Dock and Receiving, Senior Associate

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.

The Senior Associate, Dock and Receiving manages the comprehensive operational flow, digital logistics architecture, and safety enforcement of loading dock activities at the Obama Presidential Center. This role applies advanced functional knowledge to optimize vendor delivery pipelines, operational services, and event logistics in alignment with strict campus security protocols and strategic operational priorities. Serving as the primary gatekeeper for dock resource allocation, the Senior Associate, Dock and Receiving reports directly to the Operations Manager.

• Own and optimize the centralized dock request and scheduling architecture and logistics database, establishing standardized scheduling protocols across platforms (Google Forms, Google Calendar, Asset Essentials, Infor).
• Review, approve, deny, and schedule dock access requests based on operational priorities, dock availability, and policy requirements.
• Coordinate daily dock activity to ensure safe, orderly sequencing of deliveries, pickups, waste hauling, and OPS functions.
• Serve as the primary liaison between internal departments, Security, and external vendors regarding dock operations.
• Enforce and refine complex dock operating guidelines, establishing strict dwell limits, zoning restrictions, and corrective compliance workflows for external carriers.
• Monitor dock conditions to ensure docks remain clear, safe, and available for scheduled activities.
• Maintain accurate records of dock activity, vendor compliance, incidents, and operational disruptions.
• Proactively analyze logistics data to forecast scheduling bottlenecks, mitigate operational risks, and directly resolve complex or recurring vendor compliance issues.
• Support event, exhibit, and program‑related dock logistics in coordination with Events and Operations teams.
• Oversee the end‑to‑end chain of custody for the mail and packaging room infrastructure; establish standard operating procedures (SOPs) for incoming freight, and provide functional guidance to front‑of‑house staff on intake protocols.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Consistent enforcement of appointment‑based dock operations across Main Campus Service Yard and Home Court Dock.
• Reliable separation of OPS / waste servicing and vendor dock activity through adherence to defined operating hours.
• Minimized dock conflicts, delays, and operational disruptions.
• Accurate and complete dock scheduling records and vendor activity documentation.
• Safe, organized, and efficiently managed dock environments.
• Effective coordination with Security to support screening, inspections, and access control.
• Timely resolution of dock scheduling issues and vendor compliance concerns.
• Development and maintenance of a comprehensive vendor compliance scorecard and dock utilization dashboard to drive operational decisions.
• Successful cross‑functional integration of high‑security screening protocols with daily dock logistics, in alignment with the Campus Security Team.

• 3–5 years of progressive experience in loading dock management, advanced logistics, corporate receiving, or commercial facility operations.
• Demonstrated experience navigating and administering complex digital inventory,…