The Storytelling team works to expand the organization’s impact through journalism, photography, film/video, web content, mapping, and data visualization. As one of the largest funders to individual storytellers in this work, it also identifies key grantmaking, and fellowship opportunities with creative talent. Much of the team's programmatic activity is focused on identifying and building capacity for the next generation of diverse storytellers.

Reporting to the V.P. of Library, Archives & Media Management, the Director of Special Collections leads a newly rethought National Geographic Society Special Collections program in strategic planning for Society’s heritage-based collections and is responsible for the implementation of policies and procedures governing collection development and collection management, including archival arrangement and description, preservation, conservation, the movement of collections, storage, and access. The Director of Special Collections works closely with Outreach and Engagement to establish workflows for reference and research and the display and interpretation of collections. A critical focus of this position over the next five years is planning and executing the relocation of collections from Base Camp to off-site storage and setting procedures for collection access, archival processing, and cataloging in a newly renovated facility. Additionally, the Director of Special Collections will have a pivotal role in providing content for display in the public spaces of renovated Base Camp (scheduled to open to the public in 2026).

• Create and direct procedures and policies to govern, safeguard, and enhance the National Geographic Society Special Collections, composed of 30,000 linear feet of archival documents, publications, maps, rare books, photographs, artwork, film and media, and artifacts dating from the 1880s to the present that are the primary resources from National Geographic’s grant-making and editorial history.
• Lead effective operational and financial management processes and inventory management.
• Set priorities for the physical organization and preservation of collections and work with Outreach and Engagement to coordinate digitization of items for enhanced access and preservation.
• Oversee the physical space needs of collections both on and off site, monitor the movement and condition of items, and provide safe and expedient access to collections within reading rooms and in public displays.
• Set standards for and direct the organization, interpretation and presentation of collections using best practices for archival arrangement and description, bibliographic cataloging, and museum practice, in collaboration with Outreach and Engagement and the National Geographic Museum and Communications teams.
• Work closely with Outreach and Engagement and NGS Legal on issues of intellectual property, copyright and other restrictions impacting access to and use of institutional records and media.
• Strategically develop the collections with NGS Advancement and Explorer Engagement teams and establish excellent workflows for the transfer of inactive institutional records with enduring value.
• Make decisions that balance operational and strategic considerations and use metrics to support decisions.

• Manage staff of 6+, including temporary staff and interns. Develop team and individual goals, evaluate staff performance, and support the development of staff members.
• Set program goals and priorities aligned with programmatic needs and the strategic plan for the Society.
• Collaborate with Outreach and Engagement and Media Management to design a heritage management framework that employs a unified approach to stewardship, reference, and access to collections.
• Design and manage archival inventory, storage, preservation, and processing programs and projects, related budgets, and vendor/grantor relationships.
• Contribute ideas and support to Storytelling programs and initiatives.

• With the guidance of the V.P of Library, Archives, and Media Management, and in close consultation with Outreach and Engagement and Media Management, lead long-range planning for National Geographic Society Special Collections.
• Develop and maintain business relationships with key stakeholders throughout NGS and Partners at Disney and Cengage.
• Work with senior leadership and Advancement teams to identify current and new donors with potential for gifts and funding for the Archives.

• Stay up to date on the archival industry best practices.
• Represent the National Geographic Society Archives at conferences and events.

• 10+ years of progressively successful experience in archives, special collections libraries, museums, or similar settings.
• 3+ years demonstrated leadership and management experience.

• Experienced collections manager; knowledgeable about archival storage, preservation, and access measures for a variety of material types, including documents, artwork, objects, rare books, photographic and audiovisual formats.
• Strong leadership, organizational, decision-making, and presentation skills. Ability to serve as a spokesperson to champion NGS Archives, mission, and priorities.
• Demonstrated commitment to making collections more accessible and meaningful to broader NGS communities of focus and interest - researchers, educators, students, and for engaging diverse audiences.
• Knowledge of copyright issues in archival settings.
• Excellent oral, written, and technical communication skills, including grant writing

• Ability to analyze problems and situations and plan, develop, and implement effective solutions.
• Ability to work effectively with all levels of management and staff.
• Ability to foster creativity and collaboration within and across teams; ability to build and sustain positive relationships inside and outside the organization.
• Knowledge of fields directly related to NGS collections and history preferred, including history of science, travel, exploration, publishing, and photography.

Resident - Our Resident category recognizes that certain staff need to be physically present at Base Camp to do their work. Some Resident staff must always be onsite to do their jobs, while others may only need to be physically present some of the time. Some Resident staff may need to come into Base Camp every day, some may need to come in to meet looming deadlines and to get work done, and others may require a more unique schedule. The days Resident staff come into the office will be determined by their teams and workflow, and they should work with their supervisors to determine their specific schedule. And throughout the year, their schedule can be adjusted based on cyclical work cycles, deadlines, and/or ebbs and flows of work. As a guideline, Resident staff will be in the office between 3-5 days a week.