The National Geographic Society is an impact-driven global nonprofit organization that uses the power of science, exploration, education, and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonders of our world. The Education department serves this mission by amplifying and extending the work of NGS explorers into classrooms and communities, helping educators and young people develop an explorer mindset and inspiring them to learn about, care for, and protect our world. The department seeks to help the world understand the importance of geography - seeing the connections, interdependencies, and patterns that shape human and natural systems on our planet.

To accomplish its goals and to extend reach and impact, the Education Department cultivates strategic partnerships; manages education-focused endowments, fellowships and grants; creates and disseminates education content and programs for Explorers and a K-16 audience domestically and internationally; connects Explorers to classrooms and communities; and engages youth in the mission by building Explorer-focused innovative, co-curricular opportunities. Building upon the Society’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion these educational resources and experiences elevate missing voices, bring a multiplicity of perspectives, and are accessible on a continuum of no-low-high tech capacities at scale across the globe.

The Manager serves on the Education Explorer-Education Connections team and implements initiatives to connect National Geographic Explorers with educators, students, and youth globally through engaging virtual and in-person programs and experiences. These include programs like Explorer Classroom, a live online show, and projects focused on citizen science that amplify the work of our Explorers, inspire young people to develop an Explorer Mindset, and contribute to Explorer-led work. The team focuses on developing and implementing Explorer-Education Connections programs that align to the NG NEXT strategy and our Explorer-led projects and programs.

The Manager will run and support programs that are designed in collaboration with NGS explorers and internal colleagues and elevate the work of those explorers and their collaborations with educators and young people. They will work with staff and contract personnel necessary for completion of each educational product or program on which they are assigned. The Manager may also serve on internal cross-platform workgroups, as well as represent Education on initiatives involving other National Geographic Society divisions, National Geographic Partners, and representatives of outside funders/entities.

• Supports the development of high-impact initiatives that align with the NG NEXT strategy, NGS’s diversity, equity and inclusion principles, and Explorer-led projects and programs.
• Develops and implements multi-year plans, timelines, roadmaps, goals, and budgets for programs based on team priorities. Contributes to continuous learning, evaluation, and feedback of the Education Team’s products and programs by implementing/participating in needs assessment, gap analysis and feedback exercises.
• Collaborates internally to identify and develop programs that connect NGS Explorers with educators and young people.

• Implements and manages high-impact programs that provide opportunities for Explorers to grow their impact through education outreach, for educators to learn directly from and alongside Explorers, and for young people to be inspired by and contribute to Explorer-led work.
• Manages and monitors aspects of a suite of Explorer- Education Connections programs/projects from inception to completion including budget, program plans, timelines, and creation of partner proposals/MOUs/agreements.
• Determines goals for projects and programs and aligns spending to those goals. Keeps program budgets. Hires and/or manages contract staff as needed.

• Contributes to the strategic vision for Explorer-Education Connections programs at the National Geographic Society, with a focus on citizen science, experiential education, and science communication.
• Designs, develops, produces and runs engaging, high-quality live and virtual events, programs and experiences connecting NGS Explorers, classrooms, educators, students and young people.
• Responsible for the ongoing implementation of current programs, as well as supporting the design of new ones, that accelerate impact and education through Explorers. Contributes to efforts to enhance existing tools, and programming to serve educator and student needs while aligning to strategic priorities.
• Works collaboratively across the Society and internal/external stakeholders to maximize educators’ and young people’s roles in direct access to Explorer-led opportunities. Embraces the spirit of continuous improvement, input and feedback, and understands how to translate insights into meaningful design and actions.

• Develops strong working relationships with other NGS divisions and external teams to maximize program impact and reach.
• Represents the Education team at meetings with other NGS departments, NGP/Disney departments, outside funders/entities and makes program decisions. Serves on internal cross-platform workgroups to maximize Education alignment to NG Next strategy, results, and scale.

• Demonstrated ability to successfully develop and lead and manage projects and programs, experience with project management tools and platforms.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills with high attention to detail.
• Highly developed oral and written communication skills and ability to work with individuals and groups at all levels.
• Ability to work on multiple projects, under deadlines, with changing priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced, environment.
• Understanding of the education landscape, and education networks
• Experience producing in person and virtual events and YouTube production a plus.
• Strong customer service and public communication skills.

Hybrid - At the Society, we believe in the advantages of coming together to build community, mentor and learn from colleagues, and connect more deeply with our mission. As a result, the majority of our staff are Hybrid. Our Hybrid category requires that staff work at Base Camp two days each week: every Wednesday plus either Tuesday or Thursday. Because we recognize that we can effectively work remotely, this designation has been updated to provide more flexibility, both in the days staff choose to come into the office and how often they are expected to be at Base Camp. And of course, Hybrid staff are also always welcome to come in additional days each week if they prefer.