Program Manager, ULI Northwest

URBAN LAND INSTITUTE•Seattle, WA

13d•$34 - $37•Onsite

About The Position

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) is seeking a Program Manager for its Northwest district council. This is a pivotal hire for ULI Northwest, where the Program Manager will be an integral member of the district council team and a key liaison between ULI Northwest and the region's real estate and land use community. The role involves independently managing programs, member groups, and grant-funded initiatives, ensuring a high-quality member experience and overseeing projects from concept through execution. The Executive Director is looking for an individual who takes ownership of their work, acting as a point person for programs and committees, with the Executive Director serving as an advisor. The position requires comfort with ambiguity, as some work is genuinely new to ULI and the industry. Established tasks, such as the TOD technical assistance panels, will still demand judgment, relationship management, and follow-through. The role also includes leading committee and product council work, including housing councils, with the autonomy to manage meetings and shape agendas.

Requirements

3–5 years of relevant experience in program or program management, with a focus on owning a body of work rather than purely support or administrative tasks.
Strong relationship management skills, with comfort in working with senior executives, public officials, and volunteer leaders.
A learning mindset, characterized by curiosity about complex and unfamiliar subject matter and a drive to deeply understand it.
Ability to work independently and exercise judgment with minimal day-to-day oversight, while knowing when to involve leadership for strategic input.
Comfort using AI tools in current work and a genuine interest in agentic AI.
Strong written and verbal communication skills with professional polish.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Willingness to travel locally within Western Washington, with occasional national travel.
Availability to attend events throughout the day, including early mornings or evenings.

Nice To Haves

A background or degree in urban planning or a related field.
Curiosity about issues shaping the future of cities, such as transit-oriented development, housing affordability, and emerging technologies.
Experience in an association, nonprofit, or membership organization.
Familiarity with real estate, land use, urban development, or related public policy.

Responsibilities

Manage ULI Northwest's Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) technical assistance work, including multiple Technical Assistance Panels (TAPs), from procurement and scoping through execution, reporting, and follow-up.
Collaborate with the Executive Director, TAP committee members, public and private sector partners, and participating ULI members to define panel questions, recruit panelists, and ensure project progress.
Partner with the Executive Director on emerging technology and applied AI projects, contributing to the approach, sequencing, and problem-solving for initiatives without established playbooks.
Actively use and explore AI tools, supporting ULI Northwest's goal of becoming an AI-native team.
Serve as the staff lead for assigned member committees, housing councils, product councils, and affinity groups.
Partner with volunteer steering committees to establish priorities, develop member-driven content and programming, and independently facilitate meetings to ensure a best-in-class member experience.
Support budgets, financial tracking, contracts, grant reporting, and deliverables for ULI Northwest's grant-funded initiatives.
Potentially manage additional grant-funded contracts as ULI Northwest's portfolio expands, based on experience and capacity.
Assist with programs and events as needed, including coordinating speakers and stakeholders, managing venue and vendor logistics, and providing on-site support.
Support the Director of Operations and Strategy with daily business operations, such as contracts, leases, invoicing, and vendor relationships, as required.
Collaborate with ULI staff to highlight program outcomes, member perspectives, and impactful stories.