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.

Purpose of the Role

The VP of Communications will oversee the Obama Foundation’s strategic communications efforts, including the leadership of internal and external communications for the Obama Presidential Center. This experienced leader will oversee a holistic media strategy that effectively translates the Center and the Foundation’s mission to key stakeholders, including press, donors, and the general public.

Core Job Responsibilities

  • Communications Strategy: Develop and implement a public relations strategy that effectively translates the Center and the Foundation’s mission to key stakeholders, including press, donors, and the general public. Collaborate with the Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Creative Officer, and digital team on the development and execution of integrated strategies. 
  • Earned Media & Press Coverage: Engage with local, national, and global press to generate earned media about the Foundation and elevate its mission with key audiences and markets, leveraging the voices of Foundation leadership, surrogates, program participants, and more. 
  • Internal Communications: Establish and scale an internal comms function that will support the needs of an expansive and diverse workforce for the OPC. 
  • Crisis Communications & Rapid Response: Lead crisis communications efforts and establish protocols and playbooks for rapid response needs.
  • Legacy Strategy: Develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy to promote and defend President Obama’s progressive legacy, working in close coordination with President Obama’s Personal Office Communications team and leveraging the voices of alumni and surrogates. 
  • Perform other duties as assigned

Key Deliverables / Outcomes

  • Clearly articulated communications and PR strategy that is aligned with organizational strategic goals, and is executable by a high-functioning communications team.
  • Design and execute a Road to Open communications strategy that generates local, national, and global press in the lead up to the opening of the Center and maximizes press coverage and strategic positioning of the Center’s opening and related events.
  • Develop internal communications strategy and resourcing to scale with the growing workforce of the Obama Presidential Center.
  • Operating culture that is effective, highly collaborative and inclusive, and fosters  innovative approaches to audience engagement.

Required Qualifications

  • 10+ years experience and track record of leadings communications strategies (external and internal), managing public relations, and developing effective messaging
  • Proven track record managing and building effective communications teams that work collaboratively cross-functionally
  • Exceptional written and verbal communications skills, and the ability to build a narrative across a range of formats 
  • Highly organized and detail oriented with a track record of meeting short- and long-term responsibilities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, high volume organization

The salary range for this role is between $192,945 and $241,205.

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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