UrbanPlan Program Manager — Impact & Communications

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 services. ULI's mission is to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide.

ABOUT URBAN PLAN

UrbanPlan is ULI's flagship education program. UrbanPlan is a hands‑on simulation exercise in which participants including students, public officials, community members, and real estate and land use professionals learn about the market and non‑market forces that shape urban development. UrbanPlan is delivered through ULI National and District Councils across North America, Europe, and Asia, reaching thousands of participants annually and playing a central role in ULI's broader education mission.

THE ROLE

We are looking for a Program Manager to join the small UrbanPlan team within ULI's Impact Lab. The role reports to the Head of UrbanPlan and works closely with the existing UrbanPlan team and colleagues across the Impact Lab, District Councils, the ULI Foundation, and Marketing and Communications. Most of the job is relationships and execution. The Program Manager manages the day‑to‑day connection with a portfolio of District Councils, being their primary contact for all matters related to UrbanPlan, including making sure they have what they need well ahead of events, answering staff and volunteer questions, and building enough trust over time that those conversations are easy and productive. Alongside that, the role owns UrbanPlan's external communications: the newsletter, social media, website, donor‑facing reports, and impact stories. Writing well is a genuine requirement here, not a checkbox. The same goes for being comfortable in front of a room; this person will run training and represent UrbanPlan at member events. The right person for this role is organized, follows through, enjoys working with people, and brings genuine interest in the intersection of education, real estate, and community impact.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

District Council Liaison and Program Support This is the core of the role. You will be the primary contact for 20‑30 District Councils, making sure their UrbanPlan programs run well. Manage regular communication with a portfolio of District Councils, responding to questions and proactively sharing updates, resources, and opportunities. Advise District Council staff on UrbanPlan program requirements, delivery best practices, and available materials so each council is well‑prepared for UrbanPlan events. Hold regular check‑ins with District Council partners to track UrbanPlan program activity, spot challenges early, and identify opportunities to deepen engagement. Coordinate materials, volunteer onboarding, and logistics for District Council‑hosted UrbanPlan deliveries. Attend and support UrbanPlan trainings, workshops, and events in person and virtually, including some domestic travel. Represent UrbanPlan at District Council events, ULI national meetings, and member forums. Keep accurate records of UrbanPlan program activity, participation data, and engagement metrics in Smartsheet and ULI systems. Communications and Content You will own UrbanPlan's external voice and be responsible for producing materials to a consistently high standard in alignment with ULI branding. Write and manage the UrbanPlan monthly newsletter from planning through to distribution and performance review, as well as UrbanPlan content for District Council and Impact Lab newsletters. Manage the UrbanPlan website and social media content, primarily on LinkedIn, keeping content current and on‑brand. Coordinate with ULI’s Marketing and Communications team on press releases, event communications, email campaigns, and UrbanPlan announcements for members, volunteers, donors, and the public. Produce quarterly and annual impact reports for ULI leadership and foundation donors. Develop funder‑facing written materials with the ULI Foundation team, including impact stories and UrbanPlan briefs. Coordinate with Urban Land magazine on features spotlighting UrbanPlan events, volunteers, and outcomes. Track the performance of communications initiatives and use what you learn to improve over time. Member and Volunteer Engagement Build genuine working relationships with UrbanPlan volunteers, District Council chairs, and member leaders across the network. Facilitate onboarding and skills training sessions for new District Council staff and volunteers. Support volunteer recruitment, engagement, and recognition in partnership with the Head of UrbanPlan. Build relationships with external organizations whose work aligns with UrbanPlan's mission to expand reach and identify delivery partners. Impact Tracking and Reporting Support the Head of UrbanPlan in tracking global Program participation, impact data, and performance against targets. Contribute to quarterly donor reports and leadership briefings, making sure data is accurate and presented clearly. Develop approaches to communicating UrbanPlan's impact for different audiences, from member volunteers to foundation funders. Work with Impact Lab colleagues to connect UrbanPlan's outcomes to broader organizational impact reporting. Operations Maintain and improve UrbanPlan program and volunteer management systems in Smartsheet. Track UrbanPlan program costs and assist with budget monitoring under the direction of the Head of UrbanPlan. Handle member and District Council staff inquiries promptly and professionally.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR

Required 3‑6 years of experience in program management, communications, member engagement, education, or a related field, ideally in a nonprofit, membership association, or public‑sector setting. Strong writing skills: you can produce polished, audience‑specific content including newsletters, reports, briefs, and program communications, and you do not need significant editorial support to get there. Comfortable public speaker and facilitator, including presenting to groups of mixed seniority. Organized and dependable, you track your own work, follow through without being chased, and keep records in good order. Genuine people orientation, you enjoy building relationships across a distributed network and are comfortable engaging members, volunteers, public officials, and senior stakeholders. Experience managing multiple concurrent projects and meeting deadlines in a fast‑moving environment. Willingness to travel domestically for events and ULI national meetings (approximately 5‑8 days per year). Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint, Teams). Bachelor's degree required. Preferred Experience working with volunteers, committees, local chapters, or distributed stakeholder networks. Familiarity with real estate, land use, urban planning, housing, or sustainability. Experience with email marketing platforms, social media management, or website content management. Familiarity with project management tools such as Smartsheet or Microsoft Planner. Experience with reporting or analytics tools such as Power BI or Google Analytics. Familiarity with CRM or AMS platforms such as NetFORUM. Background in public speaking, workshop facilitation, or training delivery. A degree in communications, public administration, urban planning, real estate, or a related field. A writing sample is required as part of your application.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

In the first 90 days, you will have built solid working relationships with your District Council portfolio, know the UrbanPlan program well enough to answer most questions independently, and have taken ownership of the communications calendar. By the end of year one, your District Council partners trust you as a knowledgeable and reliable contact. The newsletter and social media are running consistently and the quality is visibly strong. You are contributing meaningfully to impact reports and donor materials, and the Head of UrbanPlan is spending less time on operational and administrative work because you have it covered. Over time, you are helping the UrbanPlan program grow, identifying opportunities with District Councils and external organizations that have not yet engaged, contributing ideas for improving how UrbanPlan communicates its impact, and operating with enough confidence and autonomy that the team can take on new work.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $65,800 to $71,500. 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. 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, caregiver status, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or partnership status, familial status, unemployment status, or any other status protected by applicable law. #J-18808-Ljbffr Urban Land Institute