Director and Associate General Counsel, Campus & Experiences

How You’ll Contribute

The Legal and Business Affairs team provides strategic, practical, and timely legal and business advice and support to all Society divisions in support of our mission and NG Next, our strategy plan through June 2026.


As a member of LBA, the Director and Associate General Counsel is responsible for drafting contracts and leading negotiations, and providing general legal support and business advice to the Society's to the Society’s Experiences teams (Exhibitions, NG Live and Speakers Bureau) and the Campus team (”Base Camp” or the “Museum of Exploration”), as described below.

- The Exhibitions team creates and licenses National Geographic exhibitions and immersive experiences that are presented at Base Camp and venues in the U.S. and internationally.

- NG Live brings the stories of National Geographic to life through bespoke public performances presented by theaters, performing arts centers, museums, universities, and other venues around the world. The National Geographic Society Speakers Bureau acts as an in-house, full service, talent booking agency for personalities associated with the National Geographic brand including Explorers, photographers, authors, and executives.

- Base Camp is the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, DC which will reopen to the public in 2026. The reimagined space will include an expanded museum, public spaces, and immersive experiences, together known as the “Museum of Exploration.” The project is designed to be a hub that connects the Society's headquarters with the public, and to engage visitors of all backgrounds.

This position will report to the Vice President, Senior Associate General Counsel for Advancement, Public Experiences and Anti Corruption Compliance, and will also work closely with the Vice President, Senior Associate General Counsel for Privacy, Technology, Facilities, and Operations and his team on matters related to our Campus.

Your Impact

• Exhibitions and Experiences  (25%)

  • Provide legal support and business advice for Museum of Exploration exhibitions, National Geographic traveling exhibitions (both domestic and international) and immersive experiences. 

  • Structure, draft, review and assist in negotiation of exhibition loan and license agreements, immersive experience promoter and exhibition co-development agreements, object loan agreements and deeds of gift.

  • Prepare and periodically update templates.
      

• NG Live (25%)

  • Provide legal support for the NG Live team, including contract negotiation; assist in the review venue and speaker agreement contracts; draft and periodically update contract templates for NG Live and Speakers Bureau. 

  • Work with the Finance department to provide business tax advice; work with outside counsel to advise on visa issues for non-US resident speakers and support the NG Live production team on legal and content issues.
     

• Campus (30%)

  • Structure, draft, review and negotiate critical Museum of Exploration  and other headquarters-related contracts.  These include architecture, construction, creative, and other physical services contracts; development contracts; renewals & amendments for consulting/project management contracts, operator and outsourced services contracts.
     

• Facilities and Security (15%)

  • Provide ongoing legal support and guidance to Society’s Facilities and Security teams.
      

• Regulatory and Tax (5%)

  • Provide ongoing legal support and guidance on headquarters regulatory, permitting, licensing, and property tax issues.

• Other legal matters as the need may arise

What You’ll bring

Educational Background
JD with license to practice as an attorney in DC

Minimum Years and Types of Experience
6+ years of relevant legal experience, including in the businesses described above and experience in the areas of contract negotiation and providing legal guidance to all levels of staff.

Necessary Knowledge and Skills

• Skilled in drafting and negotiating business contracts and similar documents
• Experience with intellectual property and brand licensing 
• Superior writing and analytical skills required, and an ability to quickly learn the fundamentals of different areas of the law
• Ability to interface effectively with all