Head of Sourcing - Indirect Spend

UL Solutions is seeking a senior leader to build and lead our indirect sourcing strategy across enterprise services and technology. This role is central to shifting the organization from reactive procurement to a disciplined, category-led model that shapes demand, drives enterprise alignment, and delivers measurable value.This position focuses on enterprise services and technology spend outside of the lab production ecosystem. While direct sourcing supports lab equipment and consumables tied to revenue generation, this role owns the broader enterprise categories that enable the business to operate and scale.The Head of Category Strategy will define how sourcing engages the business, influence decisions upstream, and establish a structured, scalable approach to category management globally.This is a full-time, hybrid (3 days in office) position located at our Northbrook, IL or Chicago, IL office.A global leader in applied safety science, UL Solutions (NYSE: ULS) transforms safety, security and sustainability challenges into opportunities for customers in more than 110 countries. UL Solutions delivers testing, inspection and certification services, together with software products and advisory offerings, that support our customers’ product innovation and business growth. The UL Mark serves as a recognized symbol of trust in our customers’ products and reflects an unwavering commitment to advancing our safety mission. We help our customers innovate, launch new products and services, navigate global markets and complex supply chains, and grow sustainably and responsibly into the future. Our science is your advantage.Bachelor’s degree in Business, Information Technology, Supply Management, or a related field, and 10+ years of experience developing and executing category strategies. CPM/CPSM certification is a plus. Strong experience creating category strategies involving $1M+ CAPEX investments. Deep knowledge of technologies available in today’s marketplace. Ability to solve complex problems and take a broad perspective to identify innovative solutions. Comfortable interacting with and presenting to senior leadership. Works independently, requiring guidance only in the most complex situations, and leads functional teams and projects. Proven track record of delivering significant and sustainable cost reductions through the effective development and execution of sourcing strategies. Superior relationship management and cross-functional leadership skills. Experienced sourcing practitioner with a strong understanding of best-practice sourcing methodologies and a demonstrated track record of working ethically to achieve excellent outcomes. Knowledge of standard commercial contracting practices and procedures. Ability to interpret and summarize contractual terms for internal clients, including license rights, product entitlements, intellectual property, and use restrictions. Ability to take a hands-on approach to analyzing and interpreting spend data in support of sourcing initiatives and UL business objectives. Strong process management, organizational, and time management skills. Proven experience leading enterprise IT sourcing, supplier negotiations, and services-based category management.Experience building and scaling sourcing or procurement operating models. Ability to influence senior stakeholders and shape decisions upstream. Demonstrated success driving transformation in complex, matrixed organizations.Total Rewards: We understand compensation is an important factor as you consider the next step in your career. The estimated salary range for this position is $137,600 to $175,000 and is based on multiple factors, including job-related knowledge/skills, experience, geographical location, as well as other factors. This position is eligible for annual bonus compensation with a target payout of 20% of the base salary. This position also provides health benefits such as medical, dental and vision; wellness benefits such as mental and financial health; and retirement savings (401K) commensurate with the standard rewards offered in each individual location or country. We also provide full-time employees with paid time off including vacation (15 days), Holidays (9 days), Personal days (3 days) and sick time off (72 hours).#LI-SM3#LI-HybridScope of ResponsibilityInformation Technology and Software (direct ownership)Contingent Workforce and ConsultingMarketing, Finance, and Professional ServicesHR and Corporate ServicesExcludes lab equipment and consumables managed by the direct sourcing team.What You Will Own1. Category Strategy and Value CreationDevelop and implement category strategies across major indirect spend areasEstablish preferred supplier models and structured commercial frameworksDrive supplier consolidation and stronger strategic partnerships2. Demand Shaping and Business EngagementEngage early with business and functional leaders to translate needs into structured optionsShift sourcing upstream from transaction execution to decision enablementBring transparency to tradeoffs across cost, speed, and strategic fit3. Operating Model and GovernanceBuild a consistent, end-to-end sourcing approach from intake through contractingStandardize processes, templates, and governance to reduce fragmentationDrive portfolio-level prioritization across competing investments4. Strategic ExecutionPersonally lead complex IT sourcing initiatives and critical negotiationsElevate the quality and consistency of commercial outcomesEnsure disciplined decision making in partnership with Finance, IT, and Legal5. Team Leadership and Capability BuildLead and develop a team of category leaders across indirect spendClarify roles between strategy and execution to improve speed and accountabilityBuild long-term capability, including future IT category leadershipTransformation MandateMove the organization from request-based sourcing to category-led planningReplace fragmented supplier usage with structured, scalable ecosystemsImprove sourcing cycle time, predictability, and complianceIntroduce portfolio thinking into capital and commercial decision makingCreate a sourcing function that is seen as a strategic partner, not a gatekeeperWhat Success Looks LikeCategory strategies are in place and actively guiding decisions across major spend areasIncreased spend under management and reduced supplier fragmentationFaster, more predictable sourcing cycles with clear pathways and expectationsStrong adoption of standardized processes, templates, and governanceMeasurable commercial outcomes tied to cost, value, and riskBusiness leaders engage sourcing early as part of planning, not after the factPosting Date: 2026-07-07