and policymakers across industries. We identify critical safety and sustainability issues, asking tough questions because we believe a safer world begins with knowledge. Build a safer, more secure, and sustainable future with us. Join us and work with our Standards teams who develop the standards required to put that knowledge into practice.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree Required.
• Minimum 10 years of related work experience.
• Federal, state, and local government relations experience strongly preferred.
• Direct Capitol Hill experience, with strong relationships across congressional offices and committee.
• Prior experience working with or in trade associations, public policy, regulatory environment, safety standards, nonprofit, or mission-driven organizations preferred.
• Subject-matter expertise in at least one area related to products, safety, engineering, and/or sustainability is preferred.
• Experience leading teams and driving accountability for results.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Direct and execute ULSE’s government affairs strategy, including setting policy priorities and leading stakeholder engagement efforts with policymakers, agencies and government audiences.
• Identify opportunities to shape legislation, regulation, and policy initiatives aligned with ULSE’s mission and expertise at the federal, state, and local levels.
• Serve as advisor to executive leadership, providing insights and recommendations to inform engagement and advocacy strategy.
• Lead direct advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill and represent the organization in legislative and policy discussions.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with policymakers, regulatory bodies, government agencies, industry associations, and advocacy groups.
• Strengthen ULSE’s visibility, influence, and impact by engaging influential stakeholders and advancing advocacy initiatives.
• Proactively identify and facilitate meetings between ULSE and senior external stakeholders or government officials.
• Support the management and coordination of external government relations (GR) firms and consultants to ensure alignment with organizational objectives and advocacy strategies.
• Collaborate with the Chief Legal Officer to coordinate government engagement opportunities with UL Research Institutes (ULRI), ensuring alignment on government related initiatives and objectives.
• Ensure project activities comply with organizational processes, including data entry, project tracking, and adherence to intellectual property guidelines.
• Independently manage workload, meet deadlines, and contribute to shared team goals through clear communication and accountability.
• Develop and lead high performing team.
• Cultivate collaborative environment to ensure team’s success in effective execution of strategic activities.
• Maintain continued awareness of industry trends and external context, offering insight to inform strategic decisions and direction of the ULSE organization.
• Continuously monitor, analyze, and report on legislative and regulatory developments that may impact ULSE.

Benefits

• bonus compensation
• comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans
• 401k matching structure of up to 5% of eligible pay
• additional 4% into your retirement saving fund after your first year of continuous employment
• paid time off, including vacation, holiday, sick, and volunteer days

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director