Director of Research - Digital Safety Research Institute (DSRI)

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Director, Research at UL Research Institutes. This is a remote position.

The Research Director for the Digital Safety Research Institute (DSRI) will lead the research activities focused on creating assessment methodologies and tools. The Research Director will form partnerships with government, standards organizations, certification organizations, and AI/digital safety teams to establish DSRI’s role in creating functional digital assessments. The Research Director works closely with other leaders and colleagues across the UL Research Institutes to advance the growth of DSRI.

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

Digital Safety Research Institute:

The Digital Safety Research Institute (DSRI) addresses unresolved safety risks and emerging dangers in the world’s digital ecosystem. We aim to help protect people from unwanted access to personal devices and privacy, algorithm, and disinformation threats by working to create a new digital safety ecosystem.

What you’ll learn and achieve:

• Lead the research and engineering activities focused on advanced methodologies and prototyping tools for advanced, agile, AI/digital system assessments.
• Establish partnerships in industry, government, standards development organizations, certification organizations, and AI safety teams to design and prototype tools to advance the AI/digital assessment ecosystem.
• Lead transition effort of DSRI’s methodologies and prototype tools to industry, government, standards development organizations, certification organizations, and AI safety teams for further development and deployment.
• Hire, lead, and develop a high-performing researchers and engineers to create advanced methodologies and tools for advanced AI/digital assessments.
• In collaboration with the Executive Director of DSRI, define key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the quality of DSRI’s AI/digital safety research.
• Manage DSRI’s research projects to ensure that deliverables, with desired KPIs, are implemented on time and within budget.
• Develop research proposals, budgets, and timelines for new projects that advance DSRI’s AI/digital safety mission.
• Review proposals from research staff or from those applying for DSRI support and approve or reject them based on technical or analytical merit and feasibility of the project
• Communicate DSRI’s research findings to transition partners, stakeholders, and other researchers in written and verbal forms, such as through invited presentations, expert panels, or serving on AI/digital safety policy committees.
• Collaborate with DSRI’s Executive Director in strategic planning and the annual budget processes.

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:

While no one candidate will embody every quality, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional competencies and personal attributes:

• Expert in AI/systems and advanced testing methodologies.
• Problem solving skills with the ability to identify root causes, develop practical solutions, and work in collaboration with colleagues to address roadblocks to success.
• Leadership skills to create alignment and buy-in with multiple stakeholders and deliver results.
• Positive and collaborative attitude and interpersonal skills to work effectively with staff at any level across the organization.
• High degree of curiosity and a continuously learning mentality.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with enthusiasm to engage stakeholders with the mission and goals of the organization.
• Ability to operate at a strategic and operational level, including attention to detail, focus on quality, speed, and outcomes, and willingness to both lead the work and execute.

Professional education and experience requirements for the role include:

• Ph.D. in Computer Science or a related discipline, with a minimum of 10 years of experience and a proven track record in research project management, test generation, and evaluation.
• Experience managing and/or mentoring distributed AI/digital research and engineering teams.

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.

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

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