Director, Event AV Technology

How You’ll Contribute

The Director, Event Technology is focused on the event experience and leads the Event Technology Team responsible for planning, configuring, programming, producing, operating, administering, and maintaining the event technology spaces and equipment within National Geographic Society’s Base Camp Experience. The Director will develop processes for working with internal and external stakeholders to utilize NGS’ state of the art technology to deliver world-class events including, but not limited to, Storyteller’s Summit, Explorer’s Festival, NG Live, and Nat Geo Nights. The team will be responsible for all Base Camp Event Venues.

The Director will work closely with other Experience Technology teams as well as special events staff and operations to ensure each event is successful and meets the programming and technical intent. They will implement strategic plans in order to continue growing the Society’s in-house event technical capabilities as well as continuing relationships and partnerships with local contractors, as required.

Additionally, the Director will foster a culture of teamwork, operational discipline, and high quality. Other leadership responsibilities include mentoring staff, onboarding and managing service providers, reporting effectiveness against defined metrics / KPIs, and ensuring a cycle of continuous improvement. The team will be responsible for the following in each of the Base Camp Event Venues :

• Plan, test, manage, and execute technical operations for all events
• Manage and maintain administration of all audio, video, microphone, broadcasting, control, cameras, lighting, and rigging systems
• Coordinate and work with other Experience Technology teams to ensure equipment is prepared for events and reset for the next public experience
• Oversee inventory and tracking of department equipment through digital reporting
• Keep all equipment storage spaces in impeccable order and constantly improve storage solutions and comprehensive labeling, in compliance with the department’s standards
• Attend event meetings with internal staff and external partners for upcoming events
• Assist in communicating each spaces technical and operational capabilities or requirements to inform external partner requirements
• Regularly oversee installation and de-installation, as required

Your Impact

Responsibilities

Leadership and Management (40%)

Provides leadership, technical guidance, and coaching to staff, and mentors team in maintaining a focus on user / customer experience, innovation and automation, and delivering exceptional service.

Participates in technology projects and working groups, and provides subject matter expertise or resources.

Reviews and recommends solutions for the Base Camp architecture to align with past, current, and future event needs.

Collaborate with the Campus Operations team (including NG Live) and prospective external clients on Base Camp space rentals including participating in client walkthroughs to discuss client technical requirements and facility production capabilities.

Reports on critical strategic and tactical issues relevant to operations and systems, and presents recommendations to senior management.

Planning (30%)

Establishes and manages Experience Technology equipment tracking and logging to ensure system failures are preventable and readily resolvable.

Collaborates with administrative teams on RFP documents, statements of work, and other vendor performance management activities.

Participates in policy, procedure, and governance activities.

Operational (20%)

Oversees daily operations, manages technical teams on assigned projects, and collaborates with customers.

Collaborates directly with other Experience Technology teams to ensure all spaces function before, during, and after events occur.

Oversees the pre-production, production, and post-production of all live events at Base Camp ensuring client and customer satisfaction.

Develops continuous improvement initiatives in an effort to enhance the Experience Technology team’s performance and abilities.

Reporting and Data Management (5%)

Establishes KPIs to measure team performance and presents monthly reports to department leadership.

Minimum Education Required

Bachelor’s degree in IT Management, Computer Science, Audiovisual Engineering or related discipline. Certifications and equivalent experience in related areas will be considered.

Minimum Years and Type of Experience

8 years of employee supervision experience, preferably of live event technical related positions

8 years of experience leading AV and live event technical operations

10 years of experience performing hands-on work in related technical areas

Knowledge and Skills Required

Experience managing complex production schedules for simultaneous AV events across multiple event venues.

Extensive experience supporting IT and AV technologies within the live events industry

Extensive experience with and knowledge of audio, video, rigging, broadcast, show control, camera operations, and lighting.

Extensive experience with hands-on event production and engineering, and able to fulfill typical staff duties in a backup capacity.

Experience managing teams consisting of regular and contract staff.

Understanding of industry best practices.

Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Ability to interact positively and productively with teams across organizational lines.

Supervision

2 direct reports as well as contract staff

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 of this position is $118,700 - $125,000.

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.

Salary : $118,700 - $125,000