Senior Director, ESG programmes

Senior Director, ESG Programmes, ULI Europe

Location: London

ULI, the Urban Land Institute, is a non-profit research and education organisation supported by its members. Founded in 1936, we now have over 48,000 members worldwide. ULI has been active in Europe since the early 1990s and today we have over 5,000 members. Members, both individual and corporate, represent all disciplines active in real estate and urban development from public and private sectors, including architects, developers, investors, and urban planners.

ULI’s mission is to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide, delivered through a wide variety of events, awards, and thought leadership.

Research and ESG programmes are a key element of the value proposition offered to members and the wider industry. Topics and projects are initiated and executed in close cooperation with ULI’s members, providing perspectives from across the value chain to help members and the broader industry navigate challenges and unlock opportunities.

ULI Europe is seeking a Senior Director to lead the delivery and shaping of C Change for Housing, and to support C Change, ULI Europe’s two flagship programmes driving decarbonisation of the built environment across Europe.

C Change for Housing launched in January 2025 with philanthropic support from the Laudes Foundation, with the aim of mobilising the real estate industry to decarbonise Europe’s existing and future affordable housing stock. Two work streams are currently active — defining affordable, sustainable housing and rebuilding the business case for it — with a third workstream due to launch in early 2027.

This is a maternity cover position, with the postholder joining ahead of the current programme lead’s leave to allow for a handover period. The role reports to the Vice President, Content, who will provide guidance rather than close day‑to‑day management — this is a role for someone confident shaping programme direction and managing their own workload with real autonomy. There is genuine scope to shape both programmes over the course of the term, working closely with ULI members, the C Change for Housing steering committee, and the Vice President, Content.

Should additional funded work be secured during the term, there is potential for the role to extend or convert to a permanent position.

The role splits across the two programmes: approximately four days per week leading C Change for Housing, and one day per week supporting C Change — working alongside the C Change Programme Lead on programme direction, profile‑raising, and business development.

Delivery of C Change for Housing

• Work with ULI’s members, staff, consultants, and the wider industry to deliver the programme’s active work streams and progress them toward tangible, actionable solutions.
• Develop new programme work streams related to existing interventions, including supporting the launch of a third workstream in early 2027.
• Manage the relationship with the Laudes Foundation and other funders, including quarterly reporting and ongoing stakeholder engagement to maintain funder confidence and support future grant renewal.
• Closely collaborate with other industry associations and sustainability-focused organisations to gather input and share progress.
• Identify potential corporate and philanthropic funding sources and support fundraising for the core programme and specific work streams, including contributing to live funding bids.

• Work with the C Change Programme Lead to support programme development.
• Focus on raising the profile of the programme and identifying business development opportunities.

• Work with staff, members, and external organisations to develop new ESG programmes.
• Work closely with research colleagues within ULI to prime new ideas.
• Identify potential corporate and philanthropic funding sources for new programmes.

• Work with ULI Europe’s national council team to support the pan-European rollout of programme outputs.
• Support the preparation of research project-related events, in…