Lead Systems Administrator

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.

Location

Chicago

Purpose of the Role

As the lead systems administrator, you will be reporting directly to the head of the IT department. You will be responsible for the overall management and administration of all IT systems across the Foundation, including network infrastructure, SaaS applications, security and more. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background in systems administration, as well as excellent leadership and communication skills.

Core Job Responsibilities

• Manage and maintain all IT infrastructure across the Foundation and Obama Presidential Center
• Ensure that all IT systems are properly configured and operating within set metrics
• Troubleshoot and resolve system problems and operate as the highest level of support
• Implement new technologies as needed by the Foundation
• Manage and oversee a team of system and network administrators
• Develop and maintain IT system policies and procedures
• Communicate effectively with IT staff and partners
• Maintain vendor contracts and relationships

Key Deliverables / Outcomes

• Oversee completion of network integration for the Obama Presidential Center
• Build a team of qualified administrators to meet the needs of the Foundation
• Create a system review process to ensure proper maintenance and management
• Implement a logging and event response strategy for all systems
• Maintain our cloud-first systems approach
• Improve upon our cybersecurity strategy

Required Qualifications

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 careers@obama.org if you require a reasonable accommodation to complete this application.