Vice President, Strategic Communications, Policy, and Research

The Urban Land Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and education organization supported by its members. Founded in 1936, ULI has more than 48,000 members worldwide representing the full spectrum of land use and real estate development disciplines. ULI’s mission is to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The ULI Impact Lab is ULI’s philanthropy-supported do-tank, bringing together research, convening power, technical assistance, and philanthropic capital to accelerate scalable solutions in the built environment. The Impact Lab seeks a senior leader to build and lead its strategic communications, policy, and research function — ensuring the Lab’s knowledge, insights, and field-based work are translated into timely, actionable content that shapes practice, informs public dialogue, supports fundraising, and advances measurable impact.

The VP will work closely with the Chief Impact Officer, Impact Lab leadership, ULI Membership and Marketing, District and National Councils, ULI members, and external partners. This position is based in Washington, D.C.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Strategic communications and knowledge translation

• Lead an integrated communications, policy, and research function connecting strategy, content, audience engagement, and dissemination.
• Develop knowledge products including playbooks, case studies, white papers, briefs, toolkits, op-eds, and funder-facing materials.
• Translate complex programmatic work and member expertise into compelling, business-forward narratives connecting built environment challenges to market realities and investment decisions.
• Partner with ULI Membership and Marketing to align Impact Lab messaging with enterprise strategy, media opportunities, and external positioning.

Research, publications, and policy intelligence

• Shape research agendas grounded in member needs, market trends, policy relevance, and implementation challenges; oversee the full publications pipeline.
• Develop and maintain a policy intelligence function that anticipates federal, state, and local policy windows — positioning the Lab to inform public dialogue in a timely, nonpartisan, educational manner.
• Analyze policy trends in housing supply, land use, decarbonization, resilience, infrastructure, capital markets, health, and community development.

Impact storytelling, fundraising, and leadership

• Build systems for identifying and telling stories about ULI’s influence and impact over time, including case studies, short-form pieces, videos, and donor materials.
• In partnership with the VP of Strategic Partnerships and Advancement, develop funder-facing materials that translate the Lab’s work into compelling investment opportunities.
• Serve as a strategic partner across the Lab’s market analysis, engagement, and scaling functions; manage staff, consultants, writers, and researchers as the function grows.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR

Required

• Experience: 10 to 15 years of senior-level experience in strategic communications, policy, research, public affairs, urban planning, real estate, climate, housing, infrastructure, or philanthropy.
• Leadership: Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional work in a complex organization, including managing staff, consultants, and project teams.
• Policy judgment: Experience in fast-paced policy, public affairs, or issue-oriented environments with strong judgment about timing, positioning, and audience.
• Knowledge products: Experience developing or overseeing research products, policy briefs, case studies, reports, or other thought leadership for external audiences.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in communications, public policy, urban planning, real estate, environmental studies, or related field preferred.

Preferred

• Experience developing funder-facing narratives, proposals, or donor stewardship materials for foundations, institutional funders, or major donors.
• Substantive knowledge of the built environment: housing, land use, climate, resilience, infrastructure, public policy, community development, or capital markets.
• Familiarity with 501(c)(3) nonpartisan public education principles and policy-adjacent communications.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

In the first year, a successful VP will have built an integrated communications, policy, and research strategy for the Impact Lab; launched a policy intelligence function; advanced a pipeline of high-quality knowledge products; and strengthened the Lab’s impact storytelling systems. They will have earned the trust of the Chief Impact Officer, program teams, and the broader ULI organization.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $153,959 to $175,204. Actual compensation will be based on 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.

WORKING CONDITIONS

ULI is committed to shaping the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide. In alignment with the Board of Directors’ strong commitment to in-person collaboration, our roles require regular on-site presence. ULI’s primary workplace remains its offices, where in-person collaboration supports our mission and service to members.

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, caregiver status, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or partnership status, familial status, unemployment status, or any other status protected by applicable law.