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 Role

The Analyst, Strategy and Operations, supports the delivery and continuous improvement of the Global Leadership and OPC Programs in service of the Obama Foundation’s mission to inspire, empower, and connect the next generation of leaders.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Strategy and Operations, this role serves as a key operational connector across program teams, providing coordination, analysis, and logistical support that enables effective program execution and leadership decision-making. The Analyst partners closely with program staff, leadership, and cross-functional teams to streamline workflows, strengthen operational systems, and ensure that day-to-day activities align with broader strategic priorities.

This role offers a strong entry point into program operations and strategy within a mission-driven organization, providing exposure to large-scale program delivery, cross-functional collaboration, and operational planning in a dynamic environment.

Core Job Responsibilities

1. Leadership & Team Operations

• Manage complex calendars and scheduling for the Vice Presidents of Global Leadership and OPC Programs, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and effective use of leadership time.

• Provide comprehensive coordination including travel arrangements, expense reporting, document preparation, and meeting logistics for program leadership and the broader team.

• Collaborate with team members to support smooth daily operations, maintain shared data repositories/collaboration platforms, and identify opportunities to enhance internal tools and processes.

• Support the management of internal and external communities through Slack and learning management systems, exercising sound judgment and discretion with sensitive information.

2. Operational Analysis & Financial Support

• Support the development and maintenance of trackers, dashboards, and reporting tools to provide visibility into program performance; synthesize data to inform planning and decision-making.

• Assist the Senior Manager with budget planning, tracking expenses, monitoring budget-to-actuals, and supporting annual budgeting cycles.

• Contribute to the creation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and financial guidance to strengthen team effectiveness, compliance, and knowledge sharing.

3. Partnership & Program Logistics

• Support the identification, onboarding, and coordination of third-party vendors; manage logistics, communications, and the facilitating of invoicing and payment processes.

• Support the planning and execution of virtual and in-person programs and events, coordinating technology setup, catering, materials, and stakeholder communications.

• Partner with internal teams and external partners to ensure smooth, high-quality program experiences and maintain positive vendor networks.

Key Deliverables/Outcomes

• Leadership calendars are proactively managed, enabling alignment of time with program priorities and minimizing scheduling conflicts.

• Operational systems, documentation, and tools are maintained and enhanced to support effective team coordination and program delivery.

• Monthly budget-to-actual updates are prepared and shared in a timely manner, highlighting variances, trends, and key considerations.

• Budget planning cycles are supported through accurate tracking, coordination, and collaboration with internal stakeholders.

• Vendor contracting, onboarding, and payment processes are coordinated efficiently and in compliance with Foundation policies.

• Programs and events are executed smoothly with strong logistical coordination and responsive stakeholder support.

Required Qualifications

• 2 years of relevant professional experience, preferably in operations, project management, program coordination, or administrative support within a nonprofit, public sector, or mission-driven organization.

• Demonstrated ability to manage complex calendars and provide coordination support to senior leaders in a dynamic environment.

• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and workstreams simultaneously.

• Comfort working with data and operational tracking tools, and familiarity with financial processes such as expense reconciliation and budget monitoring.

• Familiarity with project management platforms (e.g., Asana, Monday.com, Notion) preferred.

• Sound judgment, discretion, and comfort operating in environments with evolving priorities and ambiguity.

The salary range for this role is between $51,965 and $64,980.

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.