Senior Interactive Cartographer

$137,700 - $145,000/Yr

National Geographic Society - Washington, DC

Full-time - Senior

Washington, DC

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations

About the position

The Storytelling division works to expand the organization's impact through journalism, photography, film/video, web content, mapping, asset management, 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. The Basecamp Senior Interactive Cartographer will play a leadership role in conceiving, designing, and refining animated maps, and motion graphics and plays a key role on a creative team that develops and produces a diverse portfolio of media to support National Geographic Society's Base Camp Construction project. In this fixed-term role you will help maintain the standards of excellence for which National Geographic maps and graphics are known. This role will report to the Chief Cartographer and work closely with the Impact Story Lab, the Basecamp Experiences and Content teams and with The Geographer and their team. This is a fixed-term role through 12/31/26.

Responsibilities

• Play a lead role on conceptualization, research, design and art-direction of compelling, impactful animated maps, motion graphics, VR/AR experiences and data visualizations for a variety of media including NG Basecamp museum exhibits, videos, websites, and mobile device content.
• Adapt animated maps for static display and usage.
• Research, gather, process, and analyze spatial data and synthesize information from authoritative sources to create maps and graphics.
• Ensure that cartographic products conform to established National Geographic Map Policy and cartographic conventions.
• Work cooperatively with the Map Research Editor, NG Explorers, freelancers, and expert sources on non-basecamp mapping projects.
• Consult with sources and experts to scope and verify information presented in cartographic products.
• Play a leading role in developing content ideas for maps and graphics, mentor colleagues and provide constructive critique to peers.
• Develop and innovate animated cartographic methods and interactive technologies for multiple formats.
• Exercise a thoughtful, collaborative approach to build relationships within the organization and with the NG Explorer community.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in geography, cartography, motion graphic design, data journalism, animation, data science or related field.
• 7+ years of work experience.
• A strong portfolio of interactive or animated maps created in a professional capacity demonstrating a history of high-level map design acumen, color theory and typography.
• Experience designing, creating and incorporating maps into video and motion graphics.
• Experience developing scripts and storyboards for motion graphics.
• Expertise in cartography, GIS and remote sensing using commercial or open source software.
• Experience creating maps and geospatial visualizations in a 3D environment using industry standard 3D tools.
• Proficiency in the Adobe Creative Cloud platform.
• Experience with elevation data processing, and terrain rendering.
• Strong visual and interactive design skills.
• Good communication skills.
• Self-managed, able to take direction, and committed to iterative processes.
• Ability to grasp and critically evaluate new subject matters quickly.
• Superior organizational skills and the ability to manage complex projects.

Nice-to-haves

• Proficiency in a language other than English.
• Background in National Geographic's core topics, such as photography, space exploration, archaeology, geography, environment, and natural history.
• Familiarity with web development and web online cartography.
• Familiarity with elevation and LiDAR data processing.
• Numeric literacy, data journalism and strong quantitative analytical skills.
• Experience automating data analytics/management.
• Experience with cloud-based analytical platforms.

Benefits

• 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.
• 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.
• A variety of National Geographic discounts and perks.