Print Lab Specialist

How You’ll Contribute

Who We Are
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. Components of the new guest experience 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. A fully sustainable, on-brand hotel may also be built and operated by a third party on the campus. The capstone of the renovation is a one-of-a-kind nighttime experience in the courtyard.

The Operations team provides an outstanding experience to everyone who comes to our headquarters, including visitors, donors, and staff. We are focused on planning for and operations of visitor experiences and campus-wide operations. The team is responsible for providing services that all staff rely on, including cleaning, mail and packages, office space management, building engineering, interactive technology, and sustainability.

Job Description Summary
This position reports to the Manager, Print and Fabrication Lab on all production and installation of museum exhibition graphics. Position works directly with the Director of Exhibition Design, to support planning and development of both internal and traveling NG exhibitions. This position supports the day-to-day operations of the print lab, and determines the schedule of projects to fulfill the need of many divisions within the Society and the public experience. The Production Specialist will work with Society staff as well as NG Partners staff. This position assists with the production of all Museum graphics and print production both internal and external, as well as vendors and contractors. The Specialist maintains society owned printers and fabrication equipment and supplies and provides an important service for many divisions.

This position will require evening, weekend, holiday, and/or non-standard work hours. (shifts fall within the 8am-8pm timeframe)

Your Impact

Responsibilities Include:

• Prepares and manages the schedule of projects to fulfill the needs of the museum as well as many divisions within the Society. (20%)

• Processes orders, prepares files and executes printing projects. Manage the production, printing, finishing and framing of all internal and traveling exhibitions, and prepare graphics for signs and other visual presentations for exhibits using photographic and inkjet printers. (40%)

• Maintains equipment and supplies related to Society projects. Prepare budgets for print and fabrication shops for exhibition materials and outsourced vendors for printing and fabrication if needed (20%)

• Assist in coordination of exhibitions graphics installation and de-installation schedules. (10%)

• Maintains a database of past projects and assets for future use and archival purposes. (10%)

What You’ll Bring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Graphic Arts with an emphasis in digital imaging.

Minimum Years and Type of Experience

3+ years print production management. Demonstrated expertise in all aspects of the operation of Fine Art printing equipment and production. Museum experience is preferred.

Knowledge and Skills Required

• Strong organizational skills, time management, communication and interpersonal skills

• Experience in the printing field

• Knowledge of Photoshop, InDesign or other computer graphics and web design programs is desired. Knowledge of Excel and Scheduling software is also desired.

• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines is essential

• Strong aptitude for tools and standard construction practices

• Familiarity with A/V, electronic and mechanical principles and techniques

• Ability to travel for projects is required

• Comfortable working at heights, either on a ladder or a mechanical lift

• Comfortable working with heavy objects

• Ability to operate a forklift

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 $30.15 - $31.74.

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; 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.