Manager, Research Librarian

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Manager, Research Librarian at UL Research Institutes, based in our office in Evanston, Illinois.

The Manager, Research Library provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and program development to advance UL Research Institutes (ULRI) library services in support of open science, research data management, and scholarly communication. This role aligns library initiatives with the organization’s strategic priorities, ensuring equitable access to resources and enabling research excellence. The Manager partners with researchers, leadership, and cross-functional teams to deliver innovative library services, advance digital transformation, and provide impactful research analytics that strengthen the organization’s position as a global leader in science and safety.

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.

What you’ll learn and achieve:

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

• Develop and implement library strategies and programs that support open science, scholarly communication, and evolving information technologies in alignment with ULRI’s mission.

• Lead daily operations, supervising staff and interns, fostering professional growth, and ensuring seamless delivery of services and resources.

• Direct acquisition, stewardship, and vendor negotiation for electronic resources to maximize access, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.

• Partner with researchers, leadership, and stakeholders to provide consultation on publication strategies, research impact metrics, and grant success.

• Drive digital transformation by leading the adoption and integration of scalable, interoperable systems (e.g., EDS, Stacks, SharePoint, LibGuides).

• Advance research analytics by designing and delivering bibliometrics, impact assessment, and data-driven reports using tools such as Scopus/SciVal, Dimensions, and internal databases.

• Oversee development and outreach for institutional services such as the ULRI Digital Repository, ORCID integration, and researcher identifier support.

• Champion inclusive practices in service design, delivery, and resource access to support ULRI’s culture and value commitments.

• Represent ULRI through presentations, conferences, and internal seminars, while mentoring staff and fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning.

• Pursue ongoing professional development in areas such as AI, data visualization, and emerging technologies to enhance service offerings.

What you’ll 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’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 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:

• Strategic vision with the ability to anticipate research and information trends and position the library as a leader in the field.

• Strong leadership skills with experience managing teams, fostering collaboration, and driving accountability.

• Expertise in bibliometrics, research analytics, scholarly communication, and digital infrastructure.

• Data-informed decision-making skills, with the ability to measure impact and communicate value.

• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with researchers, leadership, and external partners.

• Strong project management and organizational skills with demonstrated success in leading cross-functional initiatives.

• Innovative mindset with adaptability to emerging technologies, evolving user needs, and new service models.

• Commitment to inclusivity and equitable access in library services, resources, and systems.

• Integrity and stewardship in managing resources, data, and intellectual assets responsibly.

 Professional education and experience requirements for the role include:

• Master’s degree in library and information science, or equivalent, from an American Library Association accredited program.

• Experience in library services and a passionate focus on furthering all users access to qualified data, knowledge, and technical information that delivers collective success.

• Familiarity with systems such as EBSCO Stacks/EDS, ExLibris Alma, and Figshare.

• Proficiency with AI tools in research and scholarly communications 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.

Learn more about us and the offered benefits, visit our websites at UL.org and ULSE.org.

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