Administrative Assistant I

We have an exciting opportunity for an Administrative Assistant at UL Research Institutes , based in our Columbia, MD office.

The Administrative Assistant provides a wide variety of administrative and staff support for the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI). This role will manage event planning logistics and coordination aspects of FSRI team including finance and tracking expenses to the annual office budget, expenses, coordination of meetings and agendas, supplies, and other duties as needed. The Administrative Assistant will work closely with research amplification team and collaborate with the Executive Assistant at FSRI, as well as other executive assistants in Research Institutes and Operations across the organization.

Underwriters Laboratories

At UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement (UL) (Pick one or both organizations), we wake up every day with a common purpose: to make the world a safer, more secure and sustainable place. Science is in our DNA; we are endlessly curious and passionate about seeking and speaking the truth. We take delight in knowing that our work makes a meaningful contribution to society, and we are proud that our culture is centered on integrity, collaboration, inclusion and excellence. UL stands at the forefront of technological advancement, and we are continually challenged to find new ways to foster innovation and positive change. Satisfying? Yes. Exciting? Absolutely!

Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI)

UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) advances fire safety knowledge to address the world’s unresolved fire safety risks and emerging dangers. As part of UL Research Institutes, we are committed to sharing our fire safety insights with everyone to advance UL’s public safety mission of providing safe living and working environments for people everywhere. Through advanced fire science, rigorous research, extensive outreach and education in collaboration with our international network of partners, we impart stakeholders with the information, tools and resources that enable them to make better, more fire-safe decisions that ultimately save lives and property. To learn more, visit FSRI.org.

As the Administrative Assistant you will play a key role in the rapid growth of UL as you:

• Provides a wide variety of administrative and staff support services to FSRI.
• May assist in budget preparation and control activities.
• May assist in the preparation and control of records, statistics, and reports regarding operations, personnel changes, etc.
• Administers programs, projects and/or processes specific to the operating unit served.
• Serves as administrative liaison with others and outside the company regarding administrative issues related to purchasing, personnel, facilities, operations, etc.
• Composes varied to somewhat complex letters and memoranda and screens telephone calls.
• May make meeting and travel arrangements.
• May assist in orienting new employees.

While no one candidate will embody every quality, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional competencies and personal attributes:

• Positive and collaborative interpersonal skills to work effectively with leaders and colleagues across the organization.
• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills, with enthusiasm to engage leaders and employees with the mission and goals of the organization.
• Assists the organizational unit with varied to somewhat complex correspondence, personnel records and documents, varied to somewhat complex reporting, travel itineraries, staff memberships, etc.
• Assists the organizational unit with projects, which may include researching issues and drafting documents for review by the assigning staff member.
• Relieves the organizational unit of administrative work where appropriate, including processing expense reports, preparing reports, typing documents, filing, answering questions regarding the organizational unit procedures and processes, screening phone calls as appropriate, etc.
• Answers varied telephone inquiries and directs visitors as needed.
• May schedule, coordinate and maintain calendar and travel itineraries for one or more individuals within the organizational unit.
• May assist in the budgetary process for the organizational unit.
• Responsiveness and a sense of urgency, with focus on outcomes, structure, and process improvement for the short and long term.

 Professional education and experience requirements for the role include:

• Bachelor’s degree with minimum 3 years of experience in administrative work, with demonstrated success in most or all of the following areas: project management, office coordination.
• Experience in research, academic, scientific, or professional services organizations is preferred.
• Proficiency with MS Office, advanced skills in Excel and PowerPoint are preferred.

UL has COVID-19 protocols and policies in place to ensure the safety of our employees, customers and clients. Effective November 1, 2021, the company mandates that employees are vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment (except where prohibited by law), subject to reasonable accommodation as required by law.

• Mission: For UL, corporate and social responsibility isn’t new. Making the world a safer, more secure and sustainable place has been our business model for the last 128 years and is deeply ingrained in everything we do.
• People: Ask any UL employee what they love most about working here, and you’ll almost always hear, “the people.” Going beyond what is possible is the standard at UL. We’re able to deliver the best because we employ the best.
• Interesting work: Every day is different for us here as we eagerly anticipate the next innovation that our customers’ create. We’re inspired to take on the challenge that will transform how people live, work and play. And as a global company, in many roles, you will get international experience working with colleagues around the world.
• Grow & achieve: We learn, work and grow together with targeted development, reward and recognition programs as well as our very own UL University that offers extensive training programs for employees at all stages, including a technical training track for applicable roles.
• Total Rewards: All employees at UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement are eligible for bonus compensation. We offer comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans. a generous 401k matching structure of up to 5% of eligible pay. Additionally, we invest an additional 4% into your retirement saving fund after your first year of continuous employment. Depending on your role, you can work with your manager on flexible working arrangements. We also provide employees with paid time off including vacation, holiday, sick and volunteer time off.

About UL Research Institutes 

UL Research Institutes 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 wholly owned subsidiary, UL Solutions, advances our shared public safety mission. We fund our work through grants, the licensing of standards documents and the business activities of UL Solutions, which 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.