Manager, Advancement Special Events

How You’ll Contribute

The Advancement team cultivates, solicits, and stewards individuals, as well as foundation, government and corporate partners who invest in the Society to drive impact through science, technology, education, exploration, and storytelling. The team collaborates with Society teams – and often works closely with NGP/Disney – to build transformative and impact-driven strategic partnerships. The team also produces global events that deepen connections and leverage the Society’s power to convene, and directs robust annual, major and planned giving programs empowering the Society with a broad base of public support.

The Global Special Events team of the National Geographic Society is responsible for developing and producing high quality, impactful events that use the power of convening to drive programmatic outcomes, further visibility for our executives, programs, and talent, and build donor loyalty and philanthropic support. The Manager, Advancement Special Events is responsible for the execution of Advancement Special Events in partnership with front-line fundraising teams (leadership giving, membership, corporate philanthropy & partnerships, and foundations). This role will collaborate across National Geographic Society and work closely with National Geographic Partners to produce events both domestically and internally that bring our mission to life and create meaningful donor experiences.

Your Impact

Responsibilities Include:

Event Production (50%)

• Plan and execute 30-40 VIP regional donor events, both domestic and international, ensuring the event meets established business objectives.
• Direct coordination of programming and logistics, high-profile speakers, venue logistics, audio visual production, security protocols, volunteer and support staff supervision, travel and vendor logistics.
• Propose and implement new ideas to improve the event planning and execution processes.
• Participate in cross departmental committees to design the most compelling events/experiences.
• Research venues and vendors, drafting Requests for Proposals, as needed.
• Negotiate contracts in a manner that is consistent with industry best practices and aims to protect the Society’s interests.

Internal and External Event Communication (20%)

• Develop and edit event marketing materials, including invitations, programs, agendas, and online presence that are consistent with the NGS brand and mission.
• Brief stakeholders on key event updates and insights throughout the planning process.

Event Budget & Expenses (20%)

• Produce event revenue and expense reports.
• Exercise budget discipline by making cost-effective decisions and carefully monitoring expenses throughout the planning process to adhere to established budgets.
• Determine new and innovative ways to reduce costs associated with events.
• Submit personal purchasing card expense reports and process invoices submitted by approved vendors.

Event Evaluation (10%)

• Help stakeholders to use their resources more effectively.
• Assist in setting future strategy by conducting after action reviews, compiling post event reports, and survey results.

What You’ll Bring :

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Experience

5+ years in event programming, production, marketing experience or relevant experience.

Necessary Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to attend evening and weekend events, as well as travel domestically or internationally to support on-site event execution
• Effective written and oral communication skills; proven ability to communicate clearly and concisely to various audiences’ enterprise-wide
• Excellent critical thinking skills and ability to handle emergency situations, demonstrating sound judgment under pressure
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to deliver results with managing competing priorities under tight deadlines
• Proactive, self-starter with an entrepreneurial mindset
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong interpersonal skills. Ability to work with diplomacy and tact at all times

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with event registration platforms and donor management software is considered a plus.

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 $87,400 - $92,000.

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

Resident - Our Resident category recognizes that certain staff need to be physically present at Base Camp to do their work. Some Resident staff must be at Base Camp every day to do their jobs, while others may only need to be physically present onsite some of the time to meet looming deadlines or to get work done and may require a unique schedule. As such, this category has been revised to provide maximum flexibility depending on what’s required for each individual role. 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 may be adjusted based on cyclical work cycles, deadlines, and/or ebbs and flows of work.

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.