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Join our team.

When we have open positions on the University City District or Skills Initiative teams they will be listed below.

University City District (UCD) is a non-profit, special services district that leverages a unique partnership of universities, health systems, large and small businesses, and community groups

to invest in public spaces, address public maintenance and public safety issues, bring life to commercial corridors, promote job growth and innovation, and connect residents to career opportunities by way of The Skills Initiative.

University City District provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Unless otherwise noted, all inquiries regarding open positions can be sent to Erica Jorden, Director of Human Resources.

Open Roles:

Senior Manager of Partnerships & Programs
Senior Manager of Advancement, Workforce
Executive Operations Coordinator

Senior Manager of Partnerships & Programs

Position Summary:

University City District (UCD) is seeking a Senior Manager of Partnerships & Programs to strengthen UCD’s relationships with businesses, property owners, institutions, and other stakeholders; create meaningful opportunities for the University City business community to connect and engage; and grow private-sector support for UCD programs and initiatives.

The Senior Manager of Partnerships and Programs will serve as a key connection between UCD and the University City business community, developing strong relationships with employers, retailers, property owners, developers, and other private-sector partners. The position will work to understand stakeholder needs, connect businesses with UCD resources and initiatives, identify opportunities for collaboration, and ensure UCD remains responsive to the economic and operating environment of the district.

A central responsibility of the position will be to develop and execute events and convenings that strengthen connections among University City businesses, institutions, and stakeholders. The Senior Manager of Partnerships & Programs will lead planning and execution of UCD’s annual signature State of University City event and develop other networking, informational, and engagement opportunities throughout the year. These events should provide tangible value to the University City business community while strengthening relationships with UCD and one another.

The Senior Manager of Partnerships & Programs will also lead UCD’s sponsorship strategy, developing partnerships that generate financial and in-kind support for UCD events, programs, public spaces, commercial corridor initiatives, and other activities. The position will identify opportunities to connect UCD’s relationships, events, and organizational assets with the interests of prospective corporate and institutional partners.

The ideal candidate is an energetic and highly relational professional who is equally comfortable cultivating a CEO, convening a group of small business owners, developing a sponsorship proposal, and managing the many details required to execute a high-quality event. This person should enjoy connecting people and organizations and translating those relationships into tangible value for UCD and the University City community.

Key Responsibilities:

Business Engagement & Relationship Management

Serve as a key relationship manager for businesses, employers, property owners, developers, retailers, and other private-sector stakeholders throughout University City.

Develop and maintain a systematic approach to business outreach and relationship management, ensuring UCD regularly engages with key district stakeholders.

Conduct regular outreach and visits with University City businesses to understand their needs, challenges, priorities, and opportunities for growth.

Connect businesses with relevant UCD programs, services, data, events, workforce resources, public space initiatives, and other opportunities.

Work across UCD to respond to business needs and identify opportunities where the organization can provide value or facilitate connections.

Strengthen UCD’s engagement with commercial corridors, small businesses, and business associations throughout the district.

Identify emerging issues affecting University City businesses and communicate those trends internally to help inform UCD strategies and priorities.
Maintain accurate information about stakeholder relationships, interactions, needs, and opportunities using UCD’s relationship-management systems.

Events, Convenings & Business Community Engagement

Lead the planning and execution of UCD’s stakeholder events, including the annual State of University City event, working across the organization to develop events that showcase University City’s accomplishments, UCD’s impact, and the people and organizations shaping the district.

Manage all aspects of stakeholder event planning, including venue selection, event logistics, program development, speakers, invitations, registration, vendors, sponsorship activation, and day-of execution. Work closely with UCD leadership, Marketing & Communications, Advancement, and other teams to develop the content, messaging, and experience for stakeholder events, including State of University City events.

Create an annual calendar of events and convenings that respond to the interests and needs of the local business community and provide meaningful networking and engagement opportunities for businesses, institutions, property owners, and other stakeholders to connect with one another.

Develop a range of engagement formats, including networking events, business roundtables, briefings, panels, stakeholder meetings, and other convenings.

Identify opportunities for UCD to convene stakeholders around emerging issues, shared challenges, district initiatives, and opportunities affecting University City.

Develop partnerships with UCD board members, institutional partners, businesses, and other organizations to host or participate in events.

Establish goals and measures for UCD events and engagement activities and use participant feedback and other data to continuously improve programming.

Ensure UCD events reflect a consistent standard of quality, professionalism, hospitality, and stakeholder experience.

Sponsorships & Corporate Partnerships

Lead development, solicitation, and implementation of UCD’s sponsorship strategy to identify, cultivate, and solicit corporate and institutional sponsors for UCD’s events, programs, public spaces, commercial corridor initiatives, and organizational activities.

Build and manage a pipeline of prospective sponsors and establish annual goals for sponsorship revenue and in-kind support.

Develop sponsorship and custom partnership opportunities that provide meaningful value to partners that support UCD initiatives and priorities, while supporting the interests of prospective partners.

Integrate sponsorship opportunities into UCD’s annual event and engagement calendar, identifying opportunities to build longer-term relationships rather than one-time transactions.

Manage sponsor relationships from initial outreach through proposal development, activation, recognition, and stewardship.

Coordinate internally with the Marketing and Communications team to ensure sponsorship commitments and benefits are delivered effectively.

External Affairs & Organizational Representation

Build and maintain relationships with civic, business, institutional, community, and government partners relevant to UCD’s work.

Represent UCD at meetings, business gatherings, community events, conferences, and other external forums.

Help connect UCD leadership with key external stakeholders and identify opportunities to strengthen relationships with organizations and individuals important to UCD’s mission.

Support the President & CEO and senior leadership in preparing for external meetings and stakeholder engagement as needed.

Identify opportunities for UCD and its leadership to participate in external events, panels, meetings, and conversations relevant to University City.

Collaborate with UCD’s Marketing & Communications team to ensure external engagement reinforces UCD’s organizational priorities and overall positioning.

Qualifications:

Required

At least five years of experience in business engagement, corporate partnerships, events, sponsorships, external affairs, fundraising, stakeholder engagement, or a related field.

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.

Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with businesses, corporate leaders, institutional partners, and other external stakeholders.

Experience executing high-quality, large-scale events, meetings, or convenings involving multiple stakeholders and senior business and institutional leaders.

Experience developing, managing, and securing sponsorships, partnerships, and other revenue-generating relationships.

Strong written and verbal interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to establish credibility with a wide range of audiences

Exceptional organizational and project management skills, including the ability to manage complex events and multiple deadlines simultaneously.

Ability to identify opportunities, initiate relationships, and independently move projects from concept through completion.

Strong judgment and ability to represent UCD professionally in external settings.

Collaborative working style and demonstrated ability to work effectively across departments and organizational functions.

Comfort using CRM, event-management, or other systems to track relationships, outreach, registrations, and opportunities.

Ability to occasionally work evenings or other nontraditional hours associated with UCD events and external engagements.

Starting Salary:

$85,000

To Apply:

If you are interested in this role, please email your resume and cover letter to Erica Jorden, Director of Human Resources at ejorden@universitycity.org.

Finally, a real person will be reading every application, so please bring your humanity to your cover letter. No need to game the word choice algorithm, just let us know why you think you would be a great addition to our growing team!

Senior Manager of Advancement, Workforce

Position Summary:

The Senior Manager of Advancement, Workforce reports directly to the Vice President of Advancement and is a strategic member of the Advancement team. The Senior Manager serves as the primary advancement partner for workforce development initiatives, including The Skills Initiative and related sector partnerships, helping to secure, steward, and grow philanthropic, corporate, and public investments that advance equitable pathways to quality employment.

This position is responsible for managing a portfolio of institutional funders, strategic prospects, and select individual donors; leading grant development and reporting efforts; supporting workforce-related funding strategies; and collaborating closely with program, finance, communications, and executive leadership staff. The Senior Manager translates workforce outcomes, labor market trends, and programmatic impact into compelling investment opportunities while helping strengthen systems and processes that support an increasingly sophisticated advancement function.

Key Responsibilities:

Fundraising & Portfolio Management

Manage a portfolio of foundation, corporate, public, and select individual donors and prospects, with an emphasis on cultivating long-term philanthropic partnerships that advance workforce and inclusive economic development initiatives.
Develop and implement cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies to strengthen relationships and increase investment in workforce initiatives.
Identify and pursue new funding opportunities aligned with organizational and workforce priorities.
Serve as the primary advancement liaison to workforce program staff, supporting alignment between fundraising priorities, program implementation, and organizational strategy.
Partner with the Vice President of Advancement to support the growth of individual giving efforts, including donor identification, cultivation planning, stewardship activities, and engagement opportunities designed to deepen donor investment in workforce initiatives.
Conduct prospect research and assist in the development of cultivation strategies for individual donors, leveraging organizational events, site visits, storytelling, and leadership engagement opportunities.
Prepare donor briefings, talking points, meeting materials, and stewardship communications to support relationship-building efforts with individual and family philanthropists.
Partner with the Vice President of Advancement to support annual fundraising goals, revenue forecasting, and pipeline development.

Grant Development & Strategic Communications

Lead the development, writing, editing, and submission of compelling grant proposals, reports, concept papers, and related donor communications.
Translate labor market data, participant outcomes, employer engagement metrics, and evaluation findings into persuasive narratives for funders and stakeholders.
Coordinate cross-functional teams to gather programmatic, financial, and impact information necessary for high-quality submissions.
Support the preparation of presentations, briefing materials, impact reports, and external communications highlighting workforce initiatives.

Public Funding & Workforce Partnerships

Support the cultivation and management of public funding opportunities, including local, state, and federal workforce investments.
Assist in the development of employer-sponsored initiatives and strategic partnerships that advance talent development objectives.
Represent the organization in workforce collaboratives, sector partnerships, funder meetings, and community engagement opportunities as appropriate.
Monitor trends in workforce development, philanthropy, and economic mobility to identify emerging opportunities and strengthen competitive positioning.

Systems, Stewardship & Operations

Maintain accurate grant calendars, reporting schedules, and advancement tracking systems.
Oversee stewardship activities, donor acknowledgements, site visits, and funder engagement opportunities.
Support the planning and execution of donor cultivation and stewardship experiences, including small gatherings, site visits, employer tours, participant showcases, volunteerism and other engagement opportunities that connect donors to the impact of workforce initiatives.
Partner with finance staff to monitor grant budgets, reconcile expenditures, and support compliance requirements.
Contribute to ongoing improvements in advancement systems, workflows, data integrity, and knowledge management practices.
Mentor interns, consultants, or junior staff as assigned and support departmental special projects.

Qualifications:

Required

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
Five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in institutional fundraising, workforce development, economic mobility, or nonprofit advancement.
Demonstrated success securing and stewarding foundation, corporate, public, and/or individual philanthropic investments.
Exceptional writing, editing, and project management skills.
Experience managing multiple deadlines and cross-functional initiatives.
Experience using donor management, grants management, and prospect research systems.
Strong relationship-building skills and ability to engage diverse stakeholders.
Commitment to inclusive economic growth and equitable workforce development.

Preferred

Experience in workforce development, talent intermediaries, economic development, education, or sector partnerships.
Familiarity with federal, state, and local workforce funding streams.
Experience translating programmatic and labor market data into compelling funding narratives.
Experience supporting individual donor cultivation, stewardship, and moves management strategies.
Passion for innovation, continuous improvement, and building systems that support organizational growth.

Starting Salary:

$80,000-90,000

To Apply:

If you are interested in this role, please email your resume and cover letter to Erica Jorden, Director of Human Resources at ejorden@universitycity.org.

Executive Operations Coordinator

Position Summary:

University City District (UCD) is seeking an organized, proactive, and highly responsive Executive Operations Coordinator to help ensure the organization’s administrative, governance, and day-to-day office operations run smoothly.

This position serves as a central administrative and operational resource for UCD, supporting organizational leadership, the Board of Directors, staff, visitors, vendors, institutional partners, and community stakeholders. The Coordinator plays an important role in maintaining effective administrative systems, coordinating Board and leadership activities, supporting organizational priorities, and contributing to a professional, welcoming, and high-functioning workplace.

The ideal candidate anticipates needs, takes initiative, exercises excellent judgment and discretion, communicates professionally with a wide range of stakeholders, and is comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. This individual should be equally comfortable coordinating a Board meeting, managing organizational calendars and administrative systems, communicating with an external partner, supporting leadership scheduling, or addressing an operational need within the office.

Key Responsibilities:

Board, Leadership & Administrative Support

Coordinate scheduling, meeting preparation, and administrative support for organizational leadership, including the President & CEO.
Manage calendars and scheduling associated with key organizational priorities, internal and external meetings, and leadership commitments.
Coordinate meeting logistics and ensure agendas, briefing materials, presentations, documents, and other necessary information are prepared and available in advance.
Track commitments, decisions, deadlines, and follow-up items arising from leadership and organizational meetings and help ensure appropriate next steps are completed.
Draft and prepare routine correspondence, meeting materials, presentations, briefing documents, and other organizational materials as needed.
Serve as a professional point of contact for Board members, institutional partners, public officials, funders, community stakeholders, and other external partners.
Coordinate travel, registrations, and related administrative needs for organizational leadership as necessary.
Coordinate scheduling and logistics for meetings of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and other Board committees.
Support the preparation and distribution of Board agendas, presentations, meeting materials, and communications.
Maintain Board calendars, contact information, meeting schedules, and related organizational records.
Coordinate with members of the senior leadership team regarding materials, deadlines, logistics, and follow-up associated with Board and leadership meetings.
Provide administrative and logistical support for special projects and organizational priorities as assigned.
Handle sensitive and confidential information with a high degree of discretion, professionalism, and sound judgment.

Office & Organizational Operations

Serve as a central point of contact for day-to-day office operations and help develop and maintain systems and processes that support an efficient, organized, and high-functioning workplace.
Coordinate office maintenance, supplies, equipment, service requests, and vendor relationships.
Manage conference room scheduling, shared office resources, organizational calendars, and other administrative systems.
Welcome visitors and help ensure a professional, responsive, and hospitable experience for guests and external partners.
Coordinate office moves, space planning, facility-related projects, and other workplace needs as necessary.
Coordinate organization-wide meetings, staff trainings, internal events, and other organizational activities.
Maintain organizational files, records, calendars, and administrative systems.
Support document preparation, mailings, data entry, records management, and other organization-wide administrative needs.
Provide administrative support across the organization based on operational needs and priorities.
Coordinate with Human Resources to help maintain and distribute organizational policies, procedures, employee resources, and internal administrative information.
Identify routine administrative or operational issues and proactively coordinate solutions before they disrupt organizational activities.
Look for opportunities to improve administrative processes, reduce inefficiencies, and strengthen coordination across departments.

Organizational Culture & Engagement

Support staff events, celebrations, employee engagement activities, and other initiatives that contribute to a positive workplace experience.
Help foster a welcoming, collaborative, professional, and service-oriented workplace culture.
Serve as a responsive and approachable resource for staff seeking assistance with administrative and operational needs.
Help ensure new employees, visitors, partners, and other stakeholders have a positive and professional experience when interacting with UCD’s office.
Contribute to an organizational environment where employees have access to the information, resources, and administrative support they need to work effectively.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
3–5 years of progressively responsible experience in administration, organizational operations, executive support, office management, or a related role.
Experience supporting senior leadership and/or a Board of Directors is preferred.
Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, deadlines, schedules, and multiple workstreams.
Exceptional organizational skills with strong attention to detail and consistent follow-through.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate professionally with senior executives, Board members, public officials, funders, community partners, vendors, and staff at all levels.
Excellent judgment, discretion, and demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential information.
Ability to anticipate needs, recognize priorities, identify potential issues, and take appropriate action without requiring extensive direction.
Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently while knowing when to seek input or escalate an issue.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and standard business technology; experience with Salesforce or similar systems is a plus.
Strong commitment to customer service, collaboration, teamwork, and creating a positive workplace experience.
Ability to adapt to changing priorities and remain organized and responsive in a fast-paced environment.

What Success Looks Like:

The successful Executive & Operations Coordinator will make UCD more effective by bringing structure, organization, responsiveness, and consistent follow-through to the administrative systems and activities that support the organization’s work.

They will help ensure that Board and leadership activities are well coordinated, meetings are well prepared, commitments and deadlines are tracked, and administrative details are handled reliably and professionally. They will understand when something requires immediate attention, when they can independently resolve an issue, and when additional guidance is appropriate.

They will build trusted relationships with staff, Board members, partners, vendors, and visitors and will bring professionalism, discretion, warmth, sound judgment, and a strong service orientation to those interactions.

They will also help create an office environment where administrative systems work well, information and resources are easy to access, employees know where to go for assistance, and routine operational issues are identified and addressed before they become larger problems.

Ultimately, success in this role means that staff and organizational leadership are well supported, Board operations are effectively coordinated, administrative systems are reliable, and UCD’s workplace operates with greater consistency and efficiency.

Salary:

$70,000

To Apply:

If you are interested in this role, please email your resume and cover letter to Erica Jorden, Director of Human Resources at ejorden@universitycity.org.