Manager, Community Leadership and Engagement

How You’ll Contribute

NGS Education supports educators and students in learning about the world and how it works, understanding the interconnectedness of the earth's systems, and cultivating empathy for all who inhabit it. The Education department also includes the Museum & Experiences team, which oversees the Washington, D.C. museum and store as well as traveling exhibits. The National Geographic Society is an impact-driven global nonprofit organization that uses the power of science, exploration, education, and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. For 132 years, we’ve pushed boundaries to further understand our planet and empower us all to generate solutions for a more sustainable future. We’ve led groundbreaking scientific pursuits and explorations such as Hiram Bingham’s discoveries at Machu Picchu, Robert Ballard’s quest to find the Titanic, and Jane Goodall’s lifetime study of chimpanzee behavior.

And our pursuits continue. National Geographic believes young people, and the educators who reach them, are key to addressing the planet’s most pressing challenges. Our goals are ambitious, but achievable, and are anchored by a team of dedicated individuals driven by purpose and hope. We seek to equip millions of educators with the tools and resources they need to help young people develop an explorer’s mindset and cultivate empathy for the earth. We seek to connect with millions of young people and give them the knowledge, skills, and support they need to become solution-seekers and tomorrow’s leaders. And we seek to help the world understand the importance of geography - seeing the connections and patterns that shape humanity and its habitat; a foundational element that underpins all learning.

How You’ll Contribute

The Networked Communities team is seeking a Manager, Community Leadership and Engagement, to support the development of community leaders and leadership programs that engage, equip, and cultivate educators and young people to be outstanding and empowered contributors to our organization’s mission - to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. We define community as a verb, and this role is key in designing for action and impact.

This role partners with members across the National Geographic Education team, as well as contract personnel where necessary, to design and deliver community programs, resources, and initiatives that support participatory design, community activations, technical supports, and peer-to-peer mentorship efforts. This role serves on internal cross-platform workgroups to represent Education and the Community team. Initiatives might involve other National Geographic Society divisions, National Geographic Partners, and representatives of outside funders and entities.

Come join us on the journey.

Your Impact

Responsibilities include

• Strategy and Development (15%) - Develops and implements plans/ timeline/ roadmap for programs based on strategic goals. Contributes to continuous learning, evaluation, and feedback of the Education Team’s products and programs by implementing/participating in needs assessment, gap analysis and feedback exercises. Uses findings and educator/youth needs assessments to develop program proposals.
• Program Management (35%) - Manages programs that support the strategic plan. Under supervision, manages day-to-day aspects of each assigned project or program from inception to completion including: program plans, timelines, and creation of partner proposals/MOUs/agreements. Determines goals for projects and programs and aligns spending to those goals. Keeps program budgets.
• Skills Concentration (35%) - In partnership with our Senior Director, Networked Communities, you will contribute to overall strategic vision for our team’s work and carry out design enhancements of community programs focused on leadership opportunities for educators and young people, such as our Advisory Council, Grosvenor Teacher Fellows, and Education Fellowships program. You will be responsible for the ongoing implementation of these initiatives and contribute to accelerating our impact by activating leaders as mentors and co-creators of our communities; You will lead efforts to co-design and enhance existing tools, programming, and community groups to better serve community member needs while balancing our strategic priorities. You will work collaboratively across the education team and internal/external stakeholders to maximize leaders’ roles in our direct community building efforts, as well as support more distributed efforts with partners; You will help to identify and elevate stories of impact and to build and strengthen community relationships. You are a strong fit for this team if you embrace the spirit of continuous improvement, value community input and feedback, and understand how to translate insights into meaningful design and actions.
• Team, Divisional and Organizational Collaboration (15%) - Represents Education at meetings with other NGS departments, National Geographic Partners departments, outside funders/entities and make program decisions. Served on internal cross-platform workgroups to maximize Education strategy results and scale.

What You’ll Bring

Educational Background Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as Education, Communications, etc. Content knowledge in Social Studies, History, Geography, Environmental Science, Earth Science, or English Language Arts is a plus.

Minimum Years and Type of experience 5+ years of related experience in any of the following: Teaching

• Designing or supporting implementation of educational programs and/or initiatives
• Project or program management experience

Necessary Knowledge and Skills

• In-depth understanding of educators, the general education landscape, and education networks and communities. (or you have the know-how of how to build and internalize this kind of knowledge about audiences quickly and in ongoing ways)
• Successfully led and expanded programs, campaigns, or initiatives and have a reputation as a strong collaborator, communicator, and contributor and thrive on a fast-paced teams.
• A natural storyteller and comfortable connecting with community members via social media and live conversations.

Desired Knowledge and Skills

• Energized by contributing to both the strategic design of programs and initiatives, but also by rolling up your sleeves to get work done; you can think and act strategically and tactically.
• Creative and relentlessly curious; you pride yourself on being data informed and people driven, committed to continuous improvement, and possess a left and right brain balance. (art and science)
• Experience in writing, storytelling, digital community building, and/ or program management.

Supervision No direct reports 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.