Senior Knowledge Management Specialist - Library and Research Information Services

ULRI; Evanston (IL); On-site; USD 81,456 - 112,002; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance

401k matching up to 5%

Paid time off including vacation and sick days

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

UL Research Institutes seeks a Knowledge Management Specialist to develop and implement enterprise knowledge systems supporting organizational knowledge. This 100% remote role involves creating metadata frameworks and collaborating with various teams to enhance knowledge visibility. Candidates should have a Master's degree in Library and Information Science and at least 6 years of relevant experience.

The position offers opportunities to ensure data quality and support institutional data initiatives, promoting effective knowledge sharing practices.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in knowledge management and content management post-MLIS degree.
• Familiarity with graph databases and knowledge graph platforms.
• Strong commitment to staying current with trends in knowledge management.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement an enterprise knowledge management system.
• Support institutional data initiatives and contribute to data governance.
• Ensure metadata quality and collaborate with data engineers.

Skills

Knowledge Management systems development

Metadata strategies

Project management

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Education

Master's degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS)

Tools

Collibra

Neo4j

SharePoint

Confluence

Job description

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Knowledge Management Specialist at UL Research Institutes Library and Researcher Information Services (LRIS). The Knowledge Management Specialist supports the design, implementation, and governance of enterprise knowledge systems that enable discovery, interoperability, and strategic use of organizational knowledge. This role develops metadata frameworks, taxonomies, ontologies, and knowledge management platforms that surface research, expertise, and capabilities across the organization. Working collaboratively with IT, research units, and business stakeholders, the Knowledge Management Specialist advances secure, scalable, and user‑centered knowledge technologies that support evidence‑based decision‑making and enterprisewide knowledge visibility.

Work Location & Travel

This role is 100% remote but requires approximately 10% travel within the United States.

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 teams who conduct the research required to produce that knowledge and put into practice.

What you'll learn and achieve

As the Knowledge Management Specialist, you will play a key role in the rapid growth of UL as you:

• Support the design and implementation of an enterprise knowledge management (KM) system, including frameworks, workflows, and governance models that enable cross‑division visibility into research, expertise, and institutional capabilities.
• Evaluate, select, and configure KM platforms and tools (e.g., SharePoint, Confluence, enterprise search, knowledge graphs, AI‑assisted retrieval systems) in partnership with IT and business units.
• Develop knowledge maps, capability directories, and expertise locators to surface institutional strengths and ongoing research across divisions.
• Promote knowledge sharing practices by developing training, documentation, and change management strategies that encourage adoption of KM tools and workflows.
• Support institutional data initiatives by contributing to data governance efforts, documentation, and the development of shared data standards.
• Design, implement, and maintain metadata schemas, controlled vocabularies, taxonomies, and ontologies to enhance discovery, interoperability, and long‑term access.
• Ensure metadata quality and consistency, collaborating with data engineers to integrate taxonomies and ontologies into data pipelines, knowledge graphs, and AI‑enabled systems.
• Serve as a Data Steward for library and knowledge‑domain data, ensuring compliance with enterprise data governance standards, definitions, and quality expectations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

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:

• Experience developing KM systems that manage explicit, implicit, and tacit knowledge.
• Experience implementing KM methodologies, including knowledge mapping, taxonomy design development, capture, and content lifecycle management.
• Experience designing, implementing, and maintaining metadata strategies, policies, and workflows.
• Experience with ontology, taxonomy, and semantic knowledge tools e.g., PoolParty, Semaphore RDF, SPARQL.
• Experience with data management tools e.g., Collibra.
• Familiarity with graph databases and knowledge graph platforms e.g., Neo4j.
• Familiarity with AI tools and concepts applied to content automation and knowledge discovery.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated initiative, adaptability, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Strong commitment to staying current with emerging trends and best practices in knowledge management and data management.
• Strong project management skills, with a high level of initiative and attention to detail.

Professional education and experience requirements for the role include

• Master's degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS) or equivalent from an ALA accredited program.
• Minimum 6 years of experience in knowledge management, taxonomy, metadata, and content management post-MLIS degree.

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

$81,456.37-$112,002.51

Pay Type

Salary