Senior Program and Operations Manager, ULI Kansas City

About ULI Kansas City The Urban Land Institute is a nonprofit research and education organization with over 45,000 members across every discipline of land use and real estate development. ULI Kansas City is an active district council in a city that is growing fast, attracting investment, and increasingly in the national spotlight. The district council brings together developers, planners, architects, public officials and investors from across the Kansas City metro region. The council runs a full calendar of events and programs, engages a committed member base, and plays a meaningful role in shaping how the region thinks about land use, real estate, and community development. This is an opportunity to come in at a pivotal moment. The council is in growth mode, and the person who takes this role will have real ownership over how it runs and where it goes. The Role We are looking for a Senior Manager to serve as the day-to-day leader of ULI Kansas City. You will be responsible for running the district council, building relationships with members and community leaders, planning and delivering a full calendar of events and programs, managing operations and budget, and keeping the committees and volunteer leadership moving forward. This is not a support role. You are the senior staff person on the ground in Kansas City. You will work closely with the district council chair, member committees, and ULI national staff, but the council's success runs through you. You bring the organization together, you keep things on track financially, and you make sure the work reflects what the ULI Kansas City community cares about. You will be supported by a part-time contractor who handles administrative work and operations, but you set the direction. Responsibilities Member and Community Engagement Build and maintain strong relationships with ULI Kansas City members, sponsors, community partners, and elected and appointed officials. Serve as the primary representative of ULI Kansas City in the community: visible, credible, and genuinely connected to the people who shape the city. Work with the incoming district council chair and member leadership to develop and execute the council's strategic priorities. Engage prospective members and support membership growth. Events and Programming Plan and deliver ULI Kansas City’s annual calendar of events, from committee programming and speaker series to signature convenings and member gatherings. Work with committees to develop programming that is relevant, well-run, and valuable to members. Manage event logistics end to end: venues, speakers, communications, invitations, materials, and on-site execution. Ensure events reflect ULI’s mission and serve the membership, not just sponsorship needs. Committee and Volunteer Leadership Serve as the primary staff liaison to member committees: Programs, Membership, Young Leaders, and others. Support the district council chair, management committee, and governance structure in running smoothly. Coordinate meetings, track follow-through, and keep volunteer leaders engaged and productive. Recruit and retain committee volunteers. Financial Management and Sponsorship Own the district council budget; track revenues and expenses, manage to targets, and flag issues early. Lead or support sponsorship outreach and fulfillment. Report on financial performance and ensure the council meets its annual targets. Operations and Administration Manage day-to-day operations including systems, databases, calendars, and records. Ensure compliance with ULI national policies and procedures. Supervise and coordinate with the part-time operations contractor. Handle member inquiries and serve as a responsive, professional point of contact. What We Are Looking For We need someone who knows how to run things. The right person is organized, credible with senior stakeholders, comfortable with financial accountability, and genuinely energized by the work of connecting people and building community. Nonprofit management, events, or district council experience. You have led programs or operations, not just supported them, and you are comfortable owning outcomes. Relationship-building skills. You can build trust quickly with members, community leaders, sponsors, and volunteers, and you understand that the relationships are the work. Financial acumen. You are comfortable owning a budget, tracking performance, and making sure the council does not spend more than it brings in. Strong organizational skills. You manage a complex calendar, multiple committees, and competing deadlines without things falling through the cracks. Communication skills. You write clearly, communicate professionally, and represent the organization well in public settings. 3–6+ years of relevant experience. Nonprofit, association, real estate, urban planning, or community development backgrounds are all relevant. Bachelor’s degree required. Familiarity with real estate, land use, or urban development is a plus. You do not need to be an expert, but genuine curiosity will help you understand what our members care about. Based in Kansas City or willing to relocate. This role requires in-person presence at member events and in the community. What Success Looks Like In your first six months, you will get to know the member base, the committee structure, and the annual rhythm of the council. You will have built credibility with the incoming chair and key member leaders, and you will have delivered several events that show what this council is capable of. By the end of year one, we want you running the council with confidence: managing the budget to target, driving sponsorship revenue, leading committees through a productive program year, and positioning ULI Kansas City as an increasingly visible presence in the region. Working at ULI Kansas City A lean team where your contribution is visible and the work is directly connected to outcomes in the community. A member base that is active, engaged, and proud of what the council does. A growing city with national momentum. There is real energy here and a lot to build on. Direct access to ULI national resources, peer district council staff, and a mission-driven organization. Occasional national travel to ULI Fall and Spring Meetings. Evening and occasional weekend programming is part of the work. Compensation and Benefits The salary range for this position is $68,400 to $76,950 annually, which includes base salary and performance-based incentive eligibility. Compensation is determined by 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. Application Instructions To apply, please follow the link and submit a résumé and a letter of interest. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. 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, or any other status protected by applicable law. EOE/m/f/d/v. No relocation reimbursement is offered at this time. #J-18808-Ljbffr Urban Land Institute