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The Urban Land Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and education organization supported by its members. Founded in 1936, the Institute has more than 48,000 members worldwide representing the full spectrum of land use and real estate development disciplines across private enterprise and public service. ULI's mission is to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide.

ULI Washington is one of the largest district councils in the ULI network, serving approximately 1,800 members throughout Washington DC, Northern Virginia, and Suburban Maryland. The district council organizes its work around three pillars: Knowledge, Influence, and Impact. Programs are delivered through a network of member-led product councils, affinity groups, and signature convenings, supported by a small professional staff working in close partnership with volunteer leaders.

The district council recently moved to new offices in the NoMa/Union Market neighborhood and is in the middle of a deliberate rebuild: a more member-driven model and clearer priorities. This Director hire is central to that rebuild, and this is a real chance to have a meaningful hand in shaping it.

The Director is the Executive Director's primary operational partner. Day to day, that means owning ULI Washington's flagship programs (Future Forum, Winter Luncheon hosted by the Women's Leadership Initiative, and an annual Awards for Excellence gala), managing external communications, and keeping the team moving when the Executive Director is focused on external relationships, sponsorship, and strategy.

The right person brings real signature event experience, the confidence to manage senior member volunteers and contractors without close supervision, and the judgment to reset member expectations as ULI Washington moves toward a more empowered, member-driven model of engagement.

Signature events and programs

• Own Future Forum and the annual Awards for Excellence gala from strategy through execution, with direct accountability for revenue targets on both
• Lead two Local Product Councils and organize the annual joint Local Product Councils Summit
• Support additional programming as needed, including some combination of the Women's Leadership Initiative, Pathways to Inclusion, and Leadership Institute
• Manage contractors and coordinate staff and volunteers in support of event execution

Communications and marketing

• Set messaging strategy and own ULI Washington's external voice across email, LinkedIn, and Instagram
• Manage the communications contractor relationship and determine the right balance of in-house and outsourced content production
• Manage the internal communications calendar and oversee review and approval of outgoing content
• Develop program marketing assets using Canva and other available tools

Team and organizational leadership

• Act as a trusted operational partner to the Executive Director: keep work moving, make day-to-day decisions, and serve as a reliable point of contact for staff when the ED is engaged externally
• Support member committee co-chairs to set agendas, maintain planning schedules, and follow through on deliverables
• Help reset member expectations as ULI Washington transitions to a model where members lead and staff supports, rather than the other way around
• Partner with the Program and Operations Coordinator on membership engagement and new open programming development

What are we looking for

Required

• 7 to 10 years of relevant experience in program management, events, stakeholder engagement, or a related field, with meaningful experience running signature or high-profile events
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex programs with real financial accountability, not just logistics support
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the credibility to engage senior member volunteers, sponsors, and external partners
• Comfort operating without close supervision on a small team where priorities shift and judgment matters
• Located in or willing to relocate to the DC metro region; availability for early morning and evening events is required
• Bachelor's degree required

Preferred

• Experience in a membership-based, association management, or mission-driven nonprofit context
• Familiarity with land use, real estate, urban planning, or civic engagement in the DC region
• Experience with communications tools including Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or social media scheduling platforms

What success looks like

In the first year, a successful Director will have planned and executed a financially strong Future Forum, helped reposition the Awards gala as a serious revenue driver, and built the kind of trust with the Executive Director that makes the partnership genuinely work. They will have helped shift the team's culture and the expectations of ULI Washington's member community toward a more sustainable model. And they will have established themselves as a credible, consistent external voice for the district council.

Compensation and benefits

The salary range for this position is $85,000 to $100,234. Actual compensation will be based on experience, education, skills, and other job-related factors.

ULI offers a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and life insurance; generous vacation leave; and retirement plan with employer match.

Working conditions

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) is committed to shaping the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide, and we embrace our core values of integrity, collaboration, inclusion, and excellence in service to our members. In alignment with the Board of Directors' strong commitment to in-person collaboration, our roles require regular on-site presence to foster teamwork, innovation, and organizational effectiveness. ULI's primary workplace remains its offices, where in-person collaboration supports our mission and service to members.

Application instructions:

To apply, please follow the link. Please submit a rsum and a letter of interest/cover letter.

ULI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion/creed, sex, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran or active military status, non-citizenship or citizenship status, arrest or conviction record, credit history, salary history, caregiver status, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or partnership status, familial status, unemployment status, status as a victim of domestic violence or sexual violence, or any other status protected by applicable law.

EOE/m/f/d/v. No relocation reimbursement is offered at this time.