Receptionist

UL Research Institutes; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401k with employer match

Paid time off

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

UL Research Institutes in Columbia, Maryland, is seeking a Receptionist to deliver essential customer service and administrative support at the Fire Safety facility. You will be the primary contact for staff and visitors, handling communications, scheduling, and logistics.

Role emphasizes a warm, professional front-line experience, coordinating shipping/receiving, filing, and vendor communications while supporting events and access control. Strong MS Office and SharePoint skills are preferred.

Qualifications

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for visitors, staff, callers, and inquiries.
• Manage incoming/outgoing communications including phone, email, mail, and shipping/receiving.
• Coordinate meeting and onsite logistics (room setup, catering, A/V, scheduling).
• Organize filing systems and assist with Nasuni and SharePoint updates.
• Maintain office supplies and procurement requests; escalate vendor issues.
• Ensure cleanliness and organization of office and common areas.
• Arrange travel and accommodations for guests.
• Support larger onsite events and act as liaison with building management.
• Perform other duties as directed.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Time management

Customer service

Multitasking

Attention to detail

Discretion

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

SharePoint

Job description

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Receptionist at UL Research Institutes, based in our Columbia, Maryland office.

The Receptionist delivers essential customer service and administrative support for the Fire Safety facility. As the primary point of contact, this role ensures a warm, professional, and efficient front‑line experience for staff, visitors, and collaborators. The Receptionist is responsible for the logistical and clerical execution of daily office operations, including managing communications, coordinating scheduling needs, maintaining office supplies, and overseeing shipping and receiving processes.

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.

Build a safer, more secure, and sustainable future with us. Join us and work with our Fire Safety teams who conduct the research required to produce that knowledge and put into practice.

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 share with stakeholders 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.

What You’ll Learn And Achieve

• Serve as the primary point of contact for visitors, staff, callers, and general inquiries.
• Manage incoming and outgoing communications and correspondence, including phone calls, emails, mail distribution, shipping, and receiving.
• Coordinate meeting and onsite logistics, including room setup, catering arrangements, A/V preparation, and scheduling support.
• Organize and maintain electronic and physical filing systems, and assist with updates to internal platforms such as Nasuni and SharePoint.
• Maintain office supply inventory, process procurement requests, and elevate vendor or contract concerns as needed.
• Monitor and uphold the cleanliness, organization, and overall readiness of office and common areas.
• Arrange travel and accommodations for visiting guests and collaborators.
• Provide support larger onsite events and activities as required.
• Serve as the onsite liaison with building and property management and administer the office security system and access credentials.
• Perform other duties as directed.

What you’ll experience working at UL Research Institutes:

• 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

• Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and prioritize workload.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Meticulous attention to detail and accuracy in all tasks.
• Excellent time management skills and ability to meet deadlines.
• Dedication to providing excellent customer service to stakeholders and colleagues.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and work environments.
• Ability to identify and solve problems efficiently.Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and other office software.
• Discretion and ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality.
• Collaborative attitude and ability to work effectively in a team environment.

Professional Education And Experience Requirements For The Role Include

• Higher Secondary Education (High School Diploma) or equivalent.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience in a receptionist, front-desk, or customer support role.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite; experience in SharePoint is a plus.

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.

To learn more, visit our websites UL.org and ULSE.org.

Salary Range

$38,000.00-$52,250.00

Pay Type

Hourly