Manager, Reference & Research (Fixed Term Through 12/31/2025)

The Storytelling team works to expand the organization’s impact through journalism, photography, film/video, web content, mapping, 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. Much of the team's programmatic activity is focused on identifying and building capacity for the next generation of diverse storytellers.
National Geographic Society Special Collections oversees a rich collection of archival documents, photographs, film and media, artifacts, publications, maps, rare books, and new media that documents 135 years of our grant giving and editorial history. Reporting to the Senior Manager of Reference and Research, the Manager for Reference and Research assists with research and reference inquiries, evaluates Special Collections audiences, and conducts preliminary rights clearance research to facilitate legal decisions regarding asset use. A focus of this position will be to coordinate reference and research related to Base Camp experiences design and installation. This is anticipated to be a term engagement, ending 12/31/2025.

• Support the Senior Manager of Reference and Research in responding to staff and third party research and reference requests in a timely and professional manner, especially related to the use of digital assets for commercial, educational, and personal use.
• Conduct research and factually summarize findings to support business operations and external inquiries.
• Promote and facilitate the use of borrowing and interlibrary loan services. Provide administrative support to the program, including the circulation of loaned books.
• Develop self-serve resources for Special Collections audiences, including research guides and training materials.
• Conduct copyright research within archival and active records and assist with applying and interpreting copyright codes, coordinating with Legal when appropriate.
• In coordination with Special Collections staff and legal, determine and interpret restrictions, particularly relating to institutional records.
• Manage documentation and analysis of centralized reference services, supporting use by Special Collections staff and creating monthly reports in coordination with the Senior Manager of Reference and Research.

• In coordination with Special Collections staff, analyze the demographics, behavior, and preferences of core user groups.
• Determine potential strategies for improving user experience and growing Special Collections’ audiences.
• Support the development of user surveys, interviews, and focus groups.

• Other duties as assigned

• Broad knowledge of National Geographic history, organization, and mission.
• Strong customer service focus, with well-rounded analytical and prioritization skills.
• Ability to work well under pressure.
• Experience with digital platforms that support asynchronous collaboration and data collection
• Experience providing reference and research services in an archival, library, or museum environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to open and equitable access
• Understanding of restrictions on use of and access to collections material and how to manage them
• Effective written and verbal communications skills. Must have attention to detail.
• Experience in creating research guides, online learning materials, and training classes.

• Familiarity with digital asset management systems, archival and library cataloging systems or databases.
• Legal training on copyright clearance training and prior rights clearance experience is a plus. Paralegal or law degree not required.
• Experience in audience development, engagement, and/or user studies in an archival, library, or museum environment.

Resident - Our Resident category recognizes that certain staff need to be physically present at Base Camp to do their work. Some Resident staff must always be onsite to do their jobs, while others may only need to be physically present some of the time. Some Resident staff may need to come into Base Camp every day, some may need to come in to meet looming deadlines and to get work done, and others may require a more unique schedule. 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 can be adjusted based on cyclical work cycles, deadlines, and/or ebbs and flows of work. As a guideline, Resident staff will be in the office between 3-5 days a week.