Compensation Overview

About 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

The Manager of Visitor Education and Engagement for the Obama Presidential Center will oversee the planning and implementation of tours and informal gallery interpretation for the Museum and campus. Functions will include hospitality and ensuring a seamless, engaging, and inclusive experience for all visitors on the campus. This position will build-out, train, and lead a public-facing team while collaborating with internal teams to ensure alignment with the project’s overall experiential goals. 

As the Manager of Visitor Education and Engagement, you will report directly to the Director of Visitor Services & Experience.

Core Job Responsibilities

• Establishes goals related to educational and information-sharing standards for tours and informal in-gallery engagement, in line with best practices in interpretation, storytelling, and Obama Presidential Center mission.
• Manages the development of tour curriculum, associated training, and plan evaluation methodologies in accordance with campus interpretive goals. Maintains a working knowledge of applicable teaching pedagogy and best practices in cultural institution settings.
• Ensures integration of inclusivity, accessibility, and multi-modal learning styles into tour and interpretive practices. 
• Works closely with the team to ensure guests receive a world-class, welcoming experience, facilitating visitor engagement throughout the campus.
• Hires, trains, and provides day-to-day support of a team of full-time and part-time staff, modeling professional and inclusive behavior. Facilitates goal setting and development, and oversees union contracts for compliance.
• Supervises on-the-floor activities, and be able to step in as a team member, if needed.
• Offers expert analysis of evaluative data to recommend team improvements.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Key Deliverables / Outcomes

• Development of metrics and training plans to ensure the team delivers high quality content consistent with the themes and goals of the campus and museum.
• Serve as key liaison with OPC staff; attending and participating in departmental meetings, they keep the team up to date and advocate for system adaptations that will best serve team goals.
• In collaboration with the Sr Associate of Training and Workforce Development, development and execution of a career pathways partnership with local colleges and universities. 
• Strong management of the hiring, scheduling, training, and mentoring of the team. 
• Oversight of department equipment and supplies, informing inventory needs and providing budget oversight. 
• Effective resolution of visitor escalations in person and via external communication as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices in interpretation and touring techniques.
• Understanding of best practices for inclusivity and accessibility, particularly in a cultural institution or educational setting. 
• Experience leading and managing a diverse public-facing team, that is accountable to mission-oriented goals in a fast-paced environment.
• Interest or knowledge of history, social science, political science, or related fields, a plus.
• Flexibility of hours including but not limited to early morning, late night, weekends, and holidays across campus in both indoor and outdoor environments. Ability to work out of the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park and/or other Obama Foundation locations in Chicago.

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 [email protected] if you require a reasonable accommodation to complete this application.