Signage & Wayfinding Project Manager, Obama Presidential Center

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 Signage and Wayfinding Project Manager will be responsible for overseeing the completion of design, procurement, fabrication, and installation of effective signage and wayfinding systems across the Obama Presidential Center campus. This role will also be responsible for the development of a maintenance plan for the OPC’s signage and wayfinding systems post-opening. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including curatorial, design, content, construction, facilities, and operations, to ensure that signage and wayfinding solutions comply with local, state and national standards for clarity, accessibility, and aesthetics and that they contribute to the overall vision of the visitor experience, while adhering to the Obama Foundation brand and the design of the campus and its buildings. This is a termed position, coming to an end in May, 2026.

Core Job Responsibilities

Project Management:

Lead all aspects of the planning, coordination, and execution of signage and wayfinding projects to completion.

Oversee Development of project timelines, budgets, and resource allocation plans.

Manage External vendors and contractors and coordinate with internal teams, to ensure project milestones are met on time and within budget.

Review all outstanding designs and plans to identify gaps , including leading a full audit of the construction CDs.

Perform budget audit and actively manage budget throughout the process, working closely with cost estimator to ensure budget constraints are met.

Ensure signage and wayfinding solutions comply with accessibility standards and regulations.

Lead and manage a value engineering process.

Fabrication and Installation:

Lead RFP process for fabrication and installation.

Oversee the procurement, production and installation of signage, including quality control and adherence to design specifications.

Stakeholder Engagement:

Developing and managing a review and approval process for all signage and wayfinding at the Obama Presidential Center.

Facilitate communication and collaboration among cross-functional teams involved in signage and wayfinding Serve as a liaison between internal departments and external partners to address concerns and resolve issues related to signage and wayfinding.

Maintenance and Evaluation:

Establish protocols and proposed budget for ongoing maintenance, repair, and updates to signage and wayfinding systems.

Identify opportunities for optimization and innovation to enhance the visitor experience.

Perform other duties as assigned

Key Deliverables / Outcomes

Complete design and development of clear, consistent, and visually appealing signage designs that comply with accessibility standards and uphold the Obama Foundation brand.

Oversee development of project timelines, budgets, and resource allocation plans.

Coordination with internal teams, external vendors, and contractors that ensures project milestones are met on time and within budget.

Development of long-term plans for the evolution and maintenance of signage and wayfinding infrastructure.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design, Graphic Design, Architecture, Project Management or a related field.

Proven experience managing design and installation of signage and wayfinding projects in a museum, cultural institution, or similar built environment.

Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize tasks effectively.

Familiarity in design software such as BlueBeam or equivalent, Microsoft Office Suite, Google App Suite and use of Project Management Software, including Asana; significant experience with signage production techniques.

Experience directly managing fabricators.

Knowledge of accessibility standards and best practices for inclusive design.

Understanding of museum operations, visitor services, and the principles of user-centered design.

Attention to detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality results.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.

Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and project requirements.

The salary range for this role is between $104,310 and $130,435.

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 [email protected] if you require a reasonable accommodation to complete this application.

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