Laboratory Manager

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Laboratory Manager at UL Research Institutes, Electrochemical Safety Research Institute (ESRI) based in our Houston, Texas facility. The Laboratory Manager will be responsible for overseeing the utilization and maintenance of the Electrochemical Safety Research Institute laboratory that includes equipment, systems, space and safety, and administration to ensure compliance in all facets of laboratory operations. The Laboratory Manager reports to the Director of Laboratory Operations, ESRI and will work closely with other leaders, researchers and colleagues across the research organization to advance operational excellence. The Laboratory Manager also provides oversight to Laboratory Technicians and Analytical Chemists, ensuring alignment of day-to-day technical support, analytical operations, and compliance with ESRI research priorities.

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 the 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 Chemical Insights Research Institute, teams who conduct the research required to produce that knowledge and put it into practice.

Electrochemical Safety Research Institute:

The Electrochemical Safety Research Institute investigates the safety and performance limits of energy technologies. Through our discovery-driven research, we innovate, test, model, and lay the foundation for electrochemical energy storage that is both safe and reliable. Our scientific research helps everyone in the energy storage and battery value chain - from cell and battery manufacturers, suppliers, and original equipment manufacturers to recyclers, shippers, and consumers - understand and thereby help minimize the various safety risks associated with batteries in various applications, including electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems.

Collaborating with a wide variety of partners to help meet the world's energy safety needs, we disseminate information by convening a diverse group of stakeholders at events such as global battery summits and webinars to find data-driven solutions to new and emerging energy storage risks.

What you'll learn and achieve:

As the Laboratory Manager, you will play a key role in the rapid growth of UL as you:

• Oversee operation, calibration, and maintenance of laboratory and analytical equipment, ensuring quality standards and arranging repair/replacement when needed. This includes advanced instrumentation such as GC-MS, FTIR, SEM, XRD, TGA/DSC, ARC, potentiostats, Arbin cyclers, gloveboxes, and thermal chambers, coordinated through Analytical Chemists and Laboratory Technicians.

• Supervise research staff compliance with lab safety training, technical procedures, instrumentation use, and data handling practices.

• Manage laboratory supplies by monitoring inventory, ordering, verifying receipt, and ensuring safe handling/disposal of hazardous materials.

• Maintain lab productivity by prioritizing tasks, monitoring workload, adjusting staffing, and supporting timely task completion.

• Ensure quality assurance and data integrity through ESRI programs, data reviews, proficiency surveys, and policy/procedure updates.

• Maintain and improve laboratory information systems, including testing, documentation, training, and ensuring security/confidentiality.

• Communicate regularly with facility managers and supervisors regarding requests, activities, and issues requiring special attention.

• Lead daily task run-throughs with lab staff, assessing progress at the end of each day.

• Implement new programs, tests, instrumentation, and procedures by evaluating alternatives, preparing proposals, and monitoring progress.

• Support professional and administrative development by staying current through workshops/publications, providing on-call management, and contributing to team outcomes.

• Perform other duties as directed.

What you will experience working at UL Research Institutes: 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 will 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 is on the horizon and use our expertise to build the foundations of a safer future. You will 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:

• Expert knowledge in laboratory management, equipment, space, safety, compliance, and oversight of multi-disciplinary staff.

• Must be a self-starter and possess excellent leadership qualities.

• Problem solving skills with the ability to identify root causes, develop practical solutions, and work in collaboration with colleagues across the organization to address strategic, operational, and any other roadblocks to success.

• Strong management, initiative, and influence skills to create alignment with multiple stakeholders and deliver results in a matrix organization.

• Positive and collaborative attitude and interpersonal skills to work effectively with leaders and colleagues across the organization.

• Engaging and approachable management style to lead and develop a high performing team, setting high standards and accountability for process and results.

• High degree of curiosity to learn about the mission and impact of the organization and its areas of specialization.

• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills.

• Ability to operate at a high level, including attention to detail, ability to multitask and work on tight deadlines.

• Maintain focus on quality, speed, and outcomes with a willingness to both lead the work and execute.

• Proficiency in MS Office is required. Advanced skills in Excel and PowerPoint, and knowledge of analytical tools and databases are preferred.

• Familiarity with analytical chemistry techniques (e.g., GC-MS, FTIR, SEM, XRD, TGA/DSC, ARC) and battery testing equipment (potentiostats, cyclers, gloveboxes, welding/soldering tools).

Professional education and experience requirements for the role include:

• Advanced degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering or related field required plus preferably at least 8 years' experience within a laboratory environment.

• Minimum 4 years management or leadership experience.

• Experience in managing multi-disciplinary laboratory teams including technicians and analytical chemists 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.

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.

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