Sr. Specialist, Ocean Policy, Pristine Seas (Science and Innovation)

How You’ll Contribute

The National Geographic Society invests in a diverse, global community of National Geographic Explorers who are leading a new age of exploration in support of our mission: to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world through science, exploration, education, and storytelling. These bold individuals represent more than 140 countries, and their vast array of backgrounds, perspectives, and fields bring us to the far reaches of the globe.

Within NGS, the Science & Innovation team is a department that oversees the Society’s grantmaking efforts in science, conservation and technology, develops and manages major mission programs, and establishes programmatic partnerships with like-minded non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Over the last fifteen years, Pristine Seas, National Geographic’s flagship ocean conservation program has helped to inspire the protection of 32 of the last wild places in the ocean, encompassing almost 7 million square kilometers of ocean. Pristine Seas seeks a Senior Specialist, Ocean Policy to support and scale our approach over the next five years

Under the direction of leadership across the team, and reporting to the Senior Director of Pacific Ocean Policy, the Senior Specialist, Ocean Policy will manage and execute a wide array of global ocean policy, program strategy, public affairs, and partner management activities to ensure the proper functioning of the Pristine Seas team.

Your Impact

Responsibilities Include:

Policy (50%)

• Collaborate with the Executive Director, VP for Strategy and Operations, and the Senior Director of Pacific Ocean Policy to conduct research and develop briefing materials to help inform political strategy, marine protected area opportunities, and other special projects;

• Research and write briefings on scout and expedition locations to help build alignment and understanding of overall program strategy;

• Collaborate with Senior Manager, Strategy, to support project management for country projects, including tracking progress on marine protection targets post-expedition and updating relevant strategy documents, including the PS Archive;

• Collaborate with PS departments to plan and manage scout, expedition, and return trips. Represent Pristine Seas to field partners when necessary, and manage the development of detailed reports on events and outcomes with relevant team members;

Program Strategy (30%)

• Develop and execute operational and content plans for in-person team meetings, strategy workshops, and ocean policy convenings with logistical support from the Program Operations team;

• Support the Senior Manager, Strategy in grant reporting initiatives by compiling information, drafting, and copy-editing as needed.

Public Affairs and Partner Management (20%)

• Support partner management and special projects across Pristine Seas’ portfolio, including policy communications;

• Coordinate across NGS and PS departments on Pristine Seas’ messaging, internal and external-facing material development, to ensure program strategies are effectively communicated;

• Represent Pristine Seas as necessary at key events in partner countries and other relevant fora.

What You’ll Bring

Educational Background

Bachelor’s degree

Minimum Years and Types of Experience   

4+  years of professional work experience. Experience in the non-profit and/or environmental sector is preferred but not required.

Necessary Knowledge and Skills

• Strong understanding of marine conservation issues, project scope, and programmatic needs.

• Excellent project management and organizational skills with high attention to detail.

• Highly developed oral and written communication skills with competency in word. processing and spreadsheet (Google Drive, Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Keynote).

• Ability to proactively anticipate problems and find creative solutions to challenging situations.

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate professionally in a fast-paced, dynamic team environment and work with individuals and groups at all levels.

• Ability to exercise good judgment and work with minimal instruction and supervision when necessary.

• Ability to maintain high standards of confidentiality.

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