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 Exhibits Project Lead is a senior member of the Obama Presidential Center project team with primary responsibility for ensuring that the inaugural museum exhibits are designed, produced, and installed at a high level of quality, on-time and on-budget to support an on-time opening of the Obama Presidential Center. Working closely with the Museum Director, Director of OPC Project Management & Integration, and the OPC Operations & Implementation Team, you will provide direction and oversight for all workstreams necessary to successfully deliver this ambitious inaugural exhibitions project. The OPC Exhibits Project Lead will oversee the relationship of key external vendors, including the exhibit designer, exhibit fabricator, and exhibit media producers, and supervise the work of internal exhibit teams. The ultimate goal of this role is to deliver a world-class exhibition experience that supports the Obama Foundation's mission to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world. This position is expected to sunset after the opening of the OPC.

Core Job Responsibilities

• Oversee the successful completion of exhibition design. Oversee the relationship and contract with the external exhibition designer through the remainder of Final Design (FD). Ensure on-time deliverables from the consultant, OPC team and other key stakeholders to keep the exhibition design process on track. Collaborate closely with the Museum Director to ensure that the final exhibition design meets key curatorial and experiential goals.
• Develop and execute an overall procurement, fabrication and installation plan that is coordinated with the overall construction and operation plans for the OPC and achieves an on time and on budget opening. Coordinate closely with the Director of Project Management & Integration and members of the Operations & Implementation team to ensure alignment of schedule and coordination of activities.
• Oversee the entire exhibition production and fabrication process, including management of the exhibition fabricator, 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.
• Work closely with the Director of Collections, the 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.
• Create and manage the detailed exhibit installation schedule and exhibit budget, in close collaboration with the OPC Operations & Implementation Team and the Director of Project Management & Integration to ensure an on-budget and on-schedule museum delivery.
• Manage all exhibition testing and refinement, oversee exhibition staff training activities, and oversee other activities necessary to successfully open and maintain the exhibits. Manage final punch lists and coordinate post-opening remediation activities as required.
• Provide strategic guidance and direct the work of key exhibit team members, including the Senior Manager of Exhibit Production and the Senior Manager of Integrated Media.. Work closely with the Museum Director, Curator of Collections & Exhibitions, and the Director of Collections to ensure integration of all other exhibit-related work necessary to deliver a successful exhibit project.
• 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
• All exhibition consultant and vendor relationships are effectively managed.

Required Qualifications

• Extensive & demonstrated experience leading large, technically complex and richly designed immersive experiences in complex, integrated environments
• Experience overseeing the comprehensive fabrication and installation of an entire complex museum
• Demonstrated track record of experience at the intersection of storytelling, technology, and the built environment
• Strong project management experience
• Effective manager and leader of high performing teams

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.