Photo Editor Level 2, Impact Story Lab (Storytelling)

National Geographic Society; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Wellness program

401(k) retirement savings with company

Paid time off up to 22 days per year

12 paid holidays and winter break

Paid parental leave

Adoption and surrogacy expense Reimb.

Learning and development opportunities

Lifestyle Spending Account

Pet adoption assistance

Pre‑tax transportation benefits

Employer‑paid life insurance and long‑

Job summary

The National Geographic Society is seeking a Photo Editor (Level 2) to lead high‑impact photography projects for the Perpetual Planet expeditions and Blue Boundaries programs. You will hire and manage a global cohort of photographers, ensuring all work meets NG standards across multiple outlets.

Under Senior Producer supervision, you’ll balance creative execution with tight deadlines, while mentoring staff and collaborating with cross‑functional teams to deliver compelling visual storytelling.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in photography.
• 7+ years of media production experience.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, especially Premiere and After Effects.

Responsibilities

• Photo Editing (40%): lead complex photography projects meeting NG standards and supervise a global photographer cohort.
• Project Management (30%): manage production schedules, budgets, hires, field logistics, and asset archiving.
• Creative and Technical Production (30%): hands-on photography, videography, audio, editing, graphics, and music composition.

Skills

Storytelling

Communication

Collaboration

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in photography

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Premiere

After Effects

Job description

How You’ll Contribute

The National Geographic Society Storytelling Division works to expand the organization’s impact through journalism, photography, film/video, web content, mapping, asset management, and data visualization. As one of the largest funders to individual storytellers in this work, it also identifies key grantmaking and fellowship opportunities with creative talent. The division’s Impact Story Lab builds on National Geographic’s legacy as a global leader in using storytelling to drive positive change. We partner with NGS stakeholders and Explorers to produce world‑class film, audio, photography, VR/AR experiences, and other media that further the goals of the National Geographic Society and its programs. By combining creative excellence with groundbreaking research, we advance the field of “impact media” and contribute to National Geographic Society’s mission of illuminating and protecting the wonder of our world. The Photo Editor (Level 2) develops and produces a diverse portfolio of media, with a specific focus on photography for the Perpetual Planet Expeditions and Blue Boundaries Programs. Under the supervision of the Senior Producer the Photo Editor (Level 2) hires and manages a global team of photographers from story development to delivery for a wide range of platforms, outlets and partners, ensuring that all photography reflects the standards of National Geographic and meets the goals of the program. This is a fixed‑term position for a period of seven years contingent upon grant funding.

Your Impact Responsibilities

Photo Editing (40%): Independently lead photography projects that meet the highest National Geographic standards, bringing new creative ideas to every project. Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of colleagues in the Impact Story Lab and across NGS to develop and execute complex, multi-part storytelling projects through all phases of production, including story development, planning, field assignments, photo editing, captioning and curated selections. Hire and manage a global cohort of National Geographic photographers and storytellers to contribute to the success of the project.

Project Management (30%): In collaboration with Impact Story Lab leadership and the Sr. Producers, manage all aspects of photographic production, adhering to schedule and budget. Work with Production Manager to create schedules and budgets, and to hire and manage freelance photographers. Coordinate field logistics. Ensure all projects deliver on time and on budget, and that all deliverables, including original assets and legal binders, are properly organized, captioned and archived. Work with the Special Collections team to ensure that media assets, curated selections, and deliverables are finalized and made available to applicable partners and working groups. Guide internal and external partners through the entire photography process, including managing feedback.

Creative and Technical Production (30%): Execute hands‑on photography and other media production tasks as necessary and able, including photography, videography, audio recording, editing, graphics, music composition.

Educational Background

Bachelor’s degree, preferably in photography.

Minimum Years and Types of Experience

7+ years of media production experience.

Necessary Knowledge and Skills

Have a record of ambitious, creative, innovative visual storytelling, as well as proven success crafting stories from complicated science concepts. The ability to independently manage photographers both in the field and edit, often under tight deadlines. Solid understanding of media production workflows for a diversity of outlets. Comfort and skill responding and addressing producer and client feedback, as well as excellent collaboration skills. Able to work well as a part of a team and mentor less experienced staff. Ability to prioritize tasks and possess a strong attention to detail. Excellent written, verbal, communication, collaboration and interpersonal skills are required. Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, especially Premiere and After Effects is required.

Supervision

None

Salary Information

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 $99,700.00 - $105,000.00.

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 12 paid holidays and a paid winter break between December 25 and 31 (May not apply to all roles that are required to work during high volume seasons or essential workers. Please check with the hiring manager for confirmation.)
• 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

Hybrid - At the Society, we believe in the advantages of coming together to build community, mentor and learn from colleagues, and connect more deeply with our mission. As a result, the majority of our staff are Hybrid. Our Hybrid category requires that staff work at Base Camp two days each week: every Tuesday and Wednesday. Hybrid staff are also always welcome to come in additional days each week if preferred. 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.

Who We Are

The National Geographic Society uses the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. Our mission is only complete when our staff, explorers, educators, youth and partners are seen, valued, and heard. We embrace each person’s identity, experiences, and abilities, and we commit to cultivating an environment where everyone benefits from opportunity, mutual respect and a sense of belonging. National Geographic's headquarters is located in the heart of Washington, D.C. We offer our employees a comprehensive benefits package, including health and dental benefits, generous vacation and parental leave time, a 401(k) plan, flexible work options, and career development.