Coordinator, Programs (Science and Innovation)

How You’ll Contribute

The National Geographic Society invests in a diverse, global community of National Geographic Explorers who are leading a new age of exploration in support of our mission: to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world through science, exploration, education, and storytelling. These bold individuals represent more than 140 countries, and their vast array of backgrounds, perspectives, and fields bring us to the far reaches of the globe.

The Science & Innovation team oversees the Society’s funding efforts in science, conservation, and technology, develops and manages major mission programs, and establishes programmatic partnerships with like-minded non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Reporting to the Vice President, Science and Innovation Programs, Planetary Health, the Coordinator will serve on the Science and Innovation division’s Perpetual Planet Expeditions (PPE) team to provide critical and tactical support that contributes to the well-functioning of the program including administrative and organizational support, project and team management support, budget coordination, stakeholder engagement, convenings and meeting support, and data metrics and tracking. The Coordinator’s contributions are essential components to implementing National Geographic’s bold and impactful Explorer-led programs. Perpetual Planet Expeditions is one of the largest programs at the Society that supports expeditions to explore the planet’s most critical environments. By harnessing world-renowned scientific expertise and cutting-edge technology that reveal new insights about the systems that are vital to life on Earth, these expeditions help scientists, decision-makers, and local communities plan for and find solutions to the impacts of climate and environmental change while illuminating the wonder of our world through impactful storytelling.

The successful candidate will be a versatile and motivated self-starter with the ability to perform in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment both independently and in collaboration with the team.

Your Impact

Responsibilities Include

Administrative Support: (40%)

Under the direction of the Vice President and in coordination with PPE team members, the Coordinator will support the programmatic, operational, logistical, and administrative needs of the Perpetual Planet Expeditions Program writ large as well as the needs of individual team members. The Coordinator will

• Assists with meeting scheduling, taking notes and developing meeting agendas

• Update team organizational tools, such as GANTT charts, program documents and work plans 

• Support unified metrics tracking

• Support contracting and invoicing processes by drafting, sending and keeping track of contracts, and receiving, processing, and recording all project-related expenses and invoices. This includes setting up and onboarding new vendors, requesting and paying invoices.

• Support the Vice President with administrative tasks as needed including coordinating travel and supporting expense reimbursement processes.

• Support Vice President with internal and external meeting prep. 

Program Support: (40%)

• Support all aspects of in-person and virtual meeting planning (meetings that are internal to the program, internal to NGS, and external with Explorers and partners).

• Supports staff and Explorer needs related to expedition logistics (permits, gear, shipping, lodging etc)

• Coordinates established processes across the department to ensure staff have all information and resources necessary to implement tasks.

• Coordinates logistical needs for large programmatic events/convenings onsite and offsite.

• Develops program presentation material for VP and team members including decks, talking points, agendas etc. 

• Coordinates internal meeting prep by circulating meeting agendas; follows up after meetings with key notes and action items; liaises across divisions to track progress of action items

• Support team members with program travel logistics

Strategy and Development (10%)

• Gains a comprehensive understanding of the goals of the organization, overarching NGS strategy, matrices within the organization, and Explorer-led projects and programs.

• Gains a comprehensive understanding of the Perpetual Planet Expeditions program and the various teams, programs, and opportunities across NGS and National Geographic Partners (NGP) contextually relevant to Perpetual Planet Explorers and Expeditions.

Divisional, and Organizational Collaboration: (10%)

• Supports effective communication within the team as well as between the Programs team and other NGS departments

• Assists with internal and external communications for Science and Innovation constituents, in particular visual presentations.

• Contributes to initiatives across the Science and Innovation team; serves on internal cross-platform workgroups to maximize strategy results and scale. 

• Develops and maintains strong positive and empathetic working relationships with other NGS divisions and external teams. 

• Supports a culture of inclusion, respect, empowerment, and accountability, while strongly promoting innovation.

What You’ll Bring

Educational Background

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, International Development or related field required. 

Minimum Years and Types of Experience

2+ years of experience preferably supporting non-profit programs in the environment/climate space. Field experience a plus

Necessary Knowledge and Skills

• Highly developed oral and written communication skills and ability to work with individuals and groups at all levels.

• Ability to work on multiple projects – and move between projects quickly - under tight deadlines, with changing priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment

• Ability to take direction from multiple team members while being able to prioritize tasks with little direction 

• Ability to synthesize complex information

• Ability to develop briefing materials for senior staff

• Ability to create presentation “decks” (Google slides, PPT + Keynote) is critical

• Proficient with G-Suite tools and others (Salesforce et al)

• Ability to manage tasks and responsibilities that span multiple teams

• Ability to manage appointments, meetings, and multiple schedules.

• Must be highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to learn quickly and adapt to new situations. 

Desired Qualifications

Intermediate to advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google Suite Workspace software, Dropbox, and project management software such as Airtable is highly preferred.

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 rate for this position is $25.12 to $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

Hybrid - At the Society, we believe in the advantages of coming together to build community, mentor and learn from colleagues, and connect more deeply with our mission. As a result, the majority of our staff are Hybrid. Our Hybrid category requires that staff work at Base Camp two days each week: every Tuesday and Wednesday. Hybrid staff are also always welcome to come in additional days each week if preferred.

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.