Project Manager, External Affairs

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 Project Manager will support the successful execution of creative, marketing, editorial, and public engagement projects for the Obama Foundation and the Obama Presidential Center. The ideal candidate is highly detail-oriented, an exceptional communicator, and has experience managing projects in a creative environment.

Reporting to the Chief of Staff, External Affairs, this role will ensure that projects are delivered on time, on budget, and at the highest level of quality.

Core Job Responsibilities

• Oversee project timelines, deliverables, and workflows for creative, marketing, and editorial, and public engagement initiatives, ensuring alignment with Foundation goals.
• Collaborate with internal teams, including design, editorial, digital, product & technology, public engagement, and marketing, to track progress and facilitate seamless execution of engagement campaigns and outbound content.
• Manage project intake, resourcing, and prioritization to ensure efficient use of time and budget.
• Develop and maintain project tracking systems and documentation, ensuring all stakeholders are informed and aligned.
• Identify and proactively mitigate potential roadblocks, problem-solving in real time to keep projects on schedule.
• Support cross-functional communication by facilitating meetings, drafting project updates, and ensuring clear expectations are set across teams.
• Partner with external vendors, contractors, and agencies as needed to support project execution.
• Operational support: support with centralized operational processes, including budget, data collection, and cross-team planning.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  
  

Key Deliverables / Outcomes

• Support in establishing and maintaining a project management system to track marketing, creative, and editorial initiatives effectively.
• Ensure timely execution of campaigns, content production, and creative deliverables.
• Improve efficiency in cross-team collaboration through clear workflows and processes.
• Provide regular reporting on project status, risks, and successes to leadership.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• 4 years of experience in project management, preferably in a creative, marketing, or editorial environment.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Familiarity with project management tools such as Asana
• Exceptional attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapt to shifting priorities.
• Collaborative team player with a proactive and solutions-oriented approach.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a nonprofit, mission-driven, or foundation setting.
• Experience working with creative teams and understanding creative workflows.
• Knowledge of marketing, branding, and content production processes.
• Familiarity with digital marketing strategies and social media campaigns.
  
  

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

This is a hybrid role based at our Chicago office.

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 careers@obama.org if you require a reasonable accommodation to complete this application.