Senior Partnerships Manager

About the position

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Partnerships Manager at UL Research Institutes within the Chemical Insights Research Institute. The Senior Partnerships Manager will lead high-level strategy and execution for research collaborations and strategic partnerships that drive organizational impact and advance CIRI’s mission. This role will be responsible for cultivating and managing a robust portfolio of external relationships—including with leading research institutions, government agencies, professional societies, and mission-aligned organizations. Reporting to the Director of Partnerships and Outreach, the Senior Partnerships Manager will serve as a key thought partner in shaping the organization’s partnership strategy, while aligning efforts across internal teams to amplify research visibility, and influence. UL Research Institutes: At UL Research Institutes (ULRI), 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 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 Fire Safety teams who conduct the research required to produce that knowledge and put it into practice. Chemical Insights Research Institute (CIRI): The Chemical Insights Research Institute (CIRI) contributes to the protection of public health and well-being by conducting scientific research. Our research and initiatives let people around the world know what chemicals are in the air we breathe and how they affect human health and the planet. We share our research and knowledge through information and application tools with leaders in the scientific, business, and policy communities to raise awareness of human health risks stemming from emerging technologies.

Responsibilities

• Develop and drive strategic partnership initiatives that advance the organization’s research agenda, visibility, and impact.
• Identify and secure high-value, mission-aligned partnership opportunities at the national and international levels.
• Build and steward complex, long-term relationships with academic, governmental, and nonprofit leaders.
• Provide senior-level oversight of collaborative initiatives, from ideation through implementation, including leading cross-functional teams as needed.
• Lead the development of strategic documents, including partnership frameworks, concept notes, proposals, MOUs, and high-level agreements.
• Guide internal teams to ensure alignment between partnership efforts and broader organizational priorities in research and amplification.
• Evaluate partnership performance using clear metrics and contribute to strategic decision-making through insights and reporting to senior leadership.
• Represent the organization at high-level events, strategic convenings, and public forums to strengthen CIRI’s presence in key sectors.
• Monitor and analyze trends in public-private partnerships, science policy, and research collaboration to inform strategy and innovation.
• Mentor and support junior staff and contribute to the advancement of team-wide goals and professional development initiatives.
• Lead and or contribute to department or unit initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific, engineering, built environment, or public health field; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 8 years of progressively responsible experience in partnership development, strategic alliances, or external relations within research, nonprofit, or academic settings.
• Experience leading high-impact initiatives and managing external partnerships with measurable results.
• Deep knowledge of the research, scientific, or public health landscape, with demonstrated experience forging partnerships that generate tangible outcomes.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, with the ability to align partnership initiatives with long-term organizational objectives.
• Proven success in cultivating senior-level external relationships and managing multi-institutional collaborations.
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills, including experience crafting strategic proposals, thought leadership pieces, and executive briefings.
• Strong diplomatic and negotiation skills, with a track record of navigating complex partnership environments.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with internal teams, balancing stakeholder needs while keeping strategic goals in focus.
• Highly organized, with a proactive approach to managing projects, timelines, and deliverables.
• Values collaboration, equity, and mission-driven work; able to foster inclusive relationships across sectors and geographies.