Director / Senior Director, District Council Success

Urban Land Institute; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 89,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Urban Land Institute in Washington, DC seeks two Directors, District Council Success, to lead a portfolio of District Councils and coach Executive Directors who run them. You will partner with volunteer chairs and boards to strengthen councils and share best practices across the network.

Requirements include 10+ years in association management or nonprofit networks, full budget responsibility, and experience developing senior staff. This is a hybrid role based in the DC area with 15–20% travel.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in association management, component or chapter relations, affiliate networks, or nonprofit operations.
• Experience leading a nonprofit organization or multi-site operation with full budget responsibility.
• Track record of developing and holding senior staff to high standards, including executive-level leaders.
• Strong business and financial acumen: budgeting, forecasting, and candor when numbers are not meeting targets.
• Proven success building partnerships with volunteer and member leaders within a matrixed organization.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience leading and building an inclusive culture in a distributed, remote team.
• Bachelor’s degree required; CAE or similar credential is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead a portfolio of District Councils and share responsibility for council results with Executive Directors.
• Analyze council performance, identify risks and opportunities, and translate findings into actionable plans.
• Approve council budgets and annual work plans within network standards and implement improvement plans.

Skills

Leadership experience

Budgeting

Governance

Communication

Remote team experience

Education

Bachelor's degree

CAE or similar credential

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Washington, DC, US

2 days ago Requisition ID: 1629

Salary Range: $89,097.00 To $135,000.00 Annually

The Urban Land Institute is a nonprofit research and education organization with 48,000+ members across every discipline of land use and real estate. Our members are shaping how cities grow, how communities respond to housing and climate challenges, and how the built environment serves the people who live in it.

In the Americas, much of that work happens locally, through our 54 District Councils. They serve as the local chapters, or components, of ULI’s broader global organization: the places where members meet, learn, lead and make a difference in their own communities. Together they have about 100 staff and a combined budget of about $30 million, and they work in partnership with volunteer member leaders. We call the partnership between our councils and headquarters “One ULI”: one organization, under one 501(c)(3), with a shared commitment to mission, members and impact.

The Role

We are hiring two Directors, District Council Success, to join a specialized Success Team of three supporting the District Council Network. Reporting to the Senior Vice President, District Council Operations, each Senior Director leads a portfolio of District Councils, sized according to council maturity and scale, and one network-wide area of practice.

This is a role for an experienced leader who knows how chapter or component networks really work. You will manage and coach the Executive Directors who run our councils, help them build strong and financially healthy councils, and partner with the volunteer chairs and boards who lead them. You won’t run the councils yourself. You will be the expert, coach and connector who helps each one succeed, and who brings the best of what is working across the network to everyone else. The role operates with a high degree of independence and is part of the leadership pipeline for the District Council Network.

What You Will Do

Leading a portfolio of councils

• Lead a portfolio of District Councils and share responsibility with Executive Directors and member leaders for council results, including membership growth and retention, revenue, and reserve health.
• Analyze council performance, spot risks and opportunities early, and turn what you find into practical action and clear insight for District Council leadership.
• Approve council budgets and annual work plans within network standards, and put business improvement plans in place where councils need extra support.

Managing and coaching Executive Directors

• Directly manage the Executive Directors in your portfolio, including goal setting, performance reviews, and incentive recommendations.
• Act as an expert coach and advisor, helping Executive Directors and their teams run strong operations and deliver for members.
• Recruit, develop and retain outstanding council staff, and build a culture of trust and accountability across your portfolio.

Leading across the network

• Lead one network-wide area of practice, such as fiscal and operational performance, or member leader and governance development, and set the standards, tools and training used by all 54 councils.
• Connect councils with each other, share what works, and surface the local success stories that show the value and reach of the network.
• Step in for the Senior Vice President, District Council Operations when needed.

Partnering with member leaders and headquarters

• Advise District Council chairs and boards on governance, leadership succession and strategy, and represent ULI with member leaders and external partners.
• Act as the link between councils and ULI’s headquarters teams and Global services, building trusted relationships and making systems work well for the councils.
• Help bring ULI content and programs to life at the local level, in coordination with the District Council leadership team.

What We Are Looking For

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in association management, component or chapter relations, affiliate networks, member-network leadership, or nonprofit operations.
• Experience leading a nonprofit organization, chapter or affiliate network with full budget responsibility, or equivalent senior leadership of a multi-site operation.
• A track record of managing, developing and holding senior staff to high standards, including executive-level leaders.
• Strong business and financial acumen: you are comfortable owning budgets and financial statements, tracking and forecasting results, and having candid conversations when the numbers aren’t where they need to be.
• Proven success building partnerships with volunteer and member leaders, and a solid grasp of nonprofit governance and how to work in a matrixed organization.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills, and the judgment to work well with a wide range of stakeholders, from local staff to senior volunteer leaders.
• Experience leading and building an inclusive culture in a distributed, remote team.
• A bachelor’s degree. A CAE or similar credential is a plus, as is experience within the ULI network.
• A commitment to and passion for responsible land use.

What Success Looks Like

By the end of year one, the Executive Directors in your portfolio see you as their go-to coach and advocate, and each council has clear goals, an approved budget and work plan, and a regular rhythm of check-ins. Councils that were struggling have a plan and are moving in the right direction, and you are spotting risks before they become problems. Your area of practice has practical standards and tools that councils across the network are actually using. Chairs and boards trust you, headquarters teams know you as the person who makes things work for the councils, and the Senior Vice President has a leader they can rely on to step in when needed.

Working at ULI

You will join the District Council Network team within ULI Americas, as one of a three-person Success Team working closely with the Senior Vice President, District Council Operations, and with Executive Directors, member leaders and headquarters colleagues across the Americas. This is a hybrid role with a strong preference for candidates based in the Washington, D.C. area. Expect to travel to District Councils, ULI convenings and related meetings about 15 to 20% of the time, with some early morning and evening events.

Compensation

The posted salary range for this position is $89,097 to $135,000, depending on experience and qualifications.

ULI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, 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.