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).

Pristine Seas is National Geographic’s flagship ocean program. Since 2008, Pristine Seas has worked with local communities, Indigenous Peoples and governments to create 29 of the largest marine reserves in the world, encompassing more than 6.7 million square kilometers. Our mission is to continue helping to protect vital areas. We have a proven model and seek to take it to scale — and fill the gap from 8% to contribute to the global target of 30% ocean protection by 2030 this decade.

Reporting to VP Research, the Director of Education and Outreach will develop and implement Pristine Seas Education Strategy. As a core member of the Research team, this role will contribute to advancing ocean literacy by creating educational opportunities centered on the program’s scientific findings. The Director will work closely with local communities, governmental and non-governmental partners to ensure that the program’s educational initiatives align with regional needs.  This role is term-limited and will end in December 2030.

Your Impact

Education Strategy & Implementation (50%): 

• Develop, manage and implement Pristine Seas education strategy in the Pacific and other areas of interest. This includes region-wide strategy, country-specific programming and expedition-specific activities.
• Work closely with senior leaders in Pacific Ministries of Education to develop and implement national and region-wide ocean curriculum;
• Work closely with Pristine Seas Strategy & Policy departments to ensure alignment of Pristine Seas’ Education strategy with program strategy;
• Align educational initiatives with Pristine Seas’ conservation and research priorities to foster ocean literacy and promote sustainable marine conservation practices
• Tailor curricular and educational programs to specific audiences, including schools, universities, local communities, policy makers and the general public ensuring that those curricula are accessible and incorporate local knowledge.
• Measure and evaluate the effectiveness of the educational strategies to the extent practicable using data-driven approaches
• International travel up to 25% of time to execute Pristine Seas educational strategy

Partnership Development & Management (30%): 

• Collaborate with Pristine Seas’ Policy Department to identify, develop and manage Pristine Seas’ education partnerships in the Pacific region and other areas of interest. 
• Engage with regional education networks and relevant Ministries of Education to leverage existing frameworks and programs and incorporate marine conservation principles into curricula.
• Represent Pristine Seas in education-related forums, conference and working groups to strengthen global partnerships and share best practices
• Partner with National Geographic Education division.

Program and Contract Management (20%): 

• As necessary, identify and contract necessary support including media, curriculum development, art and others.
• Ensure high-quality deliverables that align with Pristine Seas goals, scientific research and conservation priorities are produced
• Manage project timelines, budgets and reporting requirements for contracted education initiatives.
• Work closely with Pristine Seas Policy to develop education materials and resources for use in-country and in the Pacific region. 
• Manage the co-creation of resources engaging and interactive educational resources, such as lesson plans, digital content and documents that translate the research teams expedition specific findings into accessible learning and outreach tools

What You’ll Bring

Educational Background

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Advanced degree (Masters or PhD) in Education, Marine Science, Conservation, Environmental Policy or International relations, preferred.

Minimum Years and Types of Experience   

• 10+ years of experience in education strategy and program development, with a strong emphasis on marine science, conservation, environmental education, or science communication.
• Experience co-creating programs, resources, and plans with Pacific Ministries of Education, community, partners, and educators to enhance teaching and learning that align to mission goals 
• Experience in curriculum design, teacher training, and informal education programs, especially in collaboration with governments and NGOs.
• A track record of engaging with communities and integrating traditional ecological knowledge into conservation education.
• Previous experience in leading and executing large educational events such as workshops and teacher training activities
• Experience with multi-million dollar budgets with limited oversight to accomplish mission objectives.

Necessary Knowledge and Skills

• Expertise in marine conservation and the principles of ocean literacy.
• In-depth knowledge of Pacific education systems, including regional challenges and opportunities for integrating marine conservation into curricula.
• Experience in informal education and Pacific-focused ocean experiential education on ships as well as engaging educators and partners in classroom education and educational resource creation
• Strong networks within the Pacific education community, including relationships with educators, policymakers, and local organizations.
• Proficiency in cross-cultural collaboration, with an emphasis on community-led education initiatives.
• Excellent project management skills, with experience overseeing multi-partner initiatives.
• Ability to communicate scientific concepts in an engaging and accessible manner across diverse audiences.

Desired Qualifications

• Familiarity with digital and interactive education tools, such as e-learning platforms, gamification strategies, and virtual reality experiences.
• Experience designing and implementing large-scale public awareness campaigns related to ocean conservation.
• Knowledge of education policy frameworks at national and regional levels.
• A background in media production or science communication to support storytelling-based education initiatives.

Supervision

No direct reports

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 $137,700.00 – $145,000.00.

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; 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

Remote – Our Remote designation includes staff who must work in another location in the U.S. or abroad, such as our regional leads for our Education and International teams or regional fundraisers in Advancement. Staff may also be designated as Remote by their supervisors (with approval by the Senior Team lead) because of their job duties, and are afforded this status when it is beneficial to NGS, their respective team, and the employee.

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.