Senior Manager, Event Operations

How You’ll Contribute

Who We Are
The National Geographic Society headquarters, based in Washington, D.C., is undergoing a significant renovation project on its campus (called Base Camp), which will be completed in 2026. The public-facing portion of this renovation will be the new National Geographic Museum of Exploration. Components of the new museum will include a state-of-the-art pavilion entrance, auditorium, iconic photo gallery, exhibition space, immersive walk-through attraction, retail, food and beverage, education center, archives, tours, and exciting new event space. The capstone of the renovation is a one-of-a-kind nighttime experience in the courtyard.


The Senior Manager, Event Operations leads the Event Operations within the Hospitality and Retail department for the Museum of Exploration. Tasks to include ensuring the efficient execution of internal and external events held at the museum and across the National Geographic campus. Coordinating with event support teams to ensure accurate sequencing of pre and post event procedures to achieve the highest level of guest satisfaction. This role reports to the Sr. Director of Hospitality and Retail on the Operations team.

Your Impact

Responsibilities Include:

Event Management & Execution (40%)

• Develop event operations procedures and strategy in support of the Society’s event business objectives

• Lead the end-to-end execution of both internal and external event reservations, including overseeing setup, run of show, and breakdown.

• Manage event logistics including coordinating with vendor load-in, catering setup, and A/V support

• Serve as the event day primary point of contact and showrunner for clients and internal teams to ensure smooth operations and guest satisfaction.

• Conduct pre-event walk-throughs to capture questions and feedback from vendors, internal teams, and clients.

• Gather postend post event nightly report to key internal stakeholders

Coordination & Collaboration (25%)

• Lead weekly events and bookings meeting to confirm upcoming event needs and timing requirements for all internal service teams (AV, Janitorial, Catering, etc)

• Coordinate with event services teams to ensure accurate staffing and dissemination of vital event information for staff working events

• Ensure proper recording of required documentation include collection of COI, release forms, and other relevant event documents

Leadership (20%)

• Provide operational instruction to onsite support teams (AV, Visitor Experience, Janitorial, vendors, and others) during event setup, execution, and teardown / loadout.

• Provide feedback to support team leaders about the effectiveness and service quality of support team members; suggest areas for process improvement.

Safety (10%)

• Maintain compliance with accessibility, building regulations, and safety for event planning and execution.

Technology (5%)

• Utilize Event Management System software to approve reservations, track requests, and plan

What You’ll Bring

Educational Background
Bachelor’s Degree Preferred

Minimum Years and Type of Experience
5+ years of event operations experiences preferably in a museum or visitor attraction setting.

Knowledge and Skills

• Experience in developing event operations procedures and strategy

• Ability to lead cross-functional teams

• Keen attention to detail

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities

• Strong written and oral communication skills

• Be able to repetitively lift 50 lbs

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workplace tools

Desired Qualifications

• Experience in supervising a team

• Proactive customer service mindset

• Ability to work nights and weekends

Supervision
None

Salary Information

The National Geographic Society offers a competitive and holistic total rewards package. Our compensation structure and transparent pay philosophy are based on industry-specific market data for similar-sized nonprofit organizations.

The salary range for this position accounts for a wide range of factors including but not limited to organizational need; specific skill sets; experience and training; certifications; and more. At the National Geographic Society, individuals are typically hired at or near the starting point of the salary range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.

The salary range for this position is $99,750.00 - $105,000.00.

In addition, the National Geographic Society offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to, medical, dental, and vision insurance; engaging and comprehensive wellness program; 401(k) retirement savings plan with matching contributions after 6 months of employment; flexible paid time off benefits with up to 22 days of paid annual leave per calendar year (15 days for new hires in their first year, prorated based on the number of pay periods remaining in the year) and 10 days of sick leave; 12 paid holidays and a paid winter break between December 25 and 31 (May not apply to all roles that are required to work during high volume seasons or essential workers. Please check with the hiring manager for confirmation.); paid parental leave, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility benefits; learning and development opportunities; Lifestyle Spending Account; pet adoption assistance and insurance; pre-tax transportation benefits with a generous employer subsidy; employer-paid life insurance and disability benefit; and a variety of National Geographic discounts and perks.

Job Designation

On-Site Flex - Staff members who must be physically present at Base Camp to do the vast majority of their work supporting overall building and museum operations. On-Site Flex staff hours are determined in consultation with supervisors, and are responsive to the needs of the MOE and other building operations, often including nontraditional (M-F, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.) work hours.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position. We are looking for someone with relevant skills and experience, not a checklist that exactly matches the job description. We want to help you grow and in return, you help us grow into a stronger, more inclusive organization.