Global Programs Associate, Obama Leadership Network

At The Obama Foundation, our mission is to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world.  We seek to build an active democratic culture where people are equipped and motivated to make change in the communities where they live, work, and play. Right here on the South Side of Chicago, we’re building a home for this vision, a global center for change with a range of opportunities - coordinated programming, community outreach events, educational moments, and more - that invite visitors from down the block or across the globe to turn hope into action.

Achieving our ambitious goals starts with an exceptional team built on our Hope to Action Values - Courage, Empathy, Integrity, Accountability, Community, Inclusivity, Pragmatism, Resilience, Imagination, and Hope. A Framework that anyone, anywhere, can use to build trust, activate participation, and expand opportunity in their community.

Purpose of the RoleThis Obama Leadership Network Global Programs Associate is a skilled relationship-builder and highly organized project and operations manager, with knowledge of and a passion for online community management and leadership development programs.
They will collaborate with another Obama Leadership Network Global Programs Associate, and report to the Deputy Director for Global Programs, Obama Leadership Network Lead to play an integral role in implementing the Obama Leadership Network program, in service of the Obama Foundation’s mission to inspire, empower, and connect the next generation of leaders.
The Obama Leadership Network is a singular leadership community that connects alumni of all Obama Foundation leadership programs to support each other and work together as lifelong values-based leaders. The Network will soon have over 1,800 program alumni leaders in 160+ countries, and grows by hundreds each year. This Associate will have a particular focus on designing and implementing activities to support leaders to connect and collaborate through an online community platform and engaging virtual events programming, while supporting Network relationship-building, communications, and activities in the network more broadly.

*Please provide your resume and cover letter when applying.

Core Job Responsibilities

Online Community Engagement & Virtual Events

• Manage alumni online community engagement for a private social network platform (Hivebrite), including onboarding, troubleshooting, and posting regular content to stimulate regular member engagement.

• Manage program strategy and operations for all virtual program events, including session design, scheduling, technology set-up and support, and liaising with external speakers.

• Ensure Network members have structured engagement approaches—including tools and incentives—to find and connect with each other and engage with the Obama Foundation team.

• Maintain an overall sense of who is in the Network to support ongoing evaluation and sourcing requests for alumni opportunities.

In-Person Events & Global Convenings

• Play a lead role in the execution of periodic in-person events that convene global Network leaders to foster relationships and collaborative projects.

• Manage program operations related to travel, communications, scheduling, technology, and coordination with external speakers and facilitators.

• Contribute to event/program design and on-site program facilitation while serving as a liaison to program participants, especially in support of alumni engagement at the new Obama Presidential Center.

Stakeholder Communications & Impact Storytelling

• Design and implement an overall editorial calendar of regular communications outputs to engage Network members.

• Contribute to communications materials for a variety of internal and external stakeholders, including funders, the board, and the Foundation’s Marketing and Communications team.

• Support the development and iteration of systems and storytelling content that capture both quantitative data trends and stories of impact.

Cross-Team Operations &Project Management

• Provide organizational and project management skills to streamline processes and workflows across event logistics, forms management, contracts, and occasional invoicing.

• Help maintain the global alumni network database, including annual onboarding of hundreds of graduating network members and tracking member requests.

• Provide necessary strategic input and administrative support to execute on DMEL (design, monitoring, evaluation, and learning) activities and analyze online user engagement trends.

Key Deliverables / Outcomes 

• Foster alumni engagement and relationship building through online community management

• Support periodic in-person events and alumni visits to the Obama Presidential Center

• Shape and implement programming (primarily virtual) that develops leaders 

• Shape and implement Network communications strategy 

• Initiate operational efficiencies and process improvements that support Network strategy and goals and coordination with diverse stakeholders 

• Maintain up-to-date database, impact stories, and program and communications calendar

Required Qualifications

• 3 years experience leading or supporting social impact or leadership programs, particularly with global members and diverse stakeholders.

• Demonstrated experience developing content for stakeholder engagement and leading high-level in-person and online events in collaboration with multiple partners.

• Strong verbal and written skills, including the ability to foster trusting relationships with program participants of all backgrounds.

• Detail-oriented process-thinker with skills in project management, budget, contract, and relationship management linked to a growing and global network. 

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

This is a remote role based in Chicago.

Don’t check off every box in the requirements listed above? Please apply anyway! 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 [email protected] if you require a reasonable accommodation to complete this application.