Vice President, Strategy and Operations - Special Collections (Storytelling)

National Geographic Society•Washington, DC

24d•Onsite

About The Position

The Storytelling team expands the organization’s impact through journalism, photography, film and video, web content, mapping, asset management, and data visualization. Its programmatic work includes identifying grantmaking and fellowship opportunities for creative talent and building capacity for the next generation of diverse storytellers. The Vice President, Strategy and Operations - Special Collections ensures that the Society’s media and library assets can support storytelling now and into the future. This hands-on position works across internal teams and external stakeholders to guide the digital asset lifecycle, from creation and delivery through archiving and preservation. The role secures and organizes National Geographic Society media and library assets and ensures they are available, usable, and understandable to the organization and key external stakeholders. The Vice President provides strategic and operational leadership, turning high-level vision into divisional priorities and performance frameworks; supporting initiatives such as the Center for Human Histories and Culture, Systems Unification, and AWS integration; improving divisional structure, staffing, workflows, and resource allocation; and monitoring performance, budgets, talent development, and outcomes. The role leads and develops a high-performing team and builds a culture of trust, respect, creativity, teamwork, innovation, and service to the National Geographic mission. The position leads the lifecycle management of media assets, including acquisition, creation, collection, storage, access, preservation, and policy development. It guides technology use, works with senior leadership to leverage the archive and library for mission-driven initiatives and potential fundraising, and partners with internal and external teams to provide a self-service environment. The role also supports time-sensitive asset and research requests, improves asset management and archival systems, ensures rights-management compliance in collaboration with Legal and Business Affairs, and stays current on industry best practices. As a member of the Storytelling Leadership team, the Vice President advises the Chief Storytelling Officer on strategic and operational decisions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
15 or more years of experience.
7 or more years leading an enterprise media or digital asset management program.
7 or more years of people-management experience, including managing other people managers.
Experience designing and implementing a large-scale, multi-year strategy and associated budget.
Experience developing and leading a team, particularly through a period of change and growth.
Ability to exercise high ethical standards, initiative, sound judgment, discretion, decision-making, and diplomacy in sensitive, high-stakes situations.
Demonstrated ability to establish strong internal and external partnerships.
Ability to interact effectively with senior business executives, talent, and other high-level internal and external partners.
Ability to collaborate across departments in a complex organization and manage conflict and change.
Strong attention to detail, organization, problem-solving, follow-through, and project management skills.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Sophistication, self-confidence, self-motivation, and ability to remain calm under pressure.
Ability to manage multiple deadlines and projects.
Experience working with external and philanthropic funders.
Legally authorized to work in the United States; the position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Archival or library experience.
Track record managing teams of people leaders, budgets, and cross-functional initiatives at a senior level.
Experience working with executives and external partners.
Strategic thinking and ability to translate vision into action.
Collaboration and relationship-building skills across diverse teams.
Leadership presence and confidence representing senior leadership.
Adaptability and resilience in managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Experience managing grants and translating grant budgets into operational models.
Demonstrated experience leading new process development and implementation with cross-functional partners.
Experience managing multiple collections sites and site teams.

Responsibilities

Translate high-level vision into actionable divisional priorities and performance management frameworks.
Provide strategic leadership and operational support for projects including the Center for Human Histories and Culture, Systems Unification, and AWS integration.
Assess and improve divisional structure, staffing, workflows, efficiencies, effectiveness, and resource allocation to align with strategic objectives.
Monitor and report on divisional performance, budgets, talent development, and outcomes, ensuring accountability and measurable progress.
Lead and cultivate a high-performing, results-driven team and a culture of trust and respect.
Build a team culture focused on creativity, teamwork, innovation, and service to the National Geographic mission.
Integrate the department with broader organizational goals and collaborate with internal divisions, including Storytelling and Campus & Experiences, and external partners, particularly The Walt Disney Company.
Define, implement, and manage the full lifecycle of media assets, from acquisition to archival storage.
Oversee the development and implementation of policies for asset creation, collection, storage, access, preservation, and lifecycle management.
Oversee and guide the use of technologies to meet service objectives.
Work with senior NGS leadership to leverage the archive and library for mission-driven initiatives and potential fundraising opportunities.
Partner with internal and external teams, including Communications, Advancement, Programs, and IT, to provide a self-service environment suited to organizational and stakeholder needs.
Support internal and external teams with critical and time-sensitive digital assets and research requests.
Continually assess and improve media asset management and archival systems to ensure they provide value to users.
Ensure rights-management compliance in collaboration with Legal and Business Affairs.
Keep up to date with digital asset management and archival industry best practices.
Serve as a key member of the Storytelling Leadership team and advise the Chief Storytelling Officer on strategic and operational decision-making.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Wellness program.
401(k) retirement savings plan with matching contributions after 6 months of employment.
Flexible paid time off, including up to 22 days of paid annual leave per calendar year (15 days for new hires in their first year, prorated) and 10 days of sick leave.
12 paid holidays and a paid winter break between December 25 and 31, with possible exceptions for certain roles.
Paid parental leave.
Adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement.
Fertility benefits.
Learning and development opportunities.
Lifestyle Spending Account.
Pet adoption assistance and pet insurance.
Pre-tax transportation benefits with an employer subsidy.
Employer-paid life insurance and disability benefit.
National Geographic discounts and perks.