Director, Operations (Blue Boundaries - ISL)

How You’ll Contribute

The National Geographic Society Storytelling Mission Program works to expand the organization’s impact through journalism, photography, film/video, web content, mapping, and data visualization. As the largest funder to individual storytellers in this work, it also identifies key grantmaking and fellowship opportunities with creative talent. The division’s Impact Story Lab (ISL) builds on National Geographic’s legacy as a global leader in using storytelling to drive positive change. The ISL produces world-class film, audio, photography, VR/AR experiences, and other media that furthers the goals of the organization and its programs. By combining creative excellence with groundbreaking research, ISL advances the field of “impact media” and contributes to National Geographic Society’s mission of illuminating and protecting the wonder of our world.

The Director of Operations plays a crucial role in managing the processes of three unique lines of business: Explorer Programs, Museum of Exploration Media, and Institutional Video Services, both at the departmental and project level. Reporting to the Vice President, the Director of Operations is responsible for creating departmental workflows, keeping projects on schedule and within budget, and for supporting the daily operations of the team.

This is a fixed-term position through 12/31/31.

Your Impact

Responsibilities:

Departmental Operation Strategy (40%): Lead the creation and continued improvement of workflows for three unique bodies of work: Explorer Programs, Museum of Exploration Media, and Institutional Video Services, each with different intake, budgeting, production, and feedback systems. With the Vice President, lead the annual budget creation, quarterly forecasting, and regular reporting of departmental budget.

Collaborate with colleagues across the organization to design align ISL processes with NGS policies, protocols, and procedures. Ensure legal and insurance compliance for all productions. Investigate and implement technologies and software that will support the functioning of all work on the team. Work with ISL leadership and producers to define technical requirements and standards (acceptable camera choices, editing systems, archiving technologies) in accordance with industry standards. 

Team Leadership (25%): Supervise a large and multi-disciplinary team of creative staff to ensure efficiency, quality, and professional development. Build and manage teams in accordance with the needs of each project. Oversee hiring of contractors and external vendors, negotiating agreements, executing contracts, and managing payments. Invest time in mentoring staff to ensure their professional growth. 

Project Management (25%): Lead budgeting and scheduling for all ISL projects. Work with ISL leadership and Producers to create and manage project budgets and schedules, ensuring efficiency and quality. Ensure team accountability to budgets, schedules, and processes for each project.  

External Partnerships (10%): Work with Impact Story Lab leadership to contribute to departmental and project strategy in order to achieve the impact goals. Work across National Geographic Society, our Explorer community, National Geographic Partners/Disney, and with key external partners to collaborate on production, distribution, and impact initiatives in order to maximize the impact of the department’s programs and projects. Be engaged and aware of the latest developments in the field of impact media and leverage that knowledge to position the Impact Story Lab at the forefront of the field.

Educational Background 

Bachelor's degree required.

Minimum Years and Types of Experience

10+ years of experience leading operations for film and media teams

3+ years staff management experience

Necessary Knowledge and Skills 

• Must be highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to learn quickly and adapt to new situations 

• Understanding of operations of media production is required. 

• While in-depth technical skills are not required, the Production Manager must be familiar with all aspects of production so that they can communicate effectively with the production team. 

• Excellent collaboration skills

• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and complex working relationships. 

• Able to work proactively to solve problems. 

• Excellent written, verbal, communica