HSE Lead — Research Lab Safety & Compliance

ULRI; Skokie (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 123,000; Full time

Job summary

UL Research Institutes in Skokie, IL, seeks a Health, Safety, and Environment Lead to serve as SME and embedded safety lead for MDRI research, laboratory, engineering, and pilot-scale operations. The role provides advanced technical guidance on complex HSE matters and partners across functions to identify risks and implement best practices that support safe, compliant, and efficient research activities.

You will collaborate with researchers, facilities, and leadership to integrate HSE programs,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Health, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Physical Sciences, Public Health, Environmental Science, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 8 years of professional HSE, occupational safety, laboratory safety, engineering safety, industrial hygiene, facilities safety, manufacturing safety, or environmental compliance experience in a research, laboratory, engineering, pilot-scale, prototype development, or R&D environment.
• Experience conducting workplace inspections, hazard assessments, audits, incident reviews, corrective action follow-up, or compliance activities.
• Working knowledge of OSHA regulations and occupational safety principles.
• Experience delivering training or communicating technical safety information to non-HSE stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead, support, and document key HSE activities across MDRI operations, including work planning and day-to-day research, laboratory, engineering, and pilot-scale activities.
• Lead hazard identification, risk assessments, multidisciplinary reviews, and practical risk-control strategies that protect personnel, facilities, and the environment while supporting research and engineering objectives.
• Conduct operational readiness reviews to verify controls, training, and safeguards are implemented.
• Investigate incidents and near misses, identify causes, drive corrective actions, and support continuous improvement in HSE performance.
• Partner with MDRI leadership, researchers, engineers, Facilities, Corporate HSE teams, vendors, contractors, and site partners to integrate HSE requirements into work planning, design, startup, and execution.
• Develop and deliver HSE training, onboarding, coaching, and safety communications that promote safe work practices.
• Lead safe facility, laboratory, and contractor operations through HSE coordination and emergency preparedness activities.
• Lead HSE compliance and management systems through inspections, audits, records, corrective-action tracking, and environmental programs.
• Promote a positive safety culture that encourages hazard recognition, risk awareness, open communication, and proactive intervention.

Skills

Occupational safety principles

Laboratory safety

Industrial hygiene

Environmental compliance

Risk assessment

Communication skills

Organization & documentation

Analytical problem solving

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Safety/Environmental related field

Job description

UL Research Institutes in Skokie, IL, seeks a Health, Safety, and Environment Lead to serve as SME and embedded safety lead for MDRI research, laboratory, engineering, and pilot-scale operations. The role provides advanced technical guidance on complex HSE matters and partners across functions to identify risks and implement best practices that support safe, compliant, and efficient research activities.

You will collaborate with researchers, facilities, and leadership to integrate HSE programs,