Reporting to the Senior Director of the Geographic Visualization Lab, the Senior Program Manager of Geographic Visualization will manage the planning and implementation of a portfolio of breakthrough initiatives and products in advanced data analysis, data visualization, and information graphics, as well as artificial intelligence applied to remote sensing and in-situ images, videos and signals datasets. The Senior Program Manager will be responsible for developing and managing day-to-day business processes, including but not limited to, budget, tracking progress, troubleshooting, and communication as well as partnerships development and coordination.
The Geographic Visualization Lab aims to transform the way people experience, understand, and appreciate natural and cultural diversity. Engaging audiences through immersive digital experiences, this Lab fuels innovative conservation solutions by revealing the status and evolving patterns of the planet’s vital signs. This position sits within National Geographic Labs, which are comprised of three focus areas: Exploration Technology, Geographic Visualization, and Citizen Exploration.
Geographic Visualization (50%)
- Manage the development of advanced data visualizations about the state and trends of the Planet’s “vital signs.” This also includes identifying partners and hiring outside firms or contractors.
- Direct research efforts in identifying, securing, and/or creating geospatial time-series data sets, data analyses and dynamic visualizations that communicate the importance of cultural and biological diversity globally.
- Manage the development of Earth Pulse, a cutting edge platform that consolidates data on the status of and trends impacting species, ecosystems and cultures in near real-time.
- Manage the development of Earth Live, which will enable virtual explorers to dive into the last wild places on Earth to survey and better understand these landscapes and their resident wildlife.
- Work with the Storytelling team to identify data-driven storytelling requirements, outputs, and talent for National Geographic Impact Initiatives.
Program Management and Development (40%)
- Execute on a multi-faceted strategy and plans to accelerate and scale National Geographic’s role as a global leader in data-driven visualization and decision-support tools:
- Distill requirements and manage products and projects that support the overall Geographic Visualization Lab’s vision and strategy
- Support the development of work plans, goals, and measurables targets. Ensure consistent criteria and performance metrics for evaluating success
- Represent Geographic Visualization Lab on cross-functional teams and externally
- Promote integration and collaboration of the Geographic Visualization activities with the two other National Geographic Labs and the other Impact Initiatives.
- Manage and maintain partnerships with the world’s best and most impactful data science and visualization initiatives and with like-minded organizations for data collection, communication, and collaboration.
- Review project related marketing materials and provide approval on behalf of program to external partners, NGP and internal divisions. Assist in planning and execution of program related events in coordination with the Marketing and Engagement team.
- Working closely with the entire NatGeo Labs team, ensure that all activities and derived data are consistently captured, managed, catalogued, and archived.
Outreach and Partnerships (10%)
- Identify, contract, manage and cultivate high-impact external partners and stakeholders, such as technology companies, nonprofits, research institutions and others, to collaborate with and amplify the objectives Geographic Visualization Lab programs and projects.
- Oversee communication and information flow to internal stakeholders including Marketing, Communications, Partnerships, Education Digital and National Geographic Partners.
- 7-10 years demonstrated experience in developing and managing of complex projects in the areas of data analysis, visualization and data-driven decision-support tools.
- The successful candidate will have experience managing multi-stakeholder initiatives, an understanding of the earth system data community, experience in data-driven decision-support strategies, and a proven ability to work with a matrixed team to deliver the desired outcomes.
Knowledge and Skills Required
- Experience art directing and managing outside contractors and design firms.
- Ability to manage projects using multiple geospatial software platforms, including ArcGIS.
- Ability to manage projects using artificial intelligence and machine learning, including deep learning, algorithms applied to remote sensing satellite and aerial datasets.
- Knowledge of data visualization technology and approaches, including visualization of VR, AR and 360 datasets.
- Knowledge of range of publicly available remote sensing datasets (e.g., Landsat, Sentinel, MODIS) and capabilities of Earth observation sensor systems (multispectral imaging, SAR, LIDAR).
- Must have ability to work with scientific communities, journalists, photographers, business partners and international stakeholders to create innovative public-facing programs.
- Ability to manage multiple work streams while balancing competing priorities with attention to detail.
- Experience overseeing large, complex programs with multimillion-dollar budgets.
- Strong interpersonal skills to deal positively and productively with a wide range of personalities are required. Superior organization skills and the ability to handle multiple tasks under the pressure of tight deadlines.