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, D.C. 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.