Address
Form of workAbout the Obama Foundation
At the Obama Foundation, we are guided by a core belief: that ordinary people working together can change history. Our mission is to inspire those people to take action, empower them to change their world for the better, and connect them so they can achieve more together than they can alone.
We were founded by community organizers, so when we seek change, we do it by bringing people together.
That approach begins at home, on the South Side of Chicago, where we are building the Obama Presidential Center. The Center represents a historic opportunity for Chicago: a chance to build a world-class museum and public gathering space that celebrates our nation's first African American President and First Lady, steps away from where he began his career, where she was raised, and where-together-they made their home.
But that approach extends to all our work, whether it's holding leadership training sessions in communities throughout the U.S., bringing local leaders together in countries around the world, working to support the global education of girls, or ensuring young men of color have pathways to opportunity.
As President Obama has said, " we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together." So join us.
For more information, please visit www.obama.org .
Purpose of the Role
[As a senior member of the Obama Presidential Center (OPC) Project Management team, the Exhibitions Project Manager will work closely with the OPC Museum, Project Management & Integration, and Operations & Implementation teams to ensure that the inaugural museum exhibits are designed, produced, and installed at a high level of quality, on-time and on-budget. As we finalize exhibit design and enter the fabrication phase of the project, you will manage the exhibition fabrication process from concept through project closeout and will collaborate closely with the external exhibit design, fabrication, AV integration, inclusive design, media production, architecture, and construction teams to ensure coordination across these key stakeholders; creating processes that support cross-functional team collaboration and effective communication. Additionally, you will supervise the work of the internal exhibits team, and manage exhibit projects for the OPC's inaugural core exhibits, including design updates, collections rotations planning, and internal processes for installation. As a solutions-oriented Project Manager, you will organize team efforts, with the ultimate goal of delivering a world-class exhibition experience that supports the Obama Foundation's mission to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world. This role will report to the Director of Project Management and Integration, and is expected to sunset after the opening of the OPC at the end of 2025.
Core Job Responsibilities
Key Deliverables / Outcomes
Required Qualifications
The salary range for this role is between $127,950 and $170,600.
Don't check off every box in the requirements listed above? Please apply anyway! Studies have shown that marginalized communities - such as women, LGBTQ+ and people of color - are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. The Obama Foundation is dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible workplace that fosters a sense of belonging - so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still consider submitting an application. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings!
In the interest of employee health and safety during the pendency of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Obama Foundation is requiring that all prospective employees present proof that they are fully-vaccinated against COVID-19, or seek a reasonable accommodation for religious or medical reasons, prior to their first day of employment.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Foundation is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. The Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. If you are a qualified candidate with a disability, please e-mail us at careers@obama.org if you require a reasonable accommodation to complete this application.
At the Obama Foundation, we are guided by a core belief: that ordinary people working together can change history. Our mission is to inspire those people to take action, empower them to change their world for the better, and connect them so they can achieve more together than they can alone.
We were founded by community organizers, so when we seek change, we do it by bringing people together.
That approach begins at home, on the South Side of Chicago, where we are building the Obama Presidential Center. The Center represents a historic opportunity for Chicago: a chance to build a world-class museum and public gathering space that celebrates our nation's first African American President and First Lady, steps away from where he began his career, where she was raised, and where-together-they made their home.
But that approach extends to all our work, whether it's holding leadership training sessions in communities throughout the U.S., bringing local leaders together in countries around the world, working to support the global education of girls, or ensuring young men of color have pathways to opportunity.
As President Obama has said, " we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together." So join us.
For more information, please visit www.obama.org .
Purpose of the Role
[As a senior member of the Obama Presidential Center (OPC) Project Management team, the Exhibitions Project Manager will work closely with the OPC Museum, Project Management & Integration, and Operations & Implementation teams to ensure that the inaugural museum exhibits are designed, produced, and installed at a high level of quality, on-time and on-budget. As we finalize exhibit design and enter the fabrication phase of the project, you will manage the exhibition fabrication process from concept through project closeout and will collaborate closely with the external exhibit design, fabrication, AV integration, inclusive design, media production, architecture, and construction teams to ensure coordination across these key stakeholders; creating processes that support cross-functional team collaboration and effective communication. Additionally, you will supervise the work of the internal exhibits team, and manage exhibit projects for the OPC's inaugural core exhibits, including design updates, collections rotations planning, and internal processes for installation. As a solutions-oriented Project Manager, you will organize team efforts, with the ultimate goal of delivering a world-class exhibition experience that supports the Obama Foundation's mission to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world. This role will report to the Director of Project Management and Integration, and is expected to sunset after the opening of the OPC at the end of 2025.
Core Job Responsibilities
- Exhibitions Project Management
- Oversee the entire exhibition production and fabrication process, including coordination and management of the exhibition designers and fabricators, as well as collaboration with AV systems integrator and media producers, to ensure that all elements are produced at a high level of quality, on-time, and on-budget. Manage exhibit budget and schedule, identify issues and proactively develop solutions to address them.
- In partnership with the Director of Project Management, the exhibits team, and OPC Implementation team, develop and execute an overall procurement, fabrication and installation plan that is coordinated with the overall construction schedule and operation plans for the OPC and achieves an on time and on budget opening.
- Coordinate communication and collaboration across all vendors involved in the production of inaugural core exhibits, including exhibition fabrication, exhibition design, architecture, and the construction teams. Serve as primary point of contact and manage the efforts for all consultants tasked with exhibition design, fabrication, and installation processes for the permanent exhibitions, as well as any future special exhibits and interpretive elements outside the core galleries and in the landscape.
- Create, manage, and adjust detailed exhibit project plans (schedules, workflows, project retrospectives, etc.), monitor and track progress against deadlines, employing critical thinking and ensuring accountability and follow-through for all permanent and any future special exhibits.
- Work closely with the Director of Collections, Director of Facilities, Chief of Security, and the Director of Project Management & Integration to create a detailed schedule and workplan for all collections-related work necessary to successfully install artifacts into the exhibits. Ensure the coordination of schedules for all collections activities, including artifact preparation, temporary storage, and installation.
- Manage aspects of the transition from design project to opening the OPC, including the ongoing maintenance and updates of all physical exhibition components, coordination of object rotations with curatorial and collections staff, and creation of necessary documentation like maintenance and update protocols.
- Administrative
- Participate in budgeting processes and any Value Engineering processes by creating estimates, thoroughly tracking expenses, and providing regular budget reports.
- To the extent additional vendors are needed, manage specific exhibitions procurement processes, including research to ensure best-in-class vendors for the project, creation and oversight of bid package and/or scope documents, development of RFPs, coordination of vendor selection, contracting, and onboarding in accordance with the Foundation's DEI commitments.
- Manage, facilitate, and contribute to internal documentation, memoranda, presentations, and briefings on exhibition-related topics, and participate in advisory group meetings and presentations as requested.
- Perform other duties as assigned
Key Deliverables / Outcomes
- All exhibition elements for the OPC are designed, produced, and installed with a high level of quality, on time, and on budget.
- Excellent coordination between key project teams throughout the exhibition fabrication and installation phase.
- Project plans for key exhibitions workstreams including design updates, collections rotations, shop drawing review, and installation are created and communicated effectively to various stakeholders, including designers and fabricators, to ensure successful execution of the project vision.
- Development of new processes; evaluation and refinement of existing project management standards and procedures to manage exhibition processes, including internal work required to fulfill commitments to stakeholders and external partners.
- Exhibits are fabricated and installed with accessibility and inclusive design needs as a top priority.
- Strong relationships with Foundation team members, external consultants and external partners that enable proactive communication and problem-solving throughout complex exhibition processes.
Required Qualifications
- Self-directed, recognized expert Project Manager with extensive experience leading and managing several complex projects for physical spaces or experiential environments, including budget and schedule development, management of staff and vendors, creative problem-solving, exceptional communication skills, and a particular emphasis on artifacts, artwork, and media elements.
- Familiarity with the museum field and best practices required.
- Track record of managing multiple projects simultaneously within fixed timelines and budgets while working independently in a fast-paced environment.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complicated projects, lead various teams (including internal staff and external project partners), deal with schedule and budget pressures, while achieving results.
- Possess strong analytical, planning, and organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities; capable of identifying high-risk aspects and developing effective strategies to manage the risks.
- Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, specifications, and architectural and construction plans.
- Fluency with a range of software SaaS programs, including Autocad, Bluebeam, ProCore, Google Suite, Microsoft Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, Asana, Slack, Zoom.
- Driven to create welcoming, inclusive museum experiences for all visitors.
- Familiarity with standards and best practices for displaying, installing, and rotating museum collection items.
The salary range for this role is between $127,950 and $170,600.
Don't check off every box in the requirements listed above? Please apply anyway! Studies have shown that marginalized communities - such as women, LGBTQ+ and people of color - are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. The Obama Foundation is dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible workplace that fosters a sense of belonging - so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still consider submitting an application. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings!
In the interest of employee health and safety during the pendency of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Obama Foundation is requiring that all prospective employees present proof that they are fully-vaccinated against COVID-19, or seek a reasonable accommodation for religious or medical reasons, prior to their first day of employment.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Foundation is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. The Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. If you are a qualified candidate with a disability, please e-mail us at careers@obama.org if you require a reasonable accommodation to complete this application.
