Product Specialist – Materials & Plastics

We are seeking a **Product Specialist** to join our Product Management team supporting the **Materials & Plastics** business within UL Solutions' Engineered Materials organization. This is a **hybrid** position based in Northbrook, Illinois, providing opportunities for in-person collaboration with Product Management, Engineering, Sales, and Marketing teams while also working with global colleagues across multiple regions. This role serves as a bridge between technical expertise and business strategy, helping translate market needs and customer challenges into impactful products, services, and growth opportunities. The Product Specialist will support the development, enhancement, and expansion of product and service offerings while working closely with Product Management, Engineering, Sales, Marketing, and other key stakeholders. **Please note:** This is not a laboratory or engineering execution role. The position focuses on product management, business strategy, market analysis, customer engagement, and cross-functional collaboration rather than performing technical testing, laboratory work, or engineering design activities. ### Responsibilities **Product Strategy & Business Growth** - Support the development, enhancement, and growth of Materials & Plastics product and service offerings. - Contribute to initiatives designed to drive business growth and expand market opportunities. - Assist in identifying emerging trends, new technologies, and evolving customer needs within the industry. - Support the creation and maintenance of product roadmaps aligned with business objectives and market demand. - Participate in business case development and strategic proposals for new services, capabilities, and solutions. **Market & Customer Insights** - Conduct market research to identify opportunities, competitive trends, customer challenges, and industry developments. - Monitor competitor capabilities and compare them to UL Solutions' offerings. - Gather customer feedback and market intelligence to support product enhancement initiatives. - Translate customer needs and industry insights into actionable business recommendations. **Cross-Functional Collaboration** - Work closely with Product Managers, Engineers, Sales, Marketing, and other stakeholders to support product initiatives. - Facilitate communication and collaboration across multiple teams to achieve shared objectives. - Assist in aligning business priorities, technical capabilities, and customer requirements. - Support internal and external communication regarding product strategy, value propositions, and market positioning. **Product Lifecycle Support** - Gain exposure to the full product lifecycle, from concept development through launch and continuous improvement. - Help prioritize features, service enhancements, and business initiatives. - Track product goals, outcomes, and performance metrics to support future decision-making. - Contribute to go-to-market planning, including messaging, positioning, differentiation, and value propositions. **Continuous Learning & Industry Knowledge** - Develop a strong understanding of UL Solutions' Materials & Plastics portfolio and related industries. - Build knowledge of key market segments, customer applications, and emerging technologies. - Continuously learn and adapt to changing industry trends and business opportunities. ### Qualifications **Required Qualifications** - Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Marketing, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a related discipline. - 0–2 years of professional experience in a technical, commercial, business, product management, or related role. - Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills. - Demonstrated ability to learn new concepts, technologies, and industries quickly. - Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills. - Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities. - Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams in a collabor…