Manager, Rights and Reproductions (Storytelling)

How You’ll Contribute

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.
Reporting to the Director of Outreach and Engagement, the Manager of Rights and Reproductions plays a key role in managing intellectual property rights, licensing, and other rights-related matters within the Society’s Special Collections. This role involves close collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Society’s Legal team, Campus and Experiences, and partners at Disney and Cengage. Key responsibilities include overseeing reproduction and use requests, managing licensing agreements, and contributing to the strategic development of rights management policies and workflow improvements, ensuring compliance with copyright and usage rights while promoting responsible access, distribution, and reuse of collection materials.

Your Impact

Responsibilities 

Rights Research and Management (70%)

• Oversee the interpretation, application, and communication of copyright, intellectual property, and usage rights related to collection materials based on guidance from Legal and Business Affairs (LBA). 

• Assess and document rights status for collection items, including public domain status, donor agreements, cultural restrictions and sensitivities, and third-party rights with input from LBA. 

• Assist Special Collections and LBA staff with licensing agreements for new acquisitions.

• Conduct quality control review on assets before sharing with users to ensure alignment with use agreements and rights management/access policies.

• Conducts preliminary rights clearance research and asset delivery (contracts, footage, and other materials in Special Collections’ care) to facilitate decisions in Legal and Business Affairs (LBA) regarding asset use and support documentation by media, communications, and production teams. 

• Collaborate with Special Collections leadership and other internal stakeholders to streamline and coordinate rights evaluation through unified collections and digital asset management systems. Track audience usage and feedback. 

• Assist Senior Manager, Reference and Research in ensuring that all rights and licensing requests are properly scoped, documented and tracked and all research workflows are efficient, transparent and collaborative. 

Training and Outreach (20%)

• Advise staff and stakeholders on rights-related issues, including fair use, open access, orphan works, and risk management.

• Collaborate with the Senior Manager, Reference and Research to develop clear guidance and resources for researchers (internal and external) navigating use/access of Special Collections materials.

Policy and Process Development (10%)

• Develop and maintain internal policies, procedures, and workflows for rights and reproductions, ensuring alignment with access standards, production and media team needs, and LBA approval.

Educational Background
Bachelor’s Degree

Minimum Years and Types of Experience
5+ years of progressive responsibility in an Archives, Special Collections, museum, or similar setting with demonstrated experience in rights management, copyright, and intellectual property.

Necessary Knowledge and Skills

• Broad knowledge of National Geographic history, organization, and mission.

• Demonstrated experience in rights management, digital project management, or contracts negotiation, preferably in a museum, archive, or library setting.

• Thorough knowledge of copyright and intellectual property law and professional standards of practice. 

• Demonstrated experience with digital asset management systems.

• Strong customer service focus, with well-rounded analytical and prioritization skills. Ability to work well under pressure.

• Demonstrated commitment to open and equitable access.

• Ability to collaborate effectively within and across diverse teams.

• Effective written and verbal communications skills with strong attention to detail.

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 $78,850.00 - $83,000.00.

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 10 days of sick leave; 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.