Event Production Lead – Convenings

BOF The Barack Obama Foundation; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Obama Foundation is seeking an Associate to lead an assigned portfolio of events, serving as the team’s production lead for convenings and branding. This fast-paced, onsite role requires coordinating production plans, budgets, and partners to balance experience with brand standards.

Reporting to the Convenings Manager, you will manage multiple events and workstreams, with evening and weekend availability, at the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park.

Qualifications

• 3 years of experience in event production, event planning, venue management, experiential events, or related operations.
• Willingness and availability to work evenings and weekends and be onsite for assigned events.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex live event production from planning through onsite execution.
• Working knowledge of AV, lighting, staging, rentals, scenic elements, technical production, and event branding.
• Experience managing production agencies, vendors, contractors, budgets, and project timelines.
• Proven ability to manage multiple events and priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong project management, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to translate creative ideas into operational plans while balancing quality, budget, and venue requirements.
• Ability to work across a large indoor/outdoor campus for extended periods during event setup, execution, and breakdown.
• Strong alignment with the Obama Foundation’s values.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning and execution of assigned OPC and Foundation convenings, managing timelines, budgets, internal coordination, and onsite delivery.
• Serve as the primary Convenings point of contact for production partners, managing scopes, timelines, deliverables, budgets, and onsite execution.
• Lead event production planning, including AV, lighting, staging, scenic elements, rentals, technical requirements, load-in, setup, and strike.
• Partner with internal teams to execute event branding across signage, environmental graphics, digital displays, printed collateral, wayfinding, stage elements, and other event touchpoints.
• Translate creative concepts into executable production plans that account for venue requirements, budget, timelines, and attendee experience.
• Coordinate with Presidential Center campus teams to integrate production plans with campus operations.
• Lead production meetings, site visits, technical rehearsals, vendor briefings, and onsite production activities.
• Develop production standards, templates, workflows, and vendor resources to support consistent execution across the Convenings portfolio.
• Identify production risks and develop contingency plans to support safe, efficient, and high-quality event execution.
• Provide production expertise and support for convenings led by other members of the team.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Event production

Budget management

Vendor management

Project management

Communication

Collaboration

Problem solving

On-site experience

Tools

AV systems

Lighting

Staging

Job description

The Obama Foundation is seeking an Associate to lead an assigned portfolio of events, serving as the team’s production lead for convenings and branding. This fast-paced, onsite role requires coordinating production plans, budgets, and partners to balance experience with brand standards.

Reporting to the Convenings Manager, you will manage multiple events and workstreams, with evening and weekend availability, at the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park.