Rights + Licensing Specialist (Campus and Experiences) Fixed Term - National Geographic

How You’ll Contribute The National Geographic Society headquarters, based in Washington, D.C., is undergoing a significant renovation project on its campus (called Base Camp), which will be completed in 2026. Components of the new guest experience will include a state-of-the-art pavilion entrance, auditorium, iconic photo gallery, exhibition space, immersive walk-through attraction, retail, food and beverage, education center, archives, tours, and exciting new event space. A fully sustainable, on-brand hotel may also be built and operated by a third party on the campus. The capstone of the renovation is a one-of-a-kind nighttime experience in the courtyard. In addition to this new on-campus experience, National Geographic Society has an existing business of touring speaker series, exhibitions, and immersive experiences that will be growing and expanding. The departments that are responsible for the development, production, operations, and profitability of these products are a part of the Campus & Experiences Division. The Rights & Licensing Specialist will work closely with the Project Management team, Base Camp Creative team, and various departments to secure and manage rights for content and media, particularly photographs, to be used in National Geographic Society's new permanent exhibit collection, multimedia experiences, associated publications, and collateral. This role is crucial in ensuring all content used in the Base Camp project is properly licensed and compliant with copyright laws. This is a fixed term role through August 2026. Your Impact Your Impact Responsibilities Include: Rights Acquisition and Management (50%) Create Photo Checklists with input from the Base Camp Creative team, Communications Director, Photography, and Communications Sr. Photo Editor Research and identify copyright holders for various types of content (e.g., photographs, videos, audio, text) Oversee outreach to photographers and third-party organizations Negotiate rates with photographers and third-party organizations using rates approved by Legal & Business Affairs Sr. Specialist, Contracts & Rights, Communications Director, Photography, and Communications Sr. Photo Editor Secure rights for use in exhibits, multimedia experiences, publications, and marketing materials Maintain a comprehensive database of acquired rights, including usage terms, expiration dates, and restrictions Track expiration dates of photo licenses, proactively outreach for extensions as needed (~6 months before expiration) Contract Management and Compliance (30%) Work closely with Legal & Business Affairs to coordinate the contracting process Draft and review licensing agreements Create Purchase Orders and apply invoices to Purchase Orders in Workday system software Save all documentation in the project Legal Binder (Legal Binder Checklist for Exhibitions) Ensure all content used in the project is properly licensed and documented Develop and implement processes to ensure all team members adhere to rights and licensing guidelines Stay informed about copyright laws and industry best practices Budget Management and Reporting (20%) Manage and track licensing expenses and work within allocated budgets Process payments to rights holders Maintain accurate records of all transactions and agreements Serve as the primary point of contact for rights-related inquiries Provide regular updates to the project team on rights acquisition progress Prepare reports on rights status for management review What You’ll Bring Necessary Knowledge and Skills Highly organized, self-starter, with superb communication and interpersonal skills Experience coordinating complex teams and project schedules Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize effectively, meet deadlines, and pay close attention to detail Capacity to work independently and in teams as required Experience using Adobe Creative Suite, project management software, MS Office suite, and Workday system software In-depth knowledge of copyright laws and licensing practices in the museum and publishing industries Strong negotiation skills and ability to build relationships with content owners and licensing agencies Familiarity with digital asset management systems Educational Background Bachelor’s degree preferred Minimum Years and Types of Experience 3+ of experience in rights and licensing, preferably in a museum, publishing, or media environment 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 $72,200 - $76,000. 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. 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. We are committed to cultivating an environment that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion for our staff, explorers and educators and partners. 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, career development, and a thriving Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program. In addition to our generous benefits, we also offer unique perks which include free museum admission, discount to our museum store, film screenings, world class events with visiting speakers, an employee volunteer day and a robust wellness program.