Director, Government Affairs

## **Position Description**

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.

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## **Essential Functions, Roles, and 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 a high-performing team. Cultivate a collaborative environment to ensure the 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.

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## **Professional Competencies**

– Broad expertise in legislative processes, regulatory frameworks, and administrative rulemaking. Demonstrated success in stakeholder engagement, coalition building, and navigating complex technical or standards-based issues in a policy context.
– Ability to analyze and interpret complex policy and regulatory documents, translating implications into clear, strategic recommendations and proposing language that advances the organization’s objectives.
– Established leader able to set strategic direction, interpret, support, and execute organizational strategy while effectively translating objectives into actionable plans and driving successful execution.
– Exceptional people leadership skills, with ability to develop high-performing teams. Experience setting expectations, operationalizing clear goals, and enforcing accountability for both processes and results.
– Excellent communicator and presenter, skilled in conflict mediation, negotiation, and influencing diverse stakeholders. Proven capability in establishing effective relationships with others, including senior leaders and external stakeholders.
– Experience fostering collaboration and partnership with cross-functional teams to develop solutions with broad impact.
– Strong analytical skills with ability to innovate and adapt in a dynamic industry landscape.

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## **Experience and Education Requirements**

– Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
– 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 committees.
– Prior experience working with or in trade associations, public policy, regulatory environments, 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.

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