How Youll 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 Programs team oversees the Societys funding efforts in science, conservation, and technology, develops and manages major mission programs, and establishes programmatic partnerships with like-minded non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and corporate partners.

Reporting to the Director, Science & Innovation Programs, Land, the Specialist will support the programmatic, operational, logistical, and administrative duties for the Land focus area. In this role, the Specialist leads assigned programmatic activity under the direction of the Director to ensure programmatic priorities are met while tracking and reporting on progress, indicators, and impact of programs. The Specialist will provide critical and tactical support that contributes to a well-functioning Science and Innovation division and portfolio, including administrative and organizational support, project management, budget coordination, stakeholder management, and data metrics and tracking. The successful candidate will be a versatile and motivated self-starter that has the ability to perform in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment both independently and in collaboration with the team.

Your Impact

Your Responsibilities Include

Program Management Support (60%)

• Executes tactical components of programmatic strategy under direction of leadership and in support of the Science & Innovation team. Includes but not limited to:
  • Identifies and interprets internal and external issues; elevates issues and inefficiencies where appropriate; recommends solutions, best practices, tools, and improvements needed; liaises with divisional Operations lead in development and utilization of streamlined processes and refinement of current processes.
  • Organizes data and implements data best practices, performs desk research on scientific topics to inform grant-making opportunities, data validation, and manipulation; collaborates with team members to create NGS forms, reports, campaigns, and dashboards to visualize program impact tied to our programmatic and grant-making priorities; summarizes data and metrics for use in divisional reporting, presentations and other necessary products.
  • Under direction of leadership, tracks projects and schedules, notifies relevant parties of approaching deadlines, updating schedules, project trackers, and other relevant documents.

Funding and Grants

• Contributes to the internal review of scientific grant applications under the direction of the Director, Land.
• Contributes to overall funding and grant review activities for the Land focus area.
• Acquires full understanding of programs goals, impact and deliverables and manages internal communications to ensure program teams remain in alignment and milestones stay on track.
• Contributes to work planning and program strategy discussions.
• Under the direction of the Director, Land, partners in monitoring program metrics and evaluation in collaboration with the Strategic Insights and Initiatives team.
• Provide on-site event support at key convenings in partnership with team Coordinators.

Administrative Support: (30%)

• Assist in program operation needs using NGS systems such as workday, Google docs, Wrike and Salesforce.
• Supports the coordination of contracts, legal, presentations, invoices, mailings, travel, and logistics. Ensures program payments and invoices are distributed and paid on time.
• Helps review program materials and ensures website and other program content is up to date in partnership with NGS communications team.
• Works with internal teams to order program needs such as supplies, swag, materials and gear.
• Supports Director in creating and distributing meeting agendas. Ensures meeting information and decisions are captured and follow-up actions occur.

Team, Divisional, and Organizational Collaboration: (10%)

• Develop and maintain strong positive and empathetic working relationships with Explorers and the Explorer Engagement team.
• Liaise with Explorers and Explorer teams on programmatic needs and contract deliverables.
• May serve on internal cross- platform workgroups where relevant expertise is needed.
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