Coordinator, Hospitality & Events

How You’ll Contribute

The National Geographic Society headquarters, based in Washington, D.C., is undergoing a significant renovation project on its campus (called Base Camp), which will be completed in 2026. The public-facing portion of this renovation will be the new National Geographic Museum of Exploration. Components of the new museum will include a state-of-the-art pavilion entrance, auditorium, iconic photo gallery, exhibition space, immersive walk-through attraction, retail, food and beverage, education center, archives, tours, and exciting new event space. The capstone of the renovation is a one-of-a-kind nighttime experience in the courtyard.


Job Description Summary
The Coordinator will report to and provide support for the Senior Director of Hospitality and Retail. The position will be responsible for administrative, operational, and other duties related to the Hospitality and Event Operations, including event logistics support, sales support, and foodservice coordination. This position requires meticulous attention to detail, collaboration with colleagues at all levels of the organization and external vendors and partners, and a proactive approach to work with a positive mindset.

We are seeking a team member who values interoperability and is ready to jump in and support colleagues across different projects when needed. At the Museum of Exploration, we believe that our greatest successes come from shared expertise and a willingness to step outside of a single role. This isn't just a part of the job; it's a core aspect of how we operate and collaborate, reflecting the spirit of partnership that defines National Geographic's culture.

Your Impact

Your Impact

Responsibilities Include:

Administrative and Event Logistics Support (60%)

• Assist with the maintenance and organization of team-wide information and project management in Google Drive, Monday(dot)com, Workday, and other enterprise systems.

• Support internal team communications and ensure documents and protocols are updated, organized and accessible for staff in the shared database

• Coordinate meetings and events for the Senior Director of Hospitality and Retail including scheduling, calendar management, room reservation, agenda management, note taking, related follow up, and other logistics as needed.

• Track and assist on campus-wide internal and external event planning and management, maintaining select calendars, tracking sales flow, updating P&L forecasts, and compiling performance dashboards using departmental KPIs.

• Assist with team new hire training and onboarding, including requesting system access and providing necessary tools and information to new staff

• Support asset collection and development of materials and slide decks for trainings, meetings, and presentations

• Manage supply purchase requests, invoice requests; and support budgetary spend and team-wide budget processes

Team and Organizational Collaboration (40%)

• Assist in the planning, coordination, and implementation of cross-team projects as they relate to the Hospitality and Retail team, interfacing with relevant departments within the Society and external partners

• Contribute expertise to supporting goals and processes as well as impact programs across the Hospitality and Events team

• Support a culture of curiosity, empathy, responsibility, inclusivity, while strongly promoting collaboration and innovation

• Develop and maintain strong, positive and empathetic working relationships with key departments and external partners to ensure work is executed at a high level and outcomes are met

What You’ll Bring

Educational Background

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Minimum Years and Type of Experience

3 years work experience; 2 years of related experience in a museum or cultural attraction with a focus on events, hospitality, or foodservice

Necessary Knowledge and Skills

• Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with a wide range of staff and external stakeholders

• Ability to filter competing priorities and manage workload to reach team deadlines

• Experience using project management software Monday(dot)com a plus

• Knowledge of best practices in events, foodservice, or retail

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team

• Excellent communication, organizational, and research skills

• Meticulous attention to detail and thorough record keeping

• Technical proficiency with Microsoft Office and G-Suite tools

Collaboration and Teamwork

Support various teams as needed, providing cross-trained coverage for breaks, absences, or high volume. Assist with general museum tasks such as maintaining public spaces, providing basic visitor assistance, and helping with event setup/breakdown.

Desired Qualifications

Museum or cultural attraction experience a plus

Supervision

None.

Salary Information

The National Geographic Society offers a competitive and holistic total rewards package. Our compensation structure and transparent pay philosophy are based on industry-specific market data for similar-sized nonprofit organizations.

The salary range for this position accounts for a wide range of factors including but not limited to organizational need; specific skill sets; experience and training; certifications; and more. At the National Geographic Society, individuals are typically hired at or near the starting point of the salary range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.

The hourly range for this position is $25.10 - $26.45.

In addition, the National Geographic Society offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to, medical, dental, and vision insurance; engaging and comprehensive wellness program; 401(k) retirement savings plan with matching contributions after 6 months of employment; flexible paid time off benefits with up to 22 days of paid annual leave per calendar year (15 days for new hires in their first year, prorated based on the number of pay periods remaining in the year) and 10 days of sick leave; 12 paid holidays and a paid winter break between December 25 and 31 (May not apply to all roles that are required to work during high volume seasons or essential workers. Please check with the hiring manager for confirmation.); paid parental leave, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility benefits; learning and development opportunities; Lifestyle Spending Account; pet adoption assistance and insurance; pre-tax transportation benefits with a generous employer subsidy; employer-paid life insurance and disability benefit; and a variety of National Geographic discounts and perks.

Job Designation

Resident - Our Resident category recognizes that certain staff need to be physically present at Base Camp to do their work. Some Resident staff must be at Base Camp every day to do their jobs, while others may only need to be physically present onsite some of the time to meet looming deadlines or to get work done and may require a unique schedule. As such, this category has been revised to provide maximum flexibility depending on what’s required for each individual role. The days Resident staff come into the office will be determined by their teams and workflow, and they should work with their supervisors to determine their specific schedule. And throughout the year, their schedule may be adjusted based on cyclical work cycles, deadlines, and/or ebbs and flows of work.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position. We are looking for someone with relevant skills and experience, not a checklist that exactly matches the job description. We want to help you grow and in return, you help us grow into a stronger, more inclusive organization.