Coordinator, Operations

How You’ll Contribute

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. Components of the new guest experience 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 exciting new event space. A fully sustainable, on-brand hotel may also be built and operated by a third party on the campus. The capstone of the renovation is a one-of-a-kind nighttime experience in the courtyard.
The Operations team provides an outstanding experience to everyone who comes to our headquarters, including visitors, donors, and staff. We are focused on planning for and operations of visitor experiences and campus-wide operations. The team is responsible for providing services that all staff rely on, including cleaning, mail and packages, office space management, building engineering, interactive technology, and sustainability.
The Coordinator will report to and provide support for the Vice President of Operations. The position will be responsible for administrative, operational, and other duties related to Base Camp operations, including visitor experiences, facilities maintenance, custodial, exhibit production, and interactive technology. This position requires meticulous attention to detail, collaboration with colleagues at all levels of the organization and external vendors and partners, and a proactive approach to work with a positive mindset.

Your Impact

Responsibilities Include

Administrative Support: (60%) 

• Assist with the maintenance and organization of team-wide information and project management. Update team organizational tools, such as dashboards, metrics, work plans, roadmaps, and project management systems.

• Manage the Vice President of Operations’ calendar, scheduling new meetings and rescheduling to align with shifting priorities

• Support internal team communications and ensure documents and protocols are updated, organized and accessible for staff in the shared database.

• Coordinate meetings and events for the team including scheduling, calendar management, planning, room reservation, agenda management, note taking, related follow up, and other logistics as needed.

• Assist with Operations’ new hire training and onboarding, including requesting system access and providing necessary tools and information to new staff.

• Manage supply purchase requests, pay suppliers; and support budgetary spend and team-wide budget processes.

Team and Organizational Collaboration: (15%)

• Contribute expertise to supporting goals and processes as well as impact programs across the Operations Team. 

• Assist in the planning, coordination, and implementation of cross-team projects as they relate to the Operations team, interfacing with relevant departments within the Society and external partners.

• Support a culture of curiosity, empathy, responsibility, inclusivity, while strongly promoting collaboration and innovation.

• Develop and maintain strong, positive and empathetic working relationships with key departments and external partners to ensure work is executed at a high level and outcomes are met.

Review Conditions: (15%)

• Tour Base Camp offices and experiences to note areas of concern or deficiency. 

• Serve as the eyes and ears of the Vice President of Operations across the campus.

Event, Program, and Special Space Use Review: (10%)

• Review schedules, calendars, and requisitions for planned, scheduled, and requested uses of Base Camp’s facilities, note activities of concern, and help deconflict competing or mutually-disruptive uses.

• Monitor status of planned or desired uses, alert appropriate team members of areas of concern or potential conflicts, help ensure Operations departments deliver excellent experiences.

What You’ll Bring

Educational Background

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Minimum Years and Type of Experience

2+ years’ experience in a similar role

Necessary Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of and experience working in a related industry – visitor attraction, museum, facilities, construction, hospitality, and/or events

• Effective written and oral communications skills

• Proficiency in both the Microsoft Office suite and Google Workspace tools

• Ability to remain at a stationary post for extended periods during special events and activities, traverse the campus on hard surfaces on a regular basis, walk a portion of the 130,000 sq. ft. museum daily, and occasionally transport objects up to 25 lbs.

Desired Qualifications

• Prior operations and administrative experience preparing accurate reports, using scheduling and business communication tools

• Ability to work in a fast paced, multi-phase project environment with shifting priorities

• Attention to detail and ability to understand and prioritize multiple requests and projects while meeting deadlines

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 range salary for this position is $24.67 - $25.97.

The start date for this role will be in January 2025.

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

Resident - Our Resident category recognizes that certain staff need to be physically present at Base Camp to do their work. Some Resident staff must be at Base Camp every day to do their jobs, while others may only need to be physically present onsite some of the time to meet looming deadlines or to get work done and may require a unique schedule. As such, this category has been revised to provide maximum flexibility depending on what’s required for each individual role. The days Resident staff come into the office will be determined by their teams and workflow, and they should work with their supervisors to determine their specific schedule. And throughout the year, their schedule may be adjusted based on cyclical work cycles, deadlines, and/or ebbs and flows of work.

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.