Executive Director, Africa at National Geographic

Your Impact 

Responsibilities Include:

Strategy Development and Execution (30%): Provide strategic insight and intelligence from across the Africa region to inform Society-wide strategy, goal development, and workplans.  Directly contribute to the development of departmental and divisional mission and strategy. Develop and execute annual workplans, while maintaining a flexible approach that allows for adaptation as context shifts.  

• Responsible for developing the annual workplan for the region, including explorer engagement activities, institutional partnerships and individualized explorer support plans for a portfolio of targeted explorers of high potential value to the Society.
• Lead strategy to adapt global NGS priorities to the Africa science, education and storytelling landscape. Ability to keep abreast of and quickly synthesize current events, important historical context, and relevant priorities facing the region in order to identify opportunities to leverage National Geographic engagement (Exhibits, Events, Communications, Explorer Engagement) to advance goals.
• Represent National Geographic Society in Africa with key scientific, conservation, education and storytelling constituencies, including academic conferences, thought-leader events and forums. Partner with Science and Innovation, Storytelling, Education, Exhibits and Events, Advancement, Communications, and other teams in DC to advance NGS priorities in explorer recruitment, programmatic outcomes, fundraising, and NGS brand representation in Africa.

Disney/NGP Relationship (30%): Serve as Regional Representative for NGS with Disney in Africa.  Identify priority departments in Disney, to effectively manage the relationship with the different teams that work with the brand. 

• Develop and execute strategy for elevation of key Explorers and program priorities across Disney platforms to deliver on NGS’s mission to use the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world.  Lead relationship management with key, high-level Disney executives and stakeholders.  Spearhead coordination around NGS enterprise moment planning, Focus Area prioritization, and other key initiatives to surface regional perspectives and share best practices to create impact in the region and to grow understanding at NGS headquarters of African current events and contexts.
• Continuously promote NGS’s mission and goals to inform, educate and collaborate with regional Disney stakeholders.
• Develop effective NGS engagement strategies with the priority Disney departments and facilitate relationship development between relevant NGS HQ staff and Disney staff.  These Disney teams may include Leadership, Marketing, Ad Sales + Branding, Digital Editorial + Social Media, Communications/PR, Programing, Original productions, Travel/Expeditions, Live Events & Experiences (Exhibitions), NG Kids, Social Corporate Responsibility, among others.
• Explorer Recruitment, Relations and Management (30%):  Deliver on our ambition to engage and strengthen National Geographic relationships with the most talented scientists, conservationists, educators and storytellers in Africa. 
• Build and execute recruitment strategies in partnership with International, Program, and DEI teams.  Monitor recruitment tactics in Salesforce to inform continued adaptation, delivering on our goals of diversifying our Explorer community.
• Lead regional reviews for NGS grants and awards and in coordination with Explorer Elevation for select external awards.
• Represent National Geographic Society in Africa with key scientific, conservation, education and storytelling constituencies, including academic conferences, thought-leader events and forums.
• Serve as a point of contact and advocate for a growing portfolio of Africa Explorers, accelerating their professional growth and project impact by stewarding opportunities for leadership development and enhanced connectivity with both National Geographic Society and regional media platforms.
• Steward the portfolio of explorer relationships in the region, in direct coordination with the Explorer Engagement and appropriate Program teams in DC and with Disney in Africa.

Administration and Management (10%)

• Identify and contract hotel, catering, and other vendors for in-region events, in coordination with NGS Finance and Legal teams in DC, and in alignment with NGS policies
• Manage regional expenses and budget, in coordination with Finance and Accounting
• May include up to one supervisory role to manage (after successful first year)

Minimum Years and Type of Experience

• 12+ years of work experience, preference in international grant-making organizations or NGOs serving science and/or storytelling communities in Africa.  
• Experience working with subject-matter experts in Africa as part of grant-making, award or other institutional affiliation programs.
• Experience working with associations or other collaborative engagement models desired.

Necessary Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated collaborative ability to work in team settings across cultures and internally within a diverse and dynamic institution
• Strong interpersonal skills, presence, and ability to effectively build strong relationships both internally and externally
• Able to manage multiple projects in both lead and supporting roles within a matrix-based organization
• Expertise in working with subject-matter experts and networks of experts
• Public speaking, presentation development and communication skills to a variety of audiences
• Reputation for high ethical standards and integrity, displaying diplomacy and tact at all times
• Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and experience or interest to learn CRM or other database management tools
• Experience working with or in at least 2 sub-regions across the continent
• English proficiency

Desired Qualifications

• Proficiency in another language other than English (especially French, Portuguese, or Swahili)
• Experience working for or with international NGOs or organizations with a global footprint