Sr. Manager, Strategic Communications

How You’ll Contribute

The Communications, Marketing, and Brand team uses creative and strategic tools to further the mission of the National Geographic Society , while maintaining our place as one of the world’s most trusted non-profit organizations and global brands. The team’s creative minds develop and execute mission-driven, on-brand strategies and integrated strategic communications, marketing, creative and audience growth for the National Geographic Society and unifying our efforts across our owned channels, through owned channels, outside partners and earned media. The team is composed of seven integrated departments: Creative, Integrated Brand Marketing, Partnerships Marketing, MarCom Operations and Internal Communications, Strategic Communications, Executive Communications, and Crisis Communications and Public Relations.

Reporting to the Director, Strategic Communications, the Senior Manager, Strategic Communications will oversee communications planning and execution for a number of Explorer-led programs. This position will direct the strategy and implementation of outreach and engagement and will amplify the right message, at the right time, to the right audience in support of the goals of the National Geographic Society, the Communications, Marketing, and Brand team and the programmatic teams. The Senior Manager will also champion the Society’s mission, ensuring all communications reflect the brand’s voice and messaging.

Your Impact

Responsibilities Include:

Communications Strategy (45%): 

• Develops and directs comprehensive communications strategies, working collaboratively with programmatic teams, communications, marketing and brand colleagues and external partners, to advance understanding and support for the Society’s Explorer-led programs and the overall profile of the Society’s mission. 

• Manages a consistent messaging platform, including the development of messaging tool kits to ensure related Society leadership, staff, Explorers and external partners are well equipped to deliver our impact messaging.
   

Media Outreach and Engagement (40%): 

• Proactively directs external media relations and outreach to broaden awareness of key Explorer-led programs and increases the visibility of the Society. Cultivates and maintains relationships with reporters from top-tier local, regional, national and international media outlets. 

• Secures high-quality media coverage. Proactively identifies, develops, refines and executes strategies to reach key audiences. Ensures a consistent cadence of earned media.

• Develops media briefings and guidance, conducts media training sessions for Explorers and other spokespeople for media interviews. 

• Writes and edits compelling media pitches, press releases, statements, op-eds, talking points, fact sheets, journalist briefs and other short form media and communications products. 

• Develops media tool kits to support programmatic work, new announcements and for use by external partners.

• Monitors potential and emerging issues related to Explorer-led programs and helps develop an organizational response with senior members of the communications, marketing and brand team when needed.
   

Content Curation and Materials Direction (10%): 

•  Works with stakeholders from across the wider Communications, Marketing, and Brand team to ideate and curate content to support communications strategies for our Explorer-led programs. 

• Ensures content has a cohesive tone and style across Society owned platforms. 

• Social media development (where needed) to support Explorer-led programs. 
   

Ad Hoc Initiatives (5%): 

• Strategizes communications and public relations opportunities for special projects and cross-functional organizational initiatives that advance the Society’s mission.

What You’ll Bring

Educational Background
Bachelor's degree preferred

Minimum Years and Types of Experience  
7+ years of discipline experience in strategic communications and media relations.

Necessary Knowledge and Skills

• Experience developing and executing communications strategies—including writing communications plans and developing key messages.

• In-depth understanding of news media with the ability to create and maintain