Senior Partnerships Manager

• 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

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:

• 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.

Professional education and experience requirements for the role include:

• 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.

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.