The Obama Presidential Center is recruiting about 150 staff ahead of a planned June opening on Chicago's South Side, accepting applications through Jan. 31. Job postings and the foundation's careers page stress a commitment to building an 'actively anti-racist' organization and embedding equity into hiring and vendor practices. The foundation confirmed it hires people legally authorized to work in the U.S., including those with appropriate work permits. The 20-acre campus, delayed from a 2021 target, will include a library, museum, public library branch and athletic facilities.
Obama Presidential Center Seeks 150 Hires, Emphasizes 'Anti‑Racism' Pledge Ahead Of June Opening
Former President Barack Obama's presidential center is slated to open in Chicago in June.
The Obama Presidential Center is recruiting roughly 150 employees as it prepares to open on Chicago's South Side in June. The foundation's careers pages and individual job postings emphasize a commitment to anti-racism and equity and invite applicants who share those values.
Construction continues at the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood.
Jobs, Roles And Timeline
The center is advertising a range of positions, from custodial staff to visitor-facing roles described as 'ambassadors of hope.' Applications are being accepted through Jan. 31. The roughly 20-acre campus will include a presidential library and museum, an auditorium, a branch of the Chicago Public Library, a garden, athletic facilities and other public amenities.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, left, joins former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama in a ceremonial groundbreaking at the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park Sep. 28, 2021, in Chicago.
Anti-Racism And Hiring Practices
On its careers page and within job descriptions, the Obama Foundation states it is 'deeply committed to creating an actively anti-racist organization' and embedding equity into hiring, vendor selection and leadership programs. A full-time security officer posting, for example, notes that the foundation is an equal opportunity employer and aims to leverage its reach to address systemic racism and inequity.
An aerial view shows construction of the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park, Chicago, where costs have soared and questions remain about the project’s funding.
'That’s why our goal is to make sure every member of the Foundation team is committed to anti-racism, sets expectations for how we will engage, and makes space for the work,' the foundation's anti-racism statement reads.
Eligibility, Outreach And Questions
When asked whether the foundation screens applicants for alignment with its anti-racist vision and whether it accepts applications from noncitizens, the foundation replied that it seeks to hire people who share its values and who can welcome visitors from Chicago and beyond. It added that it employs people who are legally authorized to work in the United States, including those with appropriate work permits.
Context And Controversy
The center's renewed emphasis on anti-racism comes amid broader national debate over diversity, equity and inclusion policies following executive actions by President Donald Trump aimed at curbing DEI programs in the federal government. Supporters of the foundation say its approach focuses on long-term cultural and institutional changes to confront racism and gender discrimination.
The project has faced delays since its original 2021 opening estimate, pushed back by legal challenges and federal review; the campus is now slated to open in June. The site has also drawn criticism for its distinctive, largely windowless design, earning nicknames in some tabloids. Obama Foundation Deputy Director Kim Patterson defended the architecture in December 2025, saying the form was intended to evoke collaboration and that limited windows help protect artwork and artifacts planned for display.
As hiring continues, the foundation says it hopes to assemble a team that reflects both the values and the community of the South Side while welcoming visitors from across the region and the world.
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