Human Resources Specialist

About the Role

The Human Resources (HR) team at the National Geographic Society (NGS) is dedicated to attracting, nurturing, and retaining talent while fostering a cohesive community by crafting strategies that improve employee culture. With the preparation for the significant 2026 launch of the Museum of Exploration (MOE), the HR department is growing to support an expanding workforce.

Reporting directly to the Senior HR Business Partner (Sr. HRBP), the HR Specialist plays a critical role in providing client support and managing tactical HR operations for the Campus & Experiences and Legal & Business Affairs divisions. This position supports approximately 350 employees, handling daily HR inquiries, managing the employee lifecycle through Workday, and assisting with impactful projects to ensure HR services facilitate a premier visitor-focused environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage communication channels including the dedicated HRBP email and Slack for the C&E and Legal & Business divisions, acting as the first point of contact for daily frontline and shift-based workforce inquiries.
• Deliver prompt and precise guidance on HR policies and procedures to standard queries.
• Handle Workday transactions covering the full employee lifecycle such as promotions, job modifications, anniversary tracking, contingent worker supervision, and temporary staff arrangements.
• Coordinate onboarding activities including introductory meetings and new hire orientations, and oversee the entire offboarding process including exit interviews and organizational trend analyses.
• Process unemployment claims and reporting obligations for new hires in Washington DC accurately.
• Support divisional leadership programs administratively and assist in coordinating engagement events like Connection Days and HRBP Forums.
• Execute stay and exit interview protocols for frontline staff to identify and proactively address retention risks under Sr. HRBP guidance.
• Assist with the Summer Internship Program via school outreach, advertising, event planning, website updates, and coordination with Technology, Security, and Payroll teams; manage Workday position entries and departmental requests.
• Manage complex scheduling and communications for the Sr. HRBP including check-ins, introductions, and post-training follow-ups.
• Help maintain divisional documentation, draft separation agreements for legal review, and act as an on-site contact to identify emerging team needs.
• Develop polished presentations and communication materials for leadership briefings and workshops including internal investigations support and special project research.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Sociology, Psychology, or related disciplines. Relevant military experience with personnel management or leadership may substitute formal education.
• At least three years of progressive experience in HR or related fields. Military personnel roles focused on administration or human capital management are valuable.
• Strong ethical principles with the ability to maintain confidentiality, especially around payroll, benefits, and sensitive employee information.
• Exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills combined with a customer-focused approach and ability to work under urgency.
• Collaborative attitude to effectively represent the HR team.
• Knowledge of federal, state (DC), and local employment laws and regulations.
• Preferred: Experience with HRMS systems, especially Workday.
• Analytical problem-solver comfortable addressing straightforward HR issues through established methods.
• Experience supporting non-exempt, frontline, or visitor-oriented workforces is an advantage.

Additional Information

This role has no direct reports. The position offers a competitive salary range between $76,000 and $80,000 annually. Benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage; wellness programs; 401(k) with employer match after six months; flexible paid time off with up to 22 days of annual leave (prorated for new hires), 10 days sick leave, 12 paid holidays, and a paid winter break. Additional perks encompass paid parental leave, fertility support, adoption and surrogacy reimbursement, professional growth opportunities, Lifestyle Spending Account, pet assistance, pre-tax transportation benefits, employer-paid life and disability insurance, plus special discounts.

Work is onsite at NGS headquarters in Washington, DC, with flexible scheduling to accommodate workload fluctuations and deadlines. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States; visa sponsorship is not available. The organization values skills and experience over exact checklist matches and is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment.