Sr. Specialist (Education)

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. The Education department serves this mission by amplifying and extending the work of NGS Explorers into classrooms and communities, helping educators and young people develop an Explorer Mindset and inspiring them to learn about, care for, and protect our world. The department seeks to help the world understand the importance of geography - seeing the connections, interdependencies, and patterns that shape human and natural systems on our planet.

To accomplish its goals and to extend its reach and impact, the Education Department cultivates strategic partnerships; manages education-focused endowments, fellowships and grants; creates and disseminates education content and programs for Explorers and a K-16 audience domestically and internationally; connects Explorers to classrooms and communities; and engages youth in the mission by building Explorer-focused innovative, co-curricular opportunities. Building upon the Society’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, these educational resources and experiences elevate missing voices, bring a multiplicity of perspectives, and are accessible on a continuum of no-low-high tech capacities at scale across the globe.

Reporting to the Sr. Program Officer, Strategic Insights and Funding Opportunities, the Sr Specialist’s primary responsibility is evaluating and recommending education-focused grants across National Geographic’s five focus areas - Ocean, Land, Wildlife, Human Histories and Cultures, and Human Ingenuity - and providing high-quality customer service to grantees, who are known as National Geographic Explorers.

• Using a comprehensive understanding of the goals of the organization, underlying education strategy, and organizational matrices, supports the strategic development of the education grants portfolio, including recommending changes to portfolio strategy and management based on NGS priorities and mission.
• Understand relevant field(s), stay networked and informed on emerging trends, and scan for gaps and opportunities in the education grants portfolio.
• Contribute to continuous learning, evaluation, and feedback of the education grants portfolio, using findings to inform improvement and future investment.

• Working closely with the Senior Program Officer, manage aspects of grantmaking to include development of opportunities, recruitment, applicant support, proposal review, and coordination of internal and external expert review. This includes any grant opportunity, request for proposals, or special funding opportunity that has education as a discipline focus.
• Support the Senior Program Officer in developing and maintaining strong, positive, and empathetic relationships with prospective and active education-focused Explorers. Act as contact for Explorers with education-focused grants, and serve as an internal subject matter expert on their projects, including understanding the context in which they occur, and staying apprised of new discoveries, high profile academic publications, and/or media-friendly results that should be elevated.
• Support the Senior Program Officer in providing technical and specific support to grantees during all phases of the grant process, from applicant support through award announcement, and from project implementation through final reporting.
• Support the Senior Program Officer in maintaining and managing grantee data and profiles in National Geographic’s online grants management platform(s).

• Develop and maintain strong, positive, and collaborative working relationships with other NGS divisions and external teams to maximize impact and reach.
• Represent Education at meetings with other NGS divisions, NG Partners divisions, strategic partners, and other outside funders/entities.
• Support Senior Program Officer in promoting Education grantees through all NGS/NGP departments and leveraging opportunities within National Geographic to share Explorers’ results and stories with broader audiences. Draws on expertise to provide educational context to interested media units. Serves as point of contact or liaison between grantees and NGS teams.

• Understanding of educational systems, and broad knowledge of U.S. and international education issues and trends.
• Skills in project management, project planning, and reporting.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to manage relationships and communicate effectively with external audiences.
• Ability to work with individuals and groups at all levels.
• Ability to work on multiple projects, under deadlines, with changing priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Ability to successfully navigate a large, heavily matrixed organization.

• Technical proficiency with online tools and databases, including grants management systems (e.g., Salesforce, Google Workspace).
• Ability to compile information from disparate sources (e.g., literature review, interviews and conversations, first-hand accounts) and produce condensed, topline messaging and/or recommendations.
• Experience speaking in front of audiences of all sizes and putting together reports for many different types of audiences.

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 they prefer.