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. 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.Your Impact
Responsibilities Include:
Event Management & Execution (40%)
Develop event operations procedures and strategy in support of the Society’s event business objectives
Lead the end-to-end execution of both internal and external event reservations, including overseeing setup, run of show, and breakdown.
Manage event logistics including coordinating with vendor load-in, catering setup, and A/V support
Serve as the event day primary point of contact and showrunner for clients and internal teams to ensure smooth operations and guest satisfaction.
Conduct pre-event walk-throughs to capture questions and feedback from vendors, internal teams, and clients.
Gather postend post event nightly report to key internal stakeholders
Coordination & Collaboration (25%)
Lead weekly events and bookings meeting to confirm upcoming event needs and timing requirements for all internal service teams (AV, Janitorial, Catering, etc)
Coordinate with event services teams to ensure accurate staffing and dissemination of vital event information for staff working events
Ensure proper recording of required documentation include collection of COI, release forms, and other relevant event documents
Leadership (20%)
Provide operational instruction to onsite support teams (AV, Visitor Experience, Janitorial, vendors, and others) during event setup, execution, and teardown / loadout.
Provide feedback to support team leaders about the effectiveness and service quality of support team members; suggest areas for process improvement.
Safety (10%)
Maintain compliance with accessibility, building regulations, and safety for event planning and execution.
Technology (5%)
Utilize Event Management System software to approve reservations, track requests, and plan
What You’ll Bring
Educational Background
Bachelor’s Degree Preferred
Minimum Years and Type of Experience
5+ years of event operations experiences preferably in a museum or visitor attraction setting.
Knowledge and Skills
Experience in developing event operations procedures and strategy
Ability to lead cross-functional teams
Keen attention to detail
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities
Strong written and oral communication skills
Be able to repetitively lift 50 lbs
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workplace tools
Desired Qualifications
Experience in supervising a team
Proactive customer service mindset
Ability to work nights and weekends
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 salary range for this position is $99,750.00 - $105,000.00.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.