Laboratory Manager

UL Solutions • Northbrook, IL

6d • Onsite

About The Position

This role requires a professional who can implement and manage the regional strategy for laboratory operations while supporting safety, governance, and technical performance , working fully onsite at the Northbrook laboratory . The individual will lead construction, renovation, and relocation projects for laboratory environments; standardize laboratory design and development processes; and oversee infrastructure maintenance, improvement planning, and capital decision‑making related to lab acquisitions, site placement, and equipment investments. The position also owns the regional sample management process, including logistics, security, movement, storage, and disposal, and manages cost‑effective procurement of laboratory equipment, services, calibration, and consumables. Additionally, this role ensures compliance with all equipment calibration requirements and MetTeam governance while directing the full lifecycle of laboratory assets—including repairs, maintenance, and upgrades—to ensure reliability, optimal utilization, and high‑quality results.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in a related discipline, with at least 5 years in management or leadership roles, or equivalent demonstrated competency.
• Demonstrates UL’s Critical Behaviors for Success, including high‑performance mindset, self-awareness, collaboration, and intellectual curiosity.
• Strong business acumen with deep understanding of organizational policies, industry trends, and operational impacts.
• Global growth mindset, with the ability to balance enterprise-wide initiatives and regional needs.
• Proven ability to hire, develop, and retain high‑performing talent, selecting strong contributors and building effective teams.
• Exceptional problem-solving ability, using structured, analytical approaches to uncover root causes and develop effective solutions.
• Advanced functional and technical expertise relevant to laboratory operations and governance.
• High integrity and trustworthiness, consistently transparent, accountable, and ethical; maintains confidentiality and owns mistakes.
• Demonstrated success working with diverse, cross‑functional, and global teams.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to deliver clear, actionable, and impactful messages to stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills with the ability to build credible relationships and networks across multiple functions.
• Proven ability to lead organizational change initiatives and drive adoption.
• Highly adaptable, with the ability to navigate rapidly shifting priorities.
• Experience applying a data-driven, analytical mindset to solve business challenges and identify opportunities for improvement.

Nice To Haves

• Experience as a First Responder is a plus.
• Green Belt certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Procurement & Governance Represent the lab in global procurement of equipment, consumables, services, and calibration. Ensure standardized, cost‑effective purchasing processes across regions. Partner with regional Lab Ops and Global Sourcing to evaluate vendors and secure optimal contracts.
• Equipment, Calibration & Maintenance Implement regional strategies for equipment maintenance, upgrades, and compliance. Oversee equipment selection, installation, maintenance, and environmental needs. Ensure calibration compliance while optimizing intervals and reducing costs.
• Systems & Data Governance Lead regional MetTeam implementation, training, issue resolution, and data governance compliance.
• Operational Efficiency Reduce equipment downtime to support project timelines. Manage operational dashboards and reports to monitor performance and drive improvements.
• Strategic Decision‑Making Act as a key decision‑maker for lab investments: acquisitions, placement, capital expenditures, and major equipment. Support due diligence and integration for newly acquired labs.
• Facilities, Planning & Infrastructure Develop and maintain global standards for lab design, layout, capacity, and technology. Partner with Facilities, Real Estate, COUs, and other stakeholders on construction, renovations, and relocations. Monitor and improve facility downtime and compliance.
• Sample Handling Lead regional sample handling processes, policies, procedures, and LabWare integration. Ensure strict chain‑of‑custody standards by benchmarking logistics best practices. Assess and optimize space needs for global sample handling functions.

Benefits

• This position is eligible for annual bonus compensation with a target payout of 20% of the base salary.
• This position also provides health benefits such as medical, dental and vision; wellness benefits such as mental and financial health; and retirement savings (401K) commensurate with the standard rewards offered in each individual location or country.
• We also provide full-time employees with paid time off including vacation (15 days), holiday including floating holidays (12 days) and sick time off (72 hours).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees