At The Obama Foundation, our mission is to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world. We seek to build an active democratic culture where people are equipped and motivated to make change in the communities where they live, work, and play. Right here on the South Side of Chicago, we’re building a home for this vision, a global center for change with a range of opportunities - coordinated programming, community outreach events, educational moments, and more - that invite visitors from down the block or across the globe to turn hope into action.

Achieving our ambitious goals starts with an exceptional team built on our Hope to Action Values - Courage, Empathy, Integrity, Accountability, Community, Inclusivity, Pragmatism, Resilience, Imagination, and Hope. A Framework that anyone, anywhere, can use to build trust, activate participation, and expand opportunity in their community.

Purpose of the Role

The Social Media Associate role supports the Obama Foundation’s digital storytelling efforts by helping to develop and execute a dynamic, high-impact social media strategy. As a member of the Editorial Team, this person will report directly to and work closely with the Director of Social Media to craft original content grounded in great storytelling and compelling audience engagement.

Through strategic content creation, community engagement, and collaboration with internal and external partners, this role helps ensure the Foundation’s values, programs, and impact are communicated effectively and authentically across social platforms. This is also an exciting opportunity to help promote the Obama Presidential Center.

Core Job Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Director of Social Media to advise on and implement social media plans aligned with the Foundation’s voice, values, and priorities.

• Identify compelling stories and produce optimized video content that elevates community leadership in Chicago and globally, showcases the Obama Presidential Center, and highlights the impact of Foundation programs.

• Create original, high-performing video content tailored to various platforms that authentically represents the Foundation and the Obamas.

• Have a pulse on trending content and create real-time social posts that are fun, but also relevant to the Foundation’s work, in line with those trends where appropriate.

• Use social media analytics tools to track performance, identify trends, and help shape data-informed content decisions.

• Support the activation of digital surrogates — including alumni, partners, program participants and social media influencers — to broaden the Foundation’s reach and engagement across platforms.

• Lead day-to-day community management, maintaining a consistent and thoughtful brand voice while fostering authentic, two-way dialogue with audiences. Respond to and elevate audience conversations in a timely, thoughtful manner that reflects the Foundation’s voice and values.

Key Deliverables / Outcomes

• Produce high-quality, platform-optimized social content

• Manage day-to-day community engagement across the Foundation’s social platforms

• Identify and execute timely social media opportunities

• Track and report on social media performance.

• Support coordinated social amplification with internal and external partners.

Required Qualifications

• 3 years experience in video creation for social media channels, as well as multi-channel execution and social media graphics creation.

• Previous experience managing and directly posting for high profile social media accounts with a large audience; nonprofit or cultural institution experience a plus.

• Great team player with willingness to collaborate with multiple departments.

• Proven ability to balance multiple priorities without compromising quality, with some experience with project management to effectively coordinate both short and long term projects.

• Working knowledge of social analytic software such as Sprout Social, Google Analytics, etc.

• Exceptional writing ability with a track record of telling stories effectively through social media and engaging content.

The salary range for this role is between $59,755 and $74,670.

This is a hybrid role based at our Chicago office in Hyde Park.

Don’t check off every box in the requirements listed above? Please apply anyway! 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.