Events Coordinator, Product Councils

Events Coordinator, Product Councils

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) is a global nonprofit research and education organization with more than 48,000 members worldwide representing the full spectrum of land use and real estate development disciplines. Founded in 1936, ULI's mission is to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide. ULI delivers its mission through education, research, convenings, and member-driven programming at the local, national, and international level.

ULI's Product Councils are member-led peer networks that bring together senior real estate executives to exchange knowledge, build relationships, and advance the industry. Across ULI's 71 Product Councils, members participate in curated programming, roundtables, and signature convenings at ULI's Fall and Spring Meetings.

The Product Councils Events team coordinates all logistics that make those experiences possible. The team has been rebuilt from the ground up over the past year, and the results speak for themselves: at the Spring Meeting in Nashville, volunteer Council leaders told ULI's CEO directly that they were delighted with the team and asked that it be kept intact. That feedback is a signal of what this team has built, and the standard the next hire will be stepping into.

This is a close-knit, collaborative group that covers for each other, solves problems together, and takes pride in delivering high-quality member experiences. If you are looking for a place to grow, contribute, and be part of something that is working well, this is it.

The Role

The Events Coordinator, Product Councils, will manage a portfolio of approximately 23 Product Councils, coordinating all event logistics for Council receptions, dinners, tours, and Council Day meetings at ULI's Fall and Spring Meetings. You will work closely with Council leadership, fellow Event Coordinators, and the Senior Director to ensure every detail is handled and every member experience is seamless.

This is a high-volume, detail-intensive role that requires exceptional organization, strong communication skills, and the ability to stay calm and composed when managing multiple moving pieces under deadline. You will interact daily with senior real estate executives who have high expectations and will appreciate a coordinator who is responsive, proactive, and solution-oriented.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate event logistics for an assigned portfolio of Product Councils, including receptions, dinners, tours, and Council Day meetings at the Fall and Spring Meetings.
• Support Council leaders in venue and vendor sourcing, with an eye toward cost efficiency and quality.
• Manage contracts and payment timelines, track deadlines, and maintain accurate database records.
• Build function sheets, obtain approvals from Council leaders, and manage invoicing and receipt tracking.
• Communicate final details including headcounts, menus, and special requests to venues and vendors in advance of events.
• Distribute planning materials and resources to Council leaders throughout the planning cycle.
• Support the Product Council desk at all Meetings, including managing printing requests and logistics for leadership meetings.
• Collaborate with the broader Product Councils team on expense summaries and post-event reporting.

What Success Looks Like

In the first few months, success means getting oriented: learning ULI's systems and processes, building relationships with your Council leaders, and absorbing how the team operates. No one expects you to know everything on day one, but we do expect you to listen, ask good questions, and engage genuinely with the work.

By the end of your first year, success looks like this:

• Your Council leaders know your name, trust your follow-through, and feel well-supported. The best signal: they are telling you what went well, not just what did not.
• Events run smoothly. Venues are confirmed on time, function sheets are accurate, vendors are briefed, and there are no avoidable surprises on-site at Meetings.
• You have become a reliable member of the team: covering for colleagues when needed, flagging problems early, and contributing to how the team continues to improve.
• Members are coming back to the chairs breakfast or the Council table and saying good things about their experience, and some of that is because of how you showed up.

The longer-term picture is a team with continuity and trust, where members know who they are working with from one Meeting to the next. That is what ULI's Council leaders have said they want most, and this hire is an important part of making that real.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who is organized to a high standard, communicates with confidence and professionalism, and genuinely wants to be part of a team. The specifics matter less than the fundamentals: if you take pride in getting the details right, stay calm when things shift, and know how to work with demanding senior audiences, you will thrive here.

Specifically, we are looking for:

• Strong organizational skills and a proactive, detail-oriented approach. You manage multiple threads simultaneously without dropping anything.
• Professional, clear communication, both written and verbal. You are comfortable corresponding with C-suite executives and senior member volunteers.
• The ability to receive critical feedback from members and respond constructively. Council members are high-standards stakeholders who will tell you when something is not right. You need to hear that, solve the problem, and move forward.
• A collaborative, team-first mindset. This team covers for each other without being asked. We need someone who will do the same.
• A learning mindset. This role requires absorbing new processes and ways of working quickly. Experience from elsewhere is welcome, but ULI's systems and culture will take time to learn and you should be genuinely open to that.
• Longevity. Members have directly raised staff continuity as important to them. We are looking for someone who sees this as a place to build, not a stepping stone.

Qualifications

• 1 to 2 years of experience in event coordination, hospitality, or a closely related field preferred.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience preferred but not required.
• Experience with customer-facing or member-facing communication.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with event or database management platforms a plus.
• Ability to travel to ULI's Fall and Spring Meetings and other programs as needed.
• Ability to work extended hours including evenings and weekends during Meetings.
• Ability to lift packages up to 20 lbs.
• Based in Washington, D.C. or able to work from the D.C. office (preference for DC-based candidates; please discuss with the recruiting team if you have questions about location).

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $55,781 to $60,662. ULI offers a robust benefits package including health, dental, and life insurance; vacation leave; and a retirement plan. For more information on benefits, visit americas.uli.org/career-opportunities/benefits/.

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.

How to Apply

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, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other status protected by applicable law. EOE/m/f/d/v. No relocation reimbursement is offered at this time.

To apply, please submit your resume and a brief cover note through ULI's career portal.