Senior Photography Manager, Features

Job Description

Senior Photography Manager, Features (National Geographic)

National Geographic is seeking a globally minded, detail obsessed editorially sharp and curious Senior Photography Manager, Features to help shape and manage the brand's award-winning visual journalism. In this role, you will partner with the Director of Photography to execute the magazine's photographic vision for longform feature stories. You will lead visual story development, supervise complex workflows, manage a group of high performing photo editors and ensure the highest standards of visual quality with a strong commitment to diversity, equity and global representation in visual journalism. This position blends creative leadership with operational excellence, ideal for someone who thrives on collaboration, storytelling, and raising the bar for photography and visuals every day. This candidate must have proven experience managing complex photo assignments, including logistics, risk, and editorial standards.
The ideal candidate brings deep global photo experience, an extensive network of photographers with whom they collaborate, and a proven ability to shape visual identity while collaborating across departments and key pillar subject areas like wildlife, natural history, travel & science. At National Geographic, the trusted work that you will help deliver should spark wonder, deepen understanding and influence how people see the world.

Primary Responsibilities:
Leadership & Vision
• Assist Director of Photography to guide global visual strategy.
• Represent the visuals team in cross-departmental leadership discussions and strategic initiatives.
• Advocate for inclusive, globally representative storytelling and talent development.
• Monitor trends in documentary and still life photography, conservation, and uphold the reputation of National Geographic's legacy of photographic excellence.
• Strong understanding of narrative feature photography, visual sequencing, and story pacing.
Creative Direction
• Lead ideation, commissioning, and execution of major editorial packages, including covers and digital features.
• Collaborate with editorial, design, and product teams to craft imagery optimized for digital, print, and international editions.
• Oversee photo direction for key feature stories and ensure consistent editorial quality and authenticity.
Team & Talent Development
• Manage and mentor a high-performing team of photo editors and producers.
• Cultivate a global network of photographers and contributors across diverse regions and specialties.
• Provide guidance, feedback, and professional development for team members while ensuring high standards.
Production & Operations
• Oversee complex global shoots, managing logistics, local production, and safety protocols.
• Ensure rights management, licensing, legal releases and content delivery across editorial and branded platforms.
• Improve asset workflows and systems to support efficient, multi-market content usage.
Basic Qualifications:
• 10+ years of publishing experience of photo commissioning, production, editing & research
• Demonstrated increasing editorial responsibility
• Outstanding editorial judgement, strong attention to detail, excellent organizational skills
• Excellent visual taste and a wide range of knowledge about and appreciation for visual storytelling and photojournalism
• Excellent communication skills, strong knowledge of the National Geographic brand and mission
• Ability to take overall responsibility for concept and content, as well as manage creative relationships
• Keen understanding of industry goals, varied approaches to storytelling, and ability to manage multiple projects at once, on deadline
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Self-motivated and resourceful, with the ability to work with minimal supervision, problem solve creatively, and exercise independent judgement.
• Drive to reach new audiences, an understanding of and appreciation for audience data and SEO-friendly presentation
Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience with/knowledge of National Geographic's core content areas (wildlife, history and/or archaeology, nature, science, and travel) strongly preferred.

Required Education:
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience
The hiring range for this position in Washington, DC is $137,200.00 to $183,900.00 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.
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About National Geographic:
National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between Disney and the National Geographic Society, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic's media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children's media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 131 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers … and reaching millions of people around the world in 172 countries and 43 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education.

This position is with National Geographic Partners PAY SVC, which is part of a business we call National Geographic.
National Geographic Partners PAY SVC is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military or veteran status, medical condition, genetic information or disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. Disney champions a business environment where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a constantly evolving world.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-pkk1z4-18-97-9-173-42 in your application.