POSITION SUMMARY:

The Manager, Awards, is a member of the ULI Learning & Product Councils team, which includes Product Councils, UrbanPlan, Awards, and Courses and Certificates. The Awards team delivers programs that recognize: 1) real estate development and land use projects globally; 2) individuals providing vision and leadership in urban development; 3) graduate students learning critical urban design, real estate finance, and land use planning skills; and 4) emerging writers focused on land use and real estate. The Manager creates an efficient, fair, and positive experience for program participants, whether they are donors, sponsors, award applicants, student competitors, jury members, vendors, or event attendees. This individual delivers memorable experiences that elevate ULI’s brand and encourage people to start or continue their engagement with ULI, as well as provides insights on how to translate Awards content into educational content in support of ULI Learning.

The salary range for this position has been set at $67,000 to $72,000. Actual salaries will vary according to various factors including but not limited to experience, education, skills, and other job-related factors. The range listed is just one component of ULI’s total compensation package for employees, which includes a full and competitive benefits package.

Most ULI positions fit within the following supervisory framework: C-Suite, Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, Vice President, Senior Director, Director, Senior Manager, Manager, Senior Associate, and Associate.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Manager reports to the Vice President, University Program & Awards, with the support of the Associate, Awards. The Vice President’s time is split about 20% Awards and 80% University Programs and ULI Learning, so the manager has significant responsibility for delivering the following programs, with support and guidance from the Vice President:

• ULI Hines Student Competition—uli.org/hines
• ULI Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development—uli.org/visionaries
• ULI Americas Awards for Excellence—uli.org/aae
• ULI Global Awards for Excellence—uli.org/gae
• ULI Apgar Thought Leader Award—uli.org/apgar

The Manager will, with guidance and support from the Vice President and support from the Associate, plan and execute a mix of the following for each of the Awards programs:

Organizing and sharing program information:

• Provide clear information to the public and members about how to engage with Awards programs.
• Plan and lead informational webinars as needed.
• Respond to inquiries about how each program works and eligibility to compete/enter/nominate.
• Organize and analyze information on students, advisers, submissions, jury members, laureates, real estate developments, and more to inform the public, participants, and program development.
• Ensure that the website is up-to-date, using WordPress, ThirdLight, and NetForum.

Managing vendors:

• Identify vendors for events and services—e.g., venues, AV and catering, film and video production teams, and case study authors—and review and manage vendor contracts, deliverables, and invoices.

Engaging and informing participants:

• Guide and coordinate the jury processes in accordance with ULI values and donor and governance requirements.
• Plan agendas, runs-of-show, and speaker remarks for in-person and virtual events.
• Write and deliver clear communications to jurors, committees, entrants, finalists, winners, and nonwinners so they understand the time commitment, cost, process, benefits, and outcomes of participation.
• Review registrations and entries for completeness and eligibility.
• Write and disseminate surveys to garner feedback from participants for continual improvement.
• Manage and distribute student resources during the ULI Hines Student competition. Ensure that all necessary GIS data, photos, and videos are available for the stakeholders, challenge brief writer, and students.

Handling marketing and promotional efforts, in collaboration with the Marketing, Branding, and Communications team:

• Identify and reach out to career centers, student clubs, and faculty contacts at universities to promote the ULI Hines Student Competition.
• Identify and reach out to developers, designers, and PR firms to encourage entries for the Awards for Excellence, nominees for the ULI Prize, and entrants for the ULI Apgar Thought Leader Award.
• Draft copy for promotional emails, videos, visual assets, and social media content.
• Ensure high-quality design, and regular, timely, and accurate delivery of emails and posting of content.
• Draft copy for press releases and review for accuracy.
• Ensure that visual assets are organized and available to various teams.

Handling supervisory and internal relations:

• The Manager could potentially manage an Associate or Senior Associate if desired and might manage occasional temporary employees and interns.
• The Manager will communicate with many other teams at ULI and should be able to provide friendly motivation and timely information and follow-up to others so they can complete tasks in support of the Awards program. This individual will interface regularly with teams such as Branding, Marketing, Communications, Meetings & Events, Editorial, Publishing, District Councils, and Centers & Initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 4 to 6 years of progressively responsible related experience in project or program
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Ability to coordinate projects and programs independently and deliver results on time and on budget.
• Political sensitivity and experience managing relationships with C-suite executives, community activists and leaders, and public officials.
• Previous experience with in-person event management is preferred, but not required.
• Experience with managing vendors and service providers is required.
• Basic to intermediate budgeting experience preferred.
• Proficiency in Office 365—SharePoint, OneDrive, Office, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Ability to facilitate committee and jury conversations aimed at achieving consensus decisions via virtual event platforms and in person.
• Proficiency in Zoom, Teams, or other virtual event management platforms.
• Experience with one or more of the following platforms preferred: OpenWater, WordPress, Higher Logic/Real Magnet, Slack, NetForum, PowerBI, ThirdLight, and QuestionPro.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain friendly working relationships with jury members, vendors, and venues.
• Ability to plan and execute details of in-person and virtual events.
• Ability to maintain a working knowledge of the complex needs of a variety of projects and events with overlapping timelines.
• Ability to plan for potential scenarios that could affect the integrity of events and awards processes, and to identify and avoid potential problems before they arise or address unexpected problems or changes quickly as they occur.
• Highly detail-oriented.
• Confident and enjoys collaborating and communicating regularly with a wide variety of people.
• Proactive about making and following up on requests and emails internally and externally in a timely manner.
• Demonstrated interest or experience in urban planning, development, design, land use, and/or commercial real estate could be helpful in this role.
• Travel time for two in-person conferences, two annual competition events, and occasional smaller events.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

ULI has a robust benefits package that includes health, dental, and life insurance, vacation, and a retirement plan. Compensation is commensurate with experience. To apply, please follow the link below. Please submit a résumé and letter of interest.

https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=76dd43dd-5757-401e-9ef5-65813f73b552&ccId=19000101_000001&jobId=441892&source=CC2&lang=en_US

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, 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.