Content Director, National Geographic Kids & Family (National Geographic)

Content Director, National Geographic Kids & Family (National Geographic) Job ID: 10143803 National Geographic seeks a visionary Content Director to lead the editorial output for kids and their families. The role will nurture the growth of National Geographic Kids and National Geographic Little Kids while expanding into other media and platforms, extending the reach of one of the world’s most trusted children’s brands. Reporting to National Geographic’s Editor in Chief, you will lead a team of editors and a community of contributors, collaborating with cross‑functional partners across the National Geographic brand and its parent company, The Walt Disney Company. The ideal candidate brings exceptional creative judgment and the ability to influence and lead in a highly collaborative, matrixed environment. Primary Responsibilities Lead all editorial direction and decision‑making for National Geographic Kids and National Geographic Little Kids, including approving story lineups, writing assignments, layouts, and all published text. Serve as a key editorial partner within a highly matrixed organization, collaborating with teams across National Geographic—including the National Geographic Society, consumer products, books, marketing, and others—as well as additional partners across The Walt Disney Company. Manage and mentor a team of editors, guiding story development, editorial judgment, and professional growth, and identify top‑tier talent for collaboration across media types and platforms. Ensure that all content meets National Geographic’s standards for accuracy, clarity, visual excellence, and age‑appropriate engagement for children ages 3–8. Guide editorial tone and coverage to spark curiosity in young explorers while serving as a trusted companion for parents and caregivers. Collaborate closely with designers, photo editors, digital editors, cartographers, and graphic specialists to bring stories to life across platforms. Represent National Geographic Editorial in cross‑functional meetings and initiatives with marketing, sales, subscription, and product teams. Help identify and develop creative storytelling opportunities connected to the broader Walt Disney Company ecosystem. Partner with colleagues to highlight and extend the work of the nonprofit National Geographic Society and its Explorers through compelling children’s content. Oversee and help grow family‑focused editorial offerings, including parent‑facing newsletters and related initiatives. Review and approve social content and other editorial extensions of kids storytelling. Participate in weekly production meetings and support publishing timelines. Basic Qualifications Significant leadership experience in children’s media (5+ years), demonstrating increasing responsibility across digital, video, audio, social, and other platforms. Enthusiasm for working within a large, matrixed organization and proven ability to influence without direct authority. A talent for absorbing input from a variety of partners and guiding work shaped by multiple stakeholders. Proven ability to develop editorial products, franchises, recurring formats, and special projects that command attention. Demonstrated experience leading and mentoring content teams and guiding high‑quality storytelling for young audiences. Deep understanding of developmental stages for early childhood (ages 3–5) and early independent readers (ages 6–8). Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work effectively on deadline. Keen understanding of industry standards, varied approaches to storytelling, and ability to manage multiple projects at once, on budget and on deadline. Self‑motivated and resourceful, with the ability to work with minimal supervision, problem‑solve creatively, and exercise independent judgment. Preferred Qualifications Experience creating or leading content across multiple formats (print, digital, video, audio, or related platforms). Experience collaborating successfully across editorial, creative, commercial, and organizational boundaries. Background in family‑focused or parent‑facing content. Experience collaborating with marketing, sales, subscription, or product teams. Familiarity with editorial workflows and content management systems. Demonstrated ability to bring fresh ideas to legacy brands while honoring editorial standards and audience trust. Required Education Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent professional experience. Compensation The hiring range for this position in Washington, D.C. is $168,400 to $225,800 per year. The base pay offered will consider internal equity and may vary based on geographic region, job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience. A bonus and/or long‑term incentive units may be provided, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and other benefits. #J-18808-Ljbffr 5319 National Geographic Partners PAY SVC