Coordinator, Public Programming

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.

This position sits within the Campus and Experiences division, helping to create ticketed and free experiences at the Museum of Exploration that engage local and global audiences, showcase National Geographic Explorers, and highlight the Museum’s exhibitions and collections. In addition to enriching the on-campus guest experience, the division currently manages two other Public Programming business lines: the National Geographic Live touring speaker series, which brings Explorer-led storytelling to performing arts venues worldwide, and the Speakers Bureau, which provides compelling speakers for private engagements around the globe. These programs are designed to advance the Society’s mission by deepening public understanding of science, exploration, and storytelling, while driving sustainable revenue for the organization.

The Coordinator will report to and provide support for the Senior Director, National Geographic LIve.

Your Impact

Your Impact

Responsibilities Include:

Programming Support: (60%)

• Assist with the planning and execution of Museum Programming, National Geographic Live, and Speakers Bureau events, tracking progress and deadlines to ensure timely completion.

• Assist with the maintenance and organization of team-wide information and project management. Update team organizational tools, such as Monday.com and Nonprofit Cloud.

• Book and coordinate travel and hotel for Public Programming speakers, plus team members and leadership as needed

• Maintain and organize files, contracts, documents, and records related to departmental operations.

• Process invoices, purchase orders, and expense reimbursements for Museum Programming, National Geographic Live, and Speakers Bureau as assigned..

• Provide production support for Museum Programming events and the team as needed. 

• Work closely with the Marketing team to ensure that all Museum Programming, National Geographic Live, and Speakers Bureau events are accurately reflected and updated on all marketing materials and channels, including the website.

• Maintain departmental calendars and space reservations and requirements 

Administrative Support: (25%) 

• Provide high-level administrative assistance to the Senior Director, National Geographic Live including managing calendars, scheduling meetings, and coordinating travel arrangements.

• Oversee the processing and tracking of the Senior Director’s expenses, ensuring adherence to budgets and timely submission for reimbursement.

• Prepare meeting agendas, presentations, and reports; take detailed meeting minutes and track action items to ensure follow-through.

• Facilitate departmental events, such as team retreats or travel 

• 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.

Stakeholder Engagement: (5%)

• Coordinate communication with internal and external stakeholders, including vendors, partners, and donors.

• Represent the Society onsite with VIPs and special guests at Museum Programming events as assigned

Special Projects and Other Duties: (5%)

• Support the development of strategic presentations, proposals, and reports as needed.

• Undertake special projects and assignments as directed by the Senior Director.

 

What You’ll Bring

Educational Background

Bachelor’s degree preferred 

Minimum Years and Type of Experience

2+ years of experience in a similar role 

Necessary Knowledge and Skills

• Effective written and oral communications skills

• Prior administrative experience 

• Proficiency Nonprofit Cloud, Monday.com, Google Office, Microsoft Office Suite, Keynote and Adobe is desired

• Astute attention to detail

• Ability to manage competing priorities and multitask while under tight deadlines

• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate well with all levels

• Ability to successfully work within a highly collaborative team environment

• Flexibility to attend evening and weekend events 

Desired Qualifications

• Knowledge of and experience working in a related industry – visitor attraction, museum, facilities, live theater, and/or events 

• Experience implementing and optimizing budgets against actuals

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 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; 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.