National Geographic Society
Senior Manager, Event Operations
National Geographic Society, Washington, District of Columbia, us, 20022
How You’ll Contribute
Who We Are: 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 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 an exciting new event space. The capstone of the renovation is a one‑of‑a‑kind nighttime experience in the courtyard.
The Senior Manager, Event Operations leads Event Operations within the Hospitality and Retail department for the Museum of Exploration. Tasks include ensuring the efficient execution of internal and external events held at the museum and across the campus, coordinating with event support teams to ensure accurate sequencing of pre and post event procedures, and achieving the highest level of guest satisfaction. This role reports to the Sr. Director of Hospitality and Retail on the Operations team.
Your Impact Responsibilities Include Event Management & Execution (40%)
Develop event operations procedures and strategy in support of the Society’s event business objectives
Lead the end‑to‑end execution of both internal and external event reservations, including overseeing setup, run of show, and breakdown.
Manage event logistics including coordinating with vendor load‑in, catering setup, and A/V support
Serve as the event day primary point of contact and show‑runner for clients and internal teams to ensure smooth operations and guest satisfaction.
Conduct pre‑event walk‑throughs to capture questions and feedback from vendors, internal teams, and clients.
Gather post‑event nightly report to key internal stakeholders
Coordination & Collaboration (25%)
Lead weekly events and bookings meetings to confirm upcoming event needs and timing requirements for all internal service teams (AV, Janitorial, Catering, etc.)
Coordinate with event services teams to ensure accurate staffing and dissemination of vital event information for staff working events
Ensure proper recording of required documentation including collection of COI, release forms, and other relevant event documents
Leadership (20%)
Provide operational instruction to onsite support teams (AV, Visitor Experience, Janitorial, vendors, and others) during event setup, execution, and teardown / load‑out.
Provide feedback to support team leaders about the effectiveness and service quality of support team members; suggest areas for process improvement.
Safety (10%)
Maintain compliance with accessibility, building regulations, and safety for event planning and execution.
Technology (5%)
Utilize Event Management System software to approve reservations, track requests, and plan.
What You’ll Bring Educational Background Bachelor’s Degree Preferred
Minimum Years and Type of Experience 5+ years of event operations experience preferably in a museum or visitor attraction setting.
Knowledge And Skills
Experience in developing event operations procedures and strategy
Ability to lead cross‑functional teams
Keen attention to detail
Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment with shifting priorities
Strong written and oral communication skills
Be able to repetitively lift 50 lbs
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace tools
Desired Qualifications
Experience in supervising a team
Proactive customer service mindset
Ability to work nights and weekends
Supervision None
Salary Information The National Geographic Society offers a competitive and holistic total rewards package. Compensation is based on industry‑specific market data for similar‑sized nonprofit organizations. The salary range for this position is $99,750.00–$105,000.00. In addition, the Society offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance; a wellness program; a 401(k) retirement savings plan with matching contributions after 6 months; flexible paid time off with up to 22 days of paid annual leave per calendar year (15 days for new hires in their first year, prorated); 10 days of sick leave; 12 paid holidays and a paid winter break between December 25 and 31 (may not apply to all roles); paid parental leave, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility benefits; learning and development opportunities; a Lifestyle Spending Account; pet adoption assistance and insurance; pre‑tax transportation benefits; employer‑paid life insurance and disability benefit; and a variety of National Geographic discounts and perks.
Job Designation On‑Site Flex – Staff members must be physically present at Base Camp for the vast majority of their work. Work hours are determined in consultation with supervisors and are responsive to the needs of the Museum of Exploration and other building operations, often including non‑traditional (M-F, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) hours.
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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
The Senior Manager, Event Operations leads Event Operations within the Hospitality and Retail department for the Museum of Exploration. Tasks include ensuring the efficient execution of internal and external events held at the museum and across the campus, coordinating with event support teams to ensure accurate sequencing of pre and post event procedures, and achieving the highest level of guest satisfaction. This role reports to the Sr. Director of Hospitality and Retail on the Operations team.
Your Impact Responsibilities Include Event Management & Execution (40%)
Develop event operations procedures and strategy in support of the Society’s event business objectives
Lead the end‑to‑end execution of both internal and external event reservations, including overseeing setup, run of show, and breakdown.
Manage event logistics including coordinating with vendor load‑in, catering setup, and A/V support
Serve as the event day primary point of contact and show‑runner for clients and internal teams to ensure smooth operations and guest satisfaction.
Conduct pre‑event walk‑throughs to capture questions and feedback from vendors, internal teams, and clients.
Gather post‑event nightly report to key internal stakeholders
Coordination & Collaboration (25%)
Lead weekly events and bookings meetings to confirm upcoming event needs and timing requirements for all internal service teams (AV, Janitorial, Catering, etc.)
Coordinate with event services teams to ensure accurate staffing and dissemination of vital event information for staff working events
Ensure proper recording of required documentation including collection of COI, release forms, and other relevant event documents
Leadership (20%)
Provide operational instruction to onsite support teams (AV, Visitor Experience, Janitorial, vendors, and others) during event setup, execution, and teardown / load‑out.
Provide feedback to support team leaders about the effectiveness and service quality of support team members; suggest areas for process improvement.
Safety (10%)
Maintain compliance with accessibility, building regulations, and safety for event planning and execution.
Technology (5%)
Utilize Event Management System software to approve reservations, track requests, and plan.
What You’ll Bring Educational Background Bachelor’s Degree Preferred
Minimum Years and Type of Experience 5+ years of event operations experience preferably in a museum or visitor attraction setting.
Knowledge And Skills
Experience in developing event operations procedures and strategy
Ability to lead cross‑functional teams
Keen attention to detail
Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment with shifting priorities
Strong written and oral communication skills
Be able to repetitively lift 50 lbs
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace tools
Desired Qualifications
Experience in supervising a team
Proactive customer service mindset
Ability to work nights and weekends
Supervision None
Salary Information The National Geographic Society offers a competitive and holistic total rewards package. Compensation is based on industry‑specific market data for similar‑sized nonprofit organizations. The salary range for this position is $99,750.00–$105,000.00. In addition, the Society offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance; a wellness program; a 401(k) retirement savings plan with matching contributions after 6 months; flexible paid time off with up to 22 days of paid annual leave per calendar year (15 days for new hires in their first year, prorated); 10 days of sick leave; 12 paid holidays and a paid winter break between December 25 and 31 (may not apply to all roles); paid parental leave, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility benefits; learning and development opportunities; a Lifestyle Spending Account; pet adoption assistance and insurance; pre‑tax transportation benefits; employer‑paid life insurance and disability benefit; and a variety of National Geographic discounts and perks.
Job Designation On‑Site Flex – Staff members must be physically present at Base Camp for the vast majority of their work. Work hours are determined in consultation with supervisors and are responsive to the needs of the Museum of Exploration and other building operations, often including non‑traditional (M-F, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) hours.
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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr