Vice President, Real Estate & Facilities

About the role

The Vice President, Real Estate & Facilities provides executive leadership for UL Research Institutes (ULRI) and UL Standards & Engagement (ULSE) across facilities and real estate strategy, capital expansion, and health, safety, and environment (HSE).

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for facilities, real estate, capital expansion, and HSE functions across ULRI and ULSE.
• Establish and execute long-term facilities and real estate strategies aligned with research priorities, geographic needs, and growth plans.
• Oversee the planning, modernization, and optimization of laboratories, research facilities, and office environments.
• Led governance and execution of major capital and construction projects, including construction of major, highly technical, and regulated laboratory facilities, over the next several years.
• Oversee feasibility studies, site evaluation, zoning, entitlements, permitting, and environmental assessments to support leadership decision-making.
• Ensure disciplined capital planning, budgeting, cost control, risk management, and reporting across the project portfolio.
• Set the organization’s vision and strategy for health, safety, and environmental programs, fostering a strong culture of safety and compliance.
• Ensure compliance with applicable environmental health and safety laws, regulations, and ULRI and ULSE policies across all operations and projects.
• Integrate HSE requirements into facility design, laboratory operations, capital projects, and contractor management.
• Sponsor audits, inspections, incident investigations, and corrective action planning to drive continuous improvement.
• Establish and manage positive relationships with key external stakeholders, including suppliers, economic development, community organizations, and municipal and state officials as required.
• Lead, mentor, and develop senior leaders and teams responsible for Facilities & Real Estate and HSE.
• Collaborate closely with Finance, Legal, Procurement, IT, Strategy, Communications, and HR to ensure alignment, efficiency, and accountability.
• Lead other functions, projects, or activities as required.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 years of progressive leadership experience in facilities, real estate, capital project delivery, and/or environmental health and safety, preferably within research, laboratory, industrial, or other regulated environments.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in engineering, architecture, environmental science, safety, business, or a related field strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading large capital programs and facilities portfolios with strong governance and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated experience setting and overseeing enterprise-level safety and environmental programs in complex operating environments.