Senior Specialist, Science and Innovation Programs (Space)

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, 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.

The Science & Innovation team oversees the Society’s funding efforts in research, conservation and technology, develops and manages major mission programs, and establishes programmatic partnerships with like-minded non-governmental organizations (NGOs). NGS is preparing to broaden our science and innovation portfolio with new focus on planetary health and space in addition to our core priorities of ocean, wildlife, land, and human histories & cultures. To support this expanded portfolio, the Science and Innovation Programs team is hiring for Sr. Specialists. Ideal candidates will have demonstrated competence within wildlife conservation, ocean conservation or expertise that aligns with our new planetary health or space focus areas. For a summary of our approach to Wildlife and Ocean focus areas, please refer to Our work in the Space focus area will encompass projects dedicated to exploration and understanding of the universe, supporting Explorers who examine and illuminate our world and what lies beyond it. Our work in Planetary Health will cover projects that explore the relationships and interdependencies between human health and the environment.

The Senior Specialist’s primary responsibility is supporting the Science & Innovation Programs team programmatic needs, developing Requests for Proposals, evaluating and recommending Level 1 and Level 2 research and conservation grants, providing high-quality customer service to grantees – our National Geographic Explorers – and supporting other dynamically evolving needs across the Science and Innovation Programs team. The Senior Specialist will primarily support grants and programs in either the Ocean, Wildlife, Space, or Planetary Health focus area and will additionally provide similar services and support across other focus areas within Science and Innovation Programs as needed. The Senior Specialist should have a deep and broad curiosity about the world, proactive and collaborative mindset, a strong sense of accountability and follow-through, and willingness to take on new challenges. Through their work, the Senior Specialist will build on the Society's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The most competitive applicants will have experience in program management and conservation and/or scientific research. Experience working with local communities and stakeholders is strongly preferred.

Your Impact

Responsibilities Include:

Strategy and Program Development (10%)

• Support the team in the strategic development and adaptive management of the focus area’s portfolio.
• Understand relevant field(s), stay networked and informed on emerging trends, and scan for gaps and opportunities in the focus area’s portfolio and on other topics as requested.
• Assist the Science and Innovation Programs leadership in researching and scoping potential new priority areas and/or partnerships
• Support the development of research and conservation Requests for Proposals in the designated focus area and other focus areas as assigned.
• Participate in internal strategic discussions as well as cross-division working groups
• Provide programmatic support across Science and Innovation Programs.

Grant Support (25%)

• Collaborate within and across teams to seek, evaluate, fund, and manage Level 1 and Level 2 grants and grantees within both the designated focus area and other focus areas as assigned, ensuring alignment with NGS’s strategic plan and programmatic priorities.
• Under supervision, oversee scientific aspects of grants including development, recruitment, proposal review, developing new RFPs (requests for proposals), contributing to the definition of our science and grantmaking priorities, and coordination of internal and external expert review.
• Develop and maintain strong, positive and empathetic relationships with prospective and active Explorers. Act as primary contact for Explorers leading Level 1 grants, and serve as an internal subject matter expert on these projects, including understanding the context in which they occur.
• Communicate with Explorers to stay apprised of new discoveries, high profile academic publications, and/or media-friendly results that should be elevated and coordinate internally through established processes for review and amplification.

Program Support (40%)

Includes but not limited to:

• Identifies and interprets internal/external issues; elevates issues/inefficiencies where appropriate; recommends solutions, best practices, tools, and improvements needed; supports development and utilization of new/streamlined processes and refinement of current processes.
• Organizes data and implements data best practices, performs research, data validation, and manipulation; works with team members to create NGS forms, reports, campaigns, and dashboards to visualize program impact; summarizes data and metrics for use in divisional reporting and analysis.
• Assists with managing projects and schedules, notifies relevant parties of approaching deadlines and helps to keep all projects on track, including updating schedules, project tracker, and other relevant documents.
• Supports leadership with budget creation and tracking.
• Supports internal operations, including but not limited to assisting with contracts, legal, presentation preparation, invoices, mailings, travel and logistics, maintaining shared calendars and shared documentation, and other administrative tasks as needed.

Team, Divisional, and Organizational Collaboration (25%)

• Develop and maintain strong positive and empathetic working relationships with other NGS divisions and external teams to maximize impact and reach.
• Supports leadership in establishing and advancing cross-division collaborations and initiatives
• Reviews grant and project related materials and provide approval on behalf of program to external partners, NGP and internal divisions.
• May represent Science & Innovation at external meetings, convenings, conferences, events, etc;

What You’ll Bring

Educational Background

Bachelor’s degree in science including one or more of the following: environmental science, biology, ocean science, engineering, space science related disciplines, or related fields required.

Minimum Years and Type of Experience

4+ years of relevant experience in one or more of the following: research, science, conservation, sustainability or related fields. Experience working on wildlife or ocean related science or conservation preferred. Experience working on programs or partnerships at a non-profit in the environment or sustainability sector is also preferred.

Necessary Knowledge and Skills

• Understanding of the scientific method and ability to understand and evaluate technical material.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and ability to work with individuals and groups at all levels.
• Ability to work on multiple projects, under deadlines, with changing priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Ability to manage tasks and responsibilities that span multiple teams.
• Must be able to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
• Positive attitude with proactive approach.
• Excellent organizational skills.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with GoogleDocs suite, Microsoft Office suite, Slack, Miro and Airtable.
• Ability to compile information from disparate sources (literature review, interviews and conversations, first-hand accounts, etc.) and produce condensed, topline messaging and/or recommendations.
• Experience speaking in front of small and large audiences and putting together reports for many different types of audiences.

Supervision

• No direct reports