Manager, Ticketing & Distribution Channels at Obama Foundation – United States


Manager, Ticketing & Distribution Channels at Obama Foundation – United States

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Manager, Ticketing & Distribution Channels at Obama Foundation – United States

Recruiter: Obama Foundation

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About Obama Foundation

The Obama Foundation is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to inspiring, empowering, and connecting people to change their world. Founded by President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, the Foundation centers its work on developing the next generation of civic leaders, with programs operating in the United States, Africa, and Asia. It is also overseeing the construction of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.

Job Summary

This position offers an opportunity to contribute to administrative management within Obama Foundation’s important work in international cooperation and sustainable development. Working in United States, you will collaborate with international colleagues and partners to address global challenges and promote sustainable development. This role provides an excellent opportunity for professional growth while making a meaningful contribution to international cooperation and global peace and security.

Full Job Description

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, were 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 Manager, Ticketing & Distribution Channels for the Obama Presidential Center (the Center) will be responsible for the end-to-end management of the Centers ticketing operations and the centralized contact center. This role oversees inbound visitor communications, the admission of all tour groups, school visits, and field trip reservations, and the ticketing lifecycle with direct accountability for driving group sales revenue performance through online travel agencies (OTAs), wholesale tour operators, and strategic distribution partners. This role is directly responsible for ensuring that visitor inquiries, sales execution, and ticket fulfillment operate as an integrated system aligned with attendance and revenue goals, and in adherence to service standards. As the Manager, Ticketing & Distribution Channels, youll be reporting directly to the Senior Director of Revenue for the Obama Presidential Center. Core Job Responsibilities 1. Call Center & Team Leadership Own daily operations and manage staffing models, schedules, and performance expectations of the centralized contact center, ensuring consistent service delivery through clear service standards, call handling protocols, escalation procedures, and quality assurance practices. Provide coaching, training, and performance management to build a high-performing, visitor-focused team. 2. Sales & Partnerships (Distribution) Identify new domestic and international distribution opportunities aligned with attendance and revenue goals. Lead strategy and execution for online tour operators and wholesale partners such as Viator, CityPASS, Airbnb Experiences, Klook, and other domestic and international tour agencies. Negotiate, execute, and manage distribution agreements, commission structures, allotments, and performance expectations. Monitor partner performance, content accuracy, rate parity, and placement to maximize visibility and conversion. 3. Ticketing Operations Oversee all pre-visit ticketing functions including platform configuration and management, individual sales, group reservations (10+), field trips, and wholesale allocations. Manage ticket inventory, pricing rules, blackout dates, and capacity controls in coordination with operations and finance. Ensure accurate reservation entry, ticket issuance, reconciliation, and reporting across all sales channels and maintain compliance with internal controls and audit requirements. Key Deliverables / Outcomes Achievement of annual group sales revenue goals, including the establishment of OTA and wholesale contribution targets Average order value and per-cap revenue improvement Produce regular reporting on revenue, attendance, channel mix, conversion, call performance, and partner effectiveness. Contact Center Performance (e.g., first-contact resolution, abandonment rate, escalation effectiveness and speed of answer) Accuracy of reservations, ticket issuance, and reporting Maximize inventory-to-demand ticket utilization and effectively optimize capacity for maximum revenue capture Compliance with SOPs, financial controls, and audit standards OTA and wholesale contract compliance and partner production versus targets (e.g., content accuracy, rate integrity, and distribution health) Staff productivity, training, performance outcomes, and operational resilience Required Qualifications Bachelors degree in business, hospitality, arts administration, tourism, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience. 4-6 years of progressively responsible experience in ticketing, box office, contact center, or sales operations within museums, attractions, performing arts venues, zoos/aquariums, or other high volume or capacity venues. Demonstrated experience managing ticketing systems, reservations platforms, and CRM or contact center tools. Proven success working with online travel agencies and wholesale tour operators, including contract negotiation and account management. Strong financial acumen with experience in revenue tracking, forecasting, reconciliation, and reporting. Exceptional communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to operate effectively across departments. Ability to work flexible schedules as required by operational needs, including peak periods and special events. The salary range for this role is between $87,020 and $108,775. This is an onsite role based at the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park. Dont check off every box in the requirements listed above? Please apply anyway! If youre excited about this role but your past experience doesnt 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 careers@obama.org if you require a reasonable accommodation to complete this application. The Obama Foundation will never ask for payment or personal financial information during the hiring process or training. All official job postings are listed and should be applied to at obama.org/careers. If you suspect a scam, please document details about the scam and report this information to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You may reach out to careers@obama.org to verify job posting validity or for support. 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 nations first African American President and First Lady, steps away from where he began his career, where she was raised, and wheretogetherthey made their home. But that approach extends to all our work, whether its 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.

Key Details

  • Job Title: Manager, Ticketing & Distribution Channels
  • Grade: N/A
  • Location: Obama, United States
  • Department: Obama Foundation
  • Contract Type: Professional Staff
  • Estimated Salary Range:$84,000 – $144,000 USD annually

Qualifications

  • Not specified in the official posting

Skills

  • Not specified in the official posting

Benefits

  • Competitive compensation package
  • Professional development opportunities
  • Comprehensive health and wellness benefits
  • Inclusive and collaborative work environment

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the official UN careers portal. Female candidates and candidates from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.