1 Public Art Project Manager, Obama Presidential Center Job in Chicago, IL
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Public Art Project Manager, Obama Presidential Center
$137k-192k (estimate)
Full Time | Civic & Environmental Advocacy
7 Days Ago
Obama Foundation is Hiring a Public Art Project Manager, Obama Presidential Center Near Chicago, IL
About The Obama FoundationAt 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 RoleAs the Public Art Project Manager at the Obama Presidential Center, you will play a pivotal role in managing the integration of art into the Center’s physical spaces. You will collaborate closely with various internal and external stakeholders, including our external art advisor, and coordinate across several departments: Design and Construction, Exhibitions, Collections, Curatorial, Creative & Communications, Development, Programming, Operations, and Legal, among others to ensure the seamless execution of the Obamas’ artistic vision for the campus in the lead-up to the Grand Opening, slated for spring of 2026. You will also directly manage the Art Coordinator, and oversee the fabrication and installation of artworks into spaces across campus — both in the landscape and inside the buildings. This is a termed position, coming to an end in May, 2026.
Core Job Responsibilities
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 EmployerThe 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.
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 RoleAs the Public Art Project Manager at the Obama Presidential Center, you will play a pivotal role in managing the integration of art into the Center’s physical spaces. You will collaborate closely with various internal and external stakeholders, including our external art advisor, and coordinate across several departments: Design and Construction, Exhibitions, Collections, Curatorial, Creative & Communications, Development, Programming, Operations, and Legal, among others to ensure the seamless execution of the Obamas’ artistic vision for the campus in the lead-up to the Grand Opening, slated for spring of 2026. You will also directly manage the Art Coordinator, and oversee the fabrication and installation of artworks into spaces across campus — both in the landscape and inside the buildings. This is a termed position, coming to an end in May, 2026.
Core Job Responsibilities
- Oversee and manage the workflow for art at the Obama Presidential Center, from approved concept to facilitating the seamless installation of the final works, while ensuring that the work can be feasibly fabricated and installed within the budget
- Provide work direction and leadership to art track of work, including lateral management of colleagues, assignment of work, and review of project efforts
- Oversee Art Coordinator workstreams around workplan, schedule, and timeline development; communication and deliverables coordination; and milestone monitoring
- Assess variances from the project plan; gather metrics, and develop and implement changes as necessary to ensure that the art track of work remains within specified scope and is within time, cost, and quality objectives
- Develop and lead an appropriate cadence of meetings and updates to the broader OPC team, Development, Marcomm, Leadership, and external stakeholders to inform and inspire around the art track of work
- Work closely with the Legal team, Museum Director, external Art Consultant, and artists to ensure timely execution of contracts
- Maintain an understanding of and ensure appropriate management of art budget, including performing a detailed budget audit
- Develop, manage, and own a review and approval process for concepts, contracts, fabrication, installation, and maintenance plans
- Coordinate closely with design and construction teams to ensure that external consultants and artists have the architectural and structural information needed to inform their work and that the art concepts accommodate those constraints
- Collaborate with design and construction leads, artists, and third party vendors and consultants to support the timely delivery of artworks and project manage installation as needed in coordination with union representatives
- Coordinate deeply with other workstreams and departments across the Foundation and the Center, including Visitor Experience, Signage and Wayfinding, Collections, Building Operations, Public Engagement (Communications, Creative, Marketing, Content), Legal, Finance, Risk Management, Development, OPC Programs, and Events
- Perform other duties as assigned
- Lead contract finalization for all outstanding commissions, ensuring that contracts are executed on schedule and implemented in adherence with Foundation policies
- Manage art budget and ensure fabrication and installation plans can be feasibly executed with available funding
- Develop and execute an art installation plan that integrates seamlessly with the overall construction and project schedule
- Develop a policy for insuring art on campus, and coordinate with Finance and Risk Management in the procurement of insurance for art
- Facilitate finalizing concept approval as needed
- Annual, monthly, and weekly priorities and deadlines for arts projects are clear, aligned with the OPC Master Project Schedule, and managed
- A range of key stakeholder sensibilities and preferences are effectively balanced
- Issues are surfaced and addressed in a timely manner
- In partnership with the Marcom team, input into the development and facilitate the execution of an art communications plan that works in concert with the Foundation’s overall communications strategy
- High-quality and error-free presentations, memos, and other communications materials are created to support the work of the team, as well as to facilitate internal and external stakeholder awareness and understanding of the work and its status
- Experience with project management of complex construction projects and public art initiatives, including managing multiple art projects simultaneously
- Exceptional project management and organizational skills
- Knowledge of contemporary art, art handling, conservation, arts administration, and exhibition practices, including familiarity with the Visual Artists Rights Act and its potential application to each commissioned artwork
- Experience directly managing specialized Art from concept through contracting, fabrication, and installation including experience working directly with artists and studios to track progress & build schedules, familiarity with art handling and transportation, and complete understanding of means and methods as well as managing installation contractors
- Experience successfully meeting deadlines in a complex, fast-paced environmentExperience developing installed art maintenance cadence and procedures
- Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills; flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and tight deadline
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 EmployerThe 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.
Job Summary
JOB TYPE
Full Time
INDUSTRY
Civic & Environmental Advocacy
SALARY
$137k-192k (estimate)
POST DATE
06/21/2024
EXPIRATION DATE
07/10/2024
WEBSITE
obama.org
HEADQUARTERS
CHICAGO, IL
SIZE
<25
FOUNDED
2014
CEO
ADEWALE ADEYEMO
REVENUE
$50M - $200M
INDUSTRY
Civic & Environmental Advocacy
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About 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 m...useum and public gathering space that celebrates our nations first African American President and First Lady, steps away from where he began his career, where she was raised, and wheretogetherthey made their home. But that approach extends to all our work, whether its 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.
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