Retail Store Manager

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.

How You’ll Contribute
Job Description Summary
The Retail Store Manager oversees daily operations within the Museum of Exploration's retail outlets, a revenue center generating over $4M. Responsibilities include leading the retail supervisor and sales associate teams to boost revenue and enhance the museum visitor experience. This role involves developing and executing visual merchandising strategies, ensuring associates maintain high standards, and communicating retail goals to achieve key performance indicators. The manager is also responsible for recruiting, training, and motivating a team of 10-14 members. This position is part of the Campus & Experiences division and reports to the Senior Director of Hospitality and Retail.

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:

Store Sales and Operations (40%)

• Oversee daily store operations, including visitor experience, point-of-sale activities, and visual merchandising

• Develop strategies to meet sales targets, ensure adequate stock levels, and motivate sales associates

• Establish store operating procedures and visual merchandising standards to guarantee a consistent visitor experience for both external guests and internal stakeholders

• Generate daily, weekly, and monthly reports to monitor KPIs and implement improvements to boost sales, achieving per capita and revenue goals

• Verify the accuracy and compliance of deposits, sales records, and return transactions.

• Manage store payroll and expenses within the allocated budget to achieve financial objectives

Leadership (30%)

• Set clear expectations for the retail store team to ensure the accurate execution of procedures and accountability for reaching goal

• Embody core competencies and behaviors that support divisional and organizational values

• Drive the store team to achieve the highest level of visitor satisfaction, in accordance with our museum's service standards

• Motivate the team by implementing a store-specific rewards and recognition program

• Recruit, train, and retain a strong, diverse retail team of supervisors and sales associates

Analytics and Technology (15%)

• Track and report on sales data using the retail POS system to generate daily, weekly, and monthly reports

• Develop and manage staff schedules that align with business needs and financial targets

• Manage team communication and project deliverables using email, shared calendars, and project management software

Inventory Control (10%)

• Maintain inventory accuracy through monthly cycle counts and spot checks

• Proactively manage stock levels by escalating low-stock or fast-moving items to the Senior Manager, Retail Operations or the Retail Warehouse team to ensure timely restocking and transfers

• Assist with the annual inventory process

Safety (5%)

• Ensure a clean and safe shopping environment for all visitors

• Conduct and enforce safety training for the retail team, covering the proper use of equipment and tools

• Uphold all safety procedures

What You’ll Bring

Educational Background

Bachelor’s Degree preferred

Minimum Years and Type of Experience

5+ years of work experience in retail with experience preferably in a museum or visitor attraction retail setting with at least 3 years of management experience.

Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge in retail store management and operations, and success in leading retail teams.

• Possess strong business acumen, leadership skills, and visual merchandising experience

• Ability to prioritize responsibilities and provide immediate response if needed

• Experience in a visitor attraction or museum retail shop or warehouse

• Ability to analyze retail sales data

• Strong written and oral communication skills

• Collaborative mindset and ability to work in a team or group to accomplish a task

• Training and development of people

• Be able to lift up to 25 lbs

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workplace tools

Desired Qualifications

• Ability to work rotational nights and weekends

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities

• Experience with Retailcloud, Workday Scheduling, and Monday(dot)com a plus

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.

Supervision

3 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 $79,800.00 - $84,000.00.

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; 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.