Regional Director, Latin America

JOB DESCRIPTION
The Regional Director for Latin America is UL Solution's (ULS) most senior role in the region, acting as the leader of ULS in LatAm with a range of responsibilities for business strategy, external relationships, employee engagement and enabling ULS's growth goals in the region. Within the matrix structure of ULS, the Regional Director works closely with ULS COU General Managers and functional leaders as their growth partner to provide leadership, orchestration, planning, and support in achieving ULS's goals in the region. The Regional Director leads the development and engagement of external relationships to expand ULS's business presence and influence in the region. The Regional Director also brings local managers together to support employee engagement and culture across all ULS sites in the region.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Growth Partner Activities:

• The Regional Director, as the most senior role in LatAm, provides senior leadership for ULS COU and functional managers in the region to facilitate cross-ULS collaboration and drive strategy to achieve ULS's goals and commitments in region.
• Oversee the execution of commercial strategies that enable TIC and S&A expansion throughout the region in close collaboration and full alignment with the COU's.
• Sets ULS strategy for Latin America, including sub-region strategies (e.g., Mexico, Brazil) ensuring clear alignment and deep coordination with the ULS COU General Managers and ULS's ambitions in the region. This strategy would include business growth opportunities, investment priorities, competitive positioning, physical footprint strategy and path to leadership.
• Provide M&A/strategic partnership scanning support and assist local integration activities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key customer executives within the region and cultivate new local relationships to increase ULS's share of existing customer spending on their certification, performance testing, software, and related needs.
• Lead and facilitate footprint optimization strategy development and implementation, working closely with Real Estate leadership.
• Partner with ULS COU Leaders (P&L owners) at the global and regional level, as well as lab operations and key functions to support & drive profitable business growth. This partnership would include customer relationships (both existing top customers and prospective customers), external partner engagement, large capital projects, planning for physical footprint expansion, and other related growth activities.
• Provide local market sensing for emerging business opportunities and market trends. Pass along to ULS Corporate Development leaders for prioritization.
• While this is not a P&L role, the Director partners with global business leaders and regional P&L owners to actively monitor regional business and operational performance to ensure on track with near and long-term commitments.
• Attend industry events and network with key customers and influential stakeholders.
• Support targeted engagement of government regulatory agencies and key industry associations.
• Facilitate regional management team meetings to ensure cross-ULS collaboration, to share good practices and to coordinate market opportunities.

Guardian: Risk Mitigation & Sustaining activities

• Provide leadership for ULS's 8 sites across LatAm, including directly leading ULS's site leaders in the region. ULS's site leaders ensure environmental, health and safety procedures are in place and followed, and ensure compliance to local regulations. They also ensure strong local business continuity plans are in place.
• Provide visible leadership to ensure a culture of 'Safety First' within the region and all sites by supporting and implementing 5S, Business Continuity policies, process, and guidelines, while partnering closely with EHS.
• Provide crisis management leadership locally as applicable.
• Ensure operating in compliance (local labor laws, ESG, accreditations, business licenses, legal entities).
• Be the legal representative for ULS in multiple ULS legal entities in LatAm, working in conjunction with legal function.
• Partner with Public Affairs to maintain influential relationships with government and regulatory stakeholders.
• Build and develop close alliances with key industry associations.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Business and/or Engineering education at university level
• Solid business leadership experience
• Effective at leading teams (both directly and through influence) as Senior leader in Region (Servant leadership philosophy; this is NOT a P&L role)
• Experienced in collaborating with external stakeholders (government, associations)
• Comfortable being highly visible as Senior leader internally & externally.
• Proficient public speaking and presentation skills
• Experience with global cultures, markets, business practices, and regulatory climates (specifically, Mexico and Brazil)
• Fluent in Latin American major language - Spanish and/or Portuguese (fluent in both is a plus), and proficient in English.
• Strong business and financial acumen
• Strategic, analytical, and critical thinking skills
• Proven ability to develop and execute strategic plans and deliver results.
• Preference for TIC industry experience or ULS customer / industry experience
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