Launch the Legacy: Founding Staff Roles

Step into history as a founding staff member of the Obama Presidential Center’s (OPC) opening team. As a founding staff member, you will not only help launch a global destination but also have the unique opportunity to define the Obama Presidential Center's earliest culture and operational excellence. This is your chance to contribute to a lasting legacy, ensuring the OPC is a powerful tribute to what happens when communities unite to achieve greatness. 

The early days of the OPC will be defined by rapid evolution and growth. While the mission is clear, many of the day-to-day procedures and workflows will need to be tested and adjusted. This demands that you embrace ambiguity and step up with a high degree of ownership and self-direction. For those energized by the chance to build and ultimately define best practices, this challenge is the greatest reward.

Purpose of the Role

As a part of the Visitor Services team, this role will be responsible for providing a welcoming and informative environment to all visitors of the Obama Presidential Center. This role supports various points of contact for guests, including but not limited to information desks and greeters, coat check, access control and ticketing services. During each shift, the Associate will wear a uniform provided by the Obama Presidential Center. This position serves as the primary point of contact for guests and external stakeholders in visiting the Obama Presidential Center, and delivers an inclusive and memorable experience at the Center.

As a Visitor Services Associate for the Obama Presidential Center, you’ll be reporting directly to the Manager, Visitor Services, while also receiving day-to-day support from all Visitor Services Supervisors and other Visitor Experience Leads.

Core Job Responsibilities

• Provide exceptional customer service to foster an inclusive and welcoming environment for visitors. 

• Connect visitors with accessibility needs with appropriate resources.

• Work closely with onsite security to maintain a safe guest experience, assisting in crowd management and with emergency procedures as needed.

• Collaborate closely with Visitor Engagement and Education, Volunteers, Custodial, Events, Group Tours and other public-facing teams to ensure consistent standards of service and helpfulness across the entire visitor experience.

• Navigate a fast-paced environment, with the ability to rotate between various  positions such as ticketing and information desks, coat check, group logistics, as well as ushering and special events duties.

• Build and maintain a working knowledge of Obama Presidential Center Campus, programming, and exhibitions as well as local attractions, restaurants and areas of interest.  

• Perform other duties under the Visitor Services area as assigned. 

Key Deliverables / Outcomes

• Respond to guest questions and provide assistance, emphasizing an inclusive and welcoming environment in accordance with Obama Presidential Center policies and procedures. 

• Provide guidance to visitors across campus grounds and buildings, answering general questions as needed while providing exceptional customer service.

• Maintain a working knowledge of proprietary software, performing sales, financial transactions and accurate cash handling, including nightly balancing of cash drawers, on site per Obama Presidential Center processes.

• Accurately scan admissions tickets to ensure correct capacity count and data integrity.

• Participate in regularly scheduled training for evolving exhibit displays and Museum programming as well as other meetings as required.

• Demonstrates proficiency in core professional duties and uses discretion and independent judgment to resolve complex problems. 

Required Qualifications

• Previous customer service, hospitality and/or interpersonal or communication skills preferred.

• Cash handling experience, a plus.

• Fluency in one or more foreign languages, a plus.

• Ability to stand, remain seated, or be positioned outside; reasonable accommodations will be made.

• 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. 

The pay rate for this role is $21.50/hour.

This is a full-time, in-person role based at the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park.

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.

We are deeply committed to creating an actively anti-racist organization, leveraging our global reach to combat systemic racism and inequity wherever it exists. Read our full statement on anti-racism and equity here.