Director, Strategic Partnerships (Education and Community Engagement)

National Geographic

4d•$139,650 - $147,000•Remote

About The Position

The National Geographic Society is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to using the power of science, exploration, education, and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. The Education and Community Engagement (ECE) division aims to extend the work of NGS explorers into classrooms and communities, fostering an Explorer Mindset in educators and learners of all ages to inspire them to learn about, care for, and protect our world. The division emphasizes the importance of geography and the interconnectedness of human and natural systems. Working at the intersection of science and storytelling, the ECE division collaborates with researchers, educators, community leaders, and learners to improve scientific outcomes, advance knowledge, and drive attitudinal and behavioral shifts for sustainable conservation. The division cultivates strategic partnerships, manages education endowments, fellowships, and grants, creates and disseminates educational content, connects explorers to classrooms and communities, and engages youth through immersive learning experiences. These resources are designed to be accessible globally, showcasing diverse perspectives and accommodating various technological capacities. This role, reporting to the Senior Director, Endowments, Explorer-Led Programs, and Grants, will lead the strategy and implementation for leveraging education endowments to extend the Society's mission impact within a specific region (Western US and potentially Canada) and across the Strategic Partnerships portfolio. The Director will implement high-impact initiatives to reach classrooms and communities, inspire learners, encourage action, and advance knowledge in geography education and learning solution design. The role involves developing multi-year plans, goals, metrics, and budgets, fostering a culture of collaboration, and building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in education, policy, management or equivalent experience.
10+ years of work experience in education and/or nonprofit sectors.
A minimum of five years of senior management experience.
Strong knowledge of the education landscape in the US.
Demonstrated experience building partnerships and facilitating collaboration across sectors and organizations.
Knowledge of the education sector and promising trends and opportunities to extend our reach and impact, with a focus on classroom, informal, and/or community education in North America.
Experience building strategic partnerships with external organizations and individuals that drive reach and impact.
Proven record of working collaboratively across a broad range of stakeholders to achieve strategic goals.
Ability to build and maintain complex relationships.
Solutions-driven approach with an ability to set ambitious goals, lead complex projects, and manage others and resources efficiently.
Strong project management and communication skills.
Ability to work on multiple projects in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
Ability to successfully navigate a large, heavily matrixed organization.
Strong attention to detail.
Clearly communicate with stakeholders orally and in writing, including experience speaking in front of audiences of all sizes.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
Experience with and commitment to centering equity and inclusivity in their work and ways of working.
Experience in program impact measurement and evaluation.
Experience in impact storytelling and communicating impact in effective and creative ways.
Experience creating and/or refining operational systems and processes.
Comfort with Salesforce or similar platforms.
Skill in using Google Suite and Microsoft Office tools, including Excel.

Responsibilities

Lead strategic planning for leveraging education endowments to ensure maximum impact and alignment with donor intent and NGS strategic priorities.
Develop and implement strategic plans for the assigned region to maximize the effectiveness of education endowments based on state & regional needs, impact assessments, and strategic goals.
Contribute to continuous learning, evaluation, and feedback of NGS programs and partnerships, using findings to inform ongoing impact and reach strategy.
Serve as a thought partner in the design of strategic priorities and vision for education funding opportunities.
Identify, cultivate, and manage strategic partnerships with private and public organizations, nonprofits, and educator and youth networks to extend program reach and impact.
Steward education endowments to ensure maximum impact and alignment with donor intent and National Geographic strategic priorities.
Convene advisory groups at the state or regional level to provide strategic insight on programming plans.
Manage the development and implementation of multi-year goals, project plans, and budgets.
Oversee metrics, evaluation, reporting, and impact storytelling in the assigned region.
Co-lead the development and execution of pilot initiatives and targeted funding opportunities.
Represent the Education and Community Engagement division at meetings with other NGS divisions, NG Partners divisions, and external organizations.
Develop strong working relationships across the Education and Community Engagement division and other NGS divisions to integrate education and community engagement into the larger organizational strategy.
Support efforts to raise revenue through philanthropy, grants, and other initiatives.
Support divisional and Society priorities as needed.

Benefits

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)
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
a variety of National Geographic discounts and perks