Manager, Museum Evaluation (Strategic Insights & Initiatives)

How You’ll Contribute

The National Geographic Society invests in a diverse, global community of National Geographic Explorers who are leading a new age of exploration in support of our mission to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world through science, education, and storytelling. These bold individuals represent more than 140 countries and their vast array of backgrounds, perspectives, and fields bring us to the far reaches of the globe.

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.

The Strategic Insights & Initiatives team advises and works with divisions throughout the organization to implement best practices around outcomes-based planning, strategy, measurement, and organizational effectiveness. The team is an in-house resource and authority on research design and methodology, program evaluation, strategy development, knowledge management and analytics.

The ideal candidate for this role is flexible, analytical, able to work independently and collaborate with multiple teams, and has prior experience implementing evaluations in a museum environment. Candidates should also be organized, conscientious, passionate about research for a purpose, and possess strong interpersonal and communication skills. We are seeking a dedicated Museum Evaluation Manager to lead comprehensive assessment and research initiatives that measure the impact and effectiveness of the National Geographic Museum of Exploration’s programs, exhibitions, operations and visitor experiences. This role combines research methodology, data analysis, and stakeholder engagement to inform strategic decision-making and enhance our organization’s mission.

This is a fixed-term position with an end date of 1/14/28.

Your Impact

Responsibilities Include:

Exhibition and Event Evaluation Design (10%)

• Design and implement sustainable evaluation frameworks for temporary and permanent exhibitions, and special events

• Develop both formative (during development) and summative (post-implementation) evaluation strategies

• Collaborate directly with NGS Campus & Experiences team and other internal stakeholders on program evaluation design and implementation

Research and Data Collection (50%)

• Develop and maintain visitor and attendee feedback systems (including a Museum and events panel) and data collection protocols

• Design and execute visitor and attendee studies using mixed-methods approaches including surveys, interviews, focus groups, and observational research

• Conduct and manage pre- and post-visit assessments to measure learning outcomes and visitor engagement

• Conduct longitudinal studies to track institutional impact over time

• Assess accessibility and inclusivity of museum offerings across diverse audiences

Data Analysis and Reporting (20%)

• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using appropriate statistical software and methodologies

• Prepare comprehensive evaluation reports with actionable recommendations for leadership and program staff

• Create data visualizations and presentations for various stakeholder audiences

• Maintain evaluation databases and ensure data quality and security

• Effectively communicate findings to MOE stakeholders and NGS leadership

Team, Divisional and Organization Engagement & Collaboration (20%)

• Train museum staff in basic evaluation concepts and data collection techniques

• Collaborate with visitor services and programmatic teams to integrate evaluation into daily operations

• Support and advise colleagues on ways to create trust, spark growth and encourage innovative work in alignment with the NGS values

• Provides support in the development of inter-team communication and cohesiveness.

What You’ll Bring

Educational Background

• Bachelor’s degree in Museum Studies, Education, Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology or related field

Minimum Years and Type of Experience

• 5+ years of experience in program evaluation in cultural or educational settings

• Demonstrated experience with both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies

Necessary Knowledge and Skills

• Proficiency in statistical analysis software (R, Excel or similar)

• Experience with survey design platforms (Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, etc.)

• Strong data visualization skills (Tableau, Excel, or similar tools)

• Knowledge of evaluation frameworks specific to informal learning environments

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to translate complex data into accessible insights

• Strong project management capabilities with experience managing multiple concurrent evaluations

• Understanding of museum operations and the unique challenges of measuring impact in informal learning settings

• Ability to determine and prioritize impactful research questions aligned with strategic goals

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s degree, ABD or PhD in relevant field or additional certification in program evaluation

• Experience with visitor tracking technologies and digital analytics

• Knowledge of museum education theory and best practices

• Familiarity with accessibility standards and universal design principles

• Experience presenting research findings to a lay audience

• Bilingual in English and Spanish a plus

• Strategy and/or operations experience a plus

Supervision

No direct reports

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 salary range for this position is $118,700.00 - $125,000.00.

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.