Standards Systems Project Lead

UL Standards & Engagement • Evanston, IL

1d • $108,418 - $149,075 • Hybrid

About The Position

We have an exciting opportunity for a Standards Systems Project Lead at UL Standards & Engagement. This is a hybrid opportunity based in our Evanston, IL or Raleigh-Durham, NC office. The Standards Systems Project Lead will manage Standards Technology & Systems project initiatives, to advance the mission of UL Standards & Engagement (ULSE) to make the world safer, more secure, and sustainable. The Standards Systems Project Lead will support execution of medium to large technology and systems projects, managing scope, schedule resources and implementation activities to ensure successful delivery aligned with organizational priorities. Leveraging deep expertise in project management methodologies, system implementation, and cross functional coordination, the Standards Systems Project Lead will apply consistent processes and documentation to drive on time, on budget and high-quality outcomes. The Standards Systems Project Lead will partner with Technology and Systems teams, stakeholders and vendors to support effective change management, communication and adoption of technology solutions. 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. What you’ll learn and achieve: As the Standards Systems Project Lead, you will play a key role in the rapid growth of UL as you: Lead medium to large technology and systems projects end to end, from initiation and planning through deployment and post-implementation support. Ensure delivery aligns with defined scope, timelines, budget, quality standards, and organizational priorities. Develop and maintain detailed project plans, schedules, budgets, resource forecasts, and implementation roadmaps. Adjust plans and resource allocations as needed to meet stakeholder needs and changing requirements. Establish, apply, and continuously improve project management processes, methodologies, and tools. Ensure consistent execution and governance across all assigned initiatives. Assemble project teams and task assignments, direct and monitor work to track progress, and identify resource needs or constraints. Proactively escalate risks, issues, and dependencies and implement mitigation strategies. Track and report on key project milestones, deliverables, risks, and performance metrics. Provide clear, timely status updates and recommendations to stakeholders and leadership. Partner with cross-functional teams to gather requirements, align expectations, and support effective decision-making throughout the project lifecycle. Serve as a primary point of coordination between technology, business teams, and external vendors. Lead change management activities, including communication planning, stakeholder engagement, and readiness support, to ensure successful adoption of technology solutions. Coordinate communications related to project impacts and progress. Manage vendor and third-party partner deliverables as applicable. Monitor performance and address issues to maintain momentum and accountability. Cultivate a collaborative environment to ensure a team’s success in effective execution of engagement activities. Maintain continued awareness of industry trends and external context, offering insight to inform strategic decisions and direction of the standards distribution function. Contribute to department initiatives as needed. What you’ll experience working at 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 partnerships that enable us to pursue a beneficent future in which we all can thrive. Total Rewards: All employees at UL Standards & Engagement 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: Demonstrated knowledge in project management principles, methodologies, and tools with a strong understanding of systems implementation, integration, and deployment across full project lifecycle. Solid understanding and application of change management and risk mitigation principles. Experience executing strategy. Able to set direction, interpret, support, and execute organizational strategy while effectively translating objectives into actionable plans and driving successful execution. Strong project management skills, effectively leading end-to-end project planning and execution, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with organizational goals. Excellent communicator with ability to articulate complex information effectively to diverse stakeholders. Proven capability in establishing effective relationships with others, including senior leaders and external stakeholders. Strong problem-solving skills and ability to foster collaboration and partnership with cross-functional teams to develop solutions with broad impact. Strategic thinker with ability to innovate and adapt in a dynamic industry landscape. Professional education and experience requirements for the role include: Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degree preferred. Minimum 8 years of related work experience. Experience supporting system implementations, upgrades, integrations, or digital transformation initiatives. Project Management Certification preferred. Familiarity with safety standards or other regulatory frameworks 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 summit 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. Our affiliate, UL Solutions, stands alongside us in working for a safer and more sustainable world. UL Solutions conducts testing, verification and certification, and provides training and advisory services, along with data-driven reporting and decision-making tools, for customers around the world. To learn more, visit our websites UL.org and ULSE.org. Salary Range: $108,418.43-$149,075.34 Pay type: Salary Join our Talent Community to stay informed about our upcoming opportunities! UL Standards & Engagement translates scientific discoveries into standards and policies that have the power to make a systemic impact on public safety throughout the world. Distinguished by our independent research and informed foresight, we've been driving cutting-edge science into practical standards since 1903. Our extensive library of standards helps to make everyday things safer, more secure, and more sustainable, from life jackets to batteries to autonomous cars. It’s a mission we pursue across the globe. We partner with leading minds and national standards bodies around the world to draw upon an ever-growing body of scientific knowledge from UL Research Institutes and global experts. Together, we're creating a dynamic road map to a safer future.

Requirements

• Demonstrated knowledge in project management principles, methodologies, and tools with a strong understanding of systems implementation, integration, and deployment across full project lifecycle.
• Solid understanding and application of change management and risk mitigation principles.
• Experience executing strategy. Able to set direction, interpret, support, and execute organizational strategy while effectively translating objectives into actionable plans and driving successful execution.
• Strong project management skills, effectively leading end-to-end project planning and execution, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with organizational goals.
• Excellent communicator with ability to articulate complex information effectively to diverse stakeholders.
• Proven capability in establishing effective relationships with others, including senior leaders and external stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to foster collaboration and partnership with cross-functional teams to develop solutions with broad impact.
• Strategic thinker with ability to innovate and adapt in a dynamic industry landscape.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum 8 years of related work experience.
• Experience supporting system implementations, upgrades, integrations, or digital transformation initiatives.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree preferred.
• Project Management Certification preferred.
• Familiarity with safety standards or other regulatory frameworks preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead medium to large technology and systems projects end to end, from initiation and planning through deployment and post-implementation support.
• Ensure delivery aligns with defined scope, timelines, budget, quality standards, and organizational priorities.
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, schedules, budgets, resource forecasts, and implementation roadmaps.
• Adjust plans and resource allocations as needed to meet stakeholder needs and changing requirements.
• Establish, apply, and continuously improve project management processes, methodologies, and tools.
• Ensure consistent execution and governance across all assigned initiatives.
• Assemble project teams and task assignments, direct and monitor work to track progress, and identify resource needs or constraints.
• Proactively escalate risks, issues, and dependencies and implement mitigation strategies.
• Track and report on key project milestones, deliverables, risks, and performance metrics.
• Provide clear, timely status updates and recommendations to stakeholders and leadership.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to gather requirements, align expectations, and support effective decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.
• Serve as a primary point of coordination between technology, business teams, and external vendors.
• Lead change management activities, including communication planning, stakeholder engagement, and readiness support, to ensure successful adoption of technology solutions.
• Coordinate communications related to project impacts and progress.
• Manage vendor and third-party partner deliverables as applicable.
• Monitor performance and address issues to maintain momentum and accountability.
• Cultivate a collaborative environment to ensure a team’s success in effective execution of engagement activities.
• Maintain continued awareness of industry trends and external context, offering insight to inform strategic decisions and direction of the standards distribution function.
• Contribute to department initiatives as needed.

Benefits

• All employees at UL Standards & Engagement 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 This Job Offers

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