We have ambitious plans, and we know the most critical step is building an incredible team that reflects the diverse fabric of our nation and embodies our values. Our team is made up of people who are equal parts dreamers and doers. We are people who care as much about how we achieve our goals as we do about the goals themselves. Our values drive our team and are instilled in the work this Foundation does every day. We are also committed to creating an anti-racist organization in order to do our part to help combat racism and inequity in all forms, in communities across our nation and around the world. Read our full statement on anti-racism and equity here.

Purpose of Role

The Senior Associate of Public Programs, Obama Presidential Center (OPC), will play a key role in developing and implementing public programming that will take place across select spaces on the OPC campus, including in the auditorium, media suite, program rooms, library, fruit and vegetable garden, and other public outdoor spaces. The Senior Associate will report to and work with the Director of Public Programs to advance program concepts; collaborate with external and internal program partners; and support a variety of public program initiatives including events, fundraising, and communications.

The Senior Associate will work collaboratively across the Foundation to develop, manage, and implement impactful public programs that serve diverse community audiences. The Senior Associate will be responsible for developing welcoming and engaging public programs that align with the overall OPC Programming Strategy inclusive of programs such as talks and workshops, in-community programs, large-scale festivals, seasonal community-focused events, community space use, and special outdoor experiences. The program plans will integrate with and amplify the existing leadership and opportunity programming operated globally and in the United States by the Foundation.

The Senior Associate will partner with the OPC Operations and Program Strategy & Operations teams to plan and execute programs. They will be responsible for program strategy,event planning, talent management, program partnership development, program budgeting and expense tracking, and partnering with the Convenings team to implement programs. They will work cross functionally across the organization to advance communications and marketing plans, audience cultivation, measurement and evaluation, and reporting.

The Senior Associate, Public Programs, OPC Programs will report directly to the Director of Public Programs.

Core Job Responsibilities

• Advance a series of public programs concepts for various community-oriented audiences on campus and throughout the city. Implement programs in partnership with internal teams, as well as external program partners.

• In partnership with OPC Programs program design and strategy colleagues, project manage all elements of select public programs including planning, speaker engagement and content development, program budgeting, measurement and evaluation reporting, marketing and communications planning, accessibility, legal policies and procedures, talent management, and more.

• Program planning will include event planning, program partnership development, program budgeting and expense tracking, communications and marketing materials briefings, audience cultivation, measurement and evaluation, reporting, and implementation plans.

• Provide support with maintaining relationships to collaborate with external public programming partners.

• Prepare public programming-related development and grant proposal materials to support fundraising efforts for the OPC.

• Collaborate with the OPC Operations and Programs Strategy & Operations teams to advance program administration and production processes inclusive of finance, contracting, talent vetting, vendor management, creative briefings, travel planning, and more.

• As needed, support the Director of Public Programs with select administrative responsibilities and support special events coordination.

Key Deliverables / Outcomes

• Implement and support the public programs concepts as part of the OPC Programming Strategy, which support the overall strategic goals of the OPC.

• Contribute to program planning and piloting public programs in collaboration with colleagues to test, measure, and iterate on the program concepts.

• Update and modify the public programming plan on an annual basis in collaboration with the Curator of Public Programs and other colleagues, in context of the overall OPC Programming Strategy.

• Effectively monitor the budget to ensure that all program milestones are achieved on time and on budget.

• Launch and implement compelling, sustainable and impactful public programs and pre-opening experiences.

• Build meaningful and collaborative relationships with local community organizations and institutions.

• Support additional OPC programming implementation as needed based on strategic priority.

Required Qualifications

• Professional track record of large-scale public programming with a wide range of knowledge and enthusiasm for community-building experiences.

• Demonstrated excellence in and an innovative approach to conceiving and implementing programs for cultural organizations, creative companies, and/or educational institutions.

• Experience programming for adult, family, and teen audiences.

• A deep understanding of arts, music, cultural, civic, entertainment, and tech trends in both physical and digital settings, especially those with a connection to democratic and civic culture.

• Experience working with high profile talent, both emerging and established.

• Exceptional project management with demonstrated organizational ability and experience creating and maintaining budgets and project schedules; ability to communicate and partner with colleagues to achieve objectives and meet deadlines.

• Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written, with program participants, partners, talent, and donors.

• Ability to work nights and weekends on program and event days.

The salary range for this role is between $79,040 and $98,800.

This position is currently hybrid with 2–3 days per week in the office. This role will require 5 days per week in person once the Obama Presidential Center opens.

Foundation Values

The Foundation Values are Courage, Empathy, Integrity, Accountability, Community, Inclusivity, Pragmatism, Resilience, Imagination, and Hope.

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!

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.