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.

Location

Chicago, IL

Purpose of the Role

The Superintendent of Building Services for the Obama Presidential Center (OPC) will lead all operations related to the maintenance and cleanliness of the campus’ physical spaces, including custodial services and grounds maintenance. This role will include a transition from construction phase to operational phase, involving collaboration across teams for a smooth transition of management. Once the OPC opens, the Superintendent will oversee custodial and groundskeeping teams across campus spaces that include the museum, public conference and class rooms, auditorium, a public library, Athletic Center, restaurant and cafe, restrooms, staff offices, and expansive grounds.

The Superintendent of Building Services will report directly to the Director of Campus Facility Operations.

Core Job Responsibilities 

  • Lead team in maintaining OPC grounds and facilities, and vendors as necessary for smooth operations including but not limited to snow removal, waste removal, landscaping, garden maintenance, and playground operations and maintenance.
  • Manage waste disposal, recycling, and composting systems.
  • Collaborate with other internal departments such as Events, Operations and Maintenance, and Visitor Experience to ensure a comprehensive coverage for all guest and staff engagements. 
  • Oversee custodial and campus grounds services to ensure consistent, high-quality experience for guests without service interruptions. 
  • Maintain a working knowledge of grounds and facilities to implement best practices in industry sustainability and safety standards.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to building an inclusive setting, adapting to team needs, and upholding OPC mission and values.
  • Perform other duties as assigned. 

Key Deliverables / Outcomes

  • Lead transition out of the construction phase, developing a standard operating procedure and working knowledge of best practices in preserving facilities into the operational phase, with a particular emphasis on preparations for a public opening milestone.
  • Oversee landscaping and custodial contracted services to ensure care for trees, groundcovers, shrubs, annual/perennial color displays, and garden upkeep. 
  • Coordinate team coverage to allow for world-class maintenance standards that do not conflict with public use of spaces. 
  • Participate in safety inspections, training, hazard abatement, and OSHA compliance to ensure a safe environment for guests and staff.
  • Recommend best practices for facility and grounds maintenance in keeping with sustainability goals and budgetary allowances. 
  • Manage electronic work order and inventory management systems. 
  • Hire, train, and supervise a diverse staff committed to creating an inclusive environment aligned with the OPC mission.

Required Qualifications

  • Experience in venue maintenance, including expansive outdoor acreage.
  • Experience in leading maintenance crews with oversight in both long-term planning and day-to-day management, ideally at a cultural or entertainment institution. 
  • Experience in or strong familiarity with inventory and equipment management.
  • Strong attention to detail and ability to prioritize in a fast-paced environment, with the ability to manage workforce talent as necessary.  
  • Flexibility of hours including but not limited to early morning, late night, weekends, and holidays across campus in both indoor and outdoor environments. Ability to work out of the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park and/or other Obama Foundation locations in Chicago.

The salary range for this role is between $87,020 and $108,775.

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 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.

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The Obama Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive staff. To better understand the diversity of our applicant pool, we offer those applying for positions at the Foundation the opportunity to share information about their background with us. Responding to these questions is strictly voluntary. If you choose to answer, your responses will not be shown to individuals reviewing applications, the hiring manager, or anyone else who could affect the status of your application. The aggregate information collected through this form will be used to assess the Foundation's overall recruitment efforts only. No hiring decisions are made based on this information. There will be no impact on your application if you choose not to answer these questions.

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