Designer/Usability Expert

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is seeking a Senior Designer and Usability Expert to join the Digital Services (DS) team within the Information Services Branch (ISB). OCHA currently maintains multiple web-based platforms that are used in humanitarian response. This position will encompass working on DS-lead projects, collaborating on joint projects with other teams, and occasionally supporting other OCHA properties.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about using their design and usability expertise to help humanitarian response around the world. The designer will participate in the full product life cycle, from gathering information about our users and potential users; presenting findings to product and development teams and to key stakeholders; providing recommendations for improvements, new ideas, and features; developing wireframes and prototypes; leading multiple rounds of usability testing; and collaborating with the product and technical teams to ensure that the platform is usable, accessible, and responsive.

Deliverables

• Organize and lead design sprints.
• In collaboration with project managers, design, moderate, and analyze usability studies and focus groups.
• Develop user requirements, personas, and journeys.
• Translate UX recommendations and data-driven decisions for feature/function concepts into visual designs such as wireframes and prototypes.
• Research, define, and validate conversion goals and Key Performance Indicators.
• Work collaboratively with product and engineering teams.

Education

• Advanced university degree in computer science, information systems, information technology or other related fields is required.  
• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field with additional two years of experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree.

Work Experience

• Minimum of five years of professional experience as UX researcher, UX strategist, usability specialist, UX designer, or similar role is required.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct user research and synthesize information into actionable stories is required.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills is required.
• Proficiency with prototyping tools is required. 
• Knowledge of Web accessibility principles is required.
• Awareness of data-driven design is required. 

Language

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

Based in Geneva, the Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR) supports UNOPS offices throughout the region through: management, financial and programmatic oversight of global and country-specific portfolios, clusters and operations centres, including hosting services; fund and management advisory services; project implementation; procuring goods and services; and managing human resources.

ECR ensures that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between business units and projects across the entire region.

ECR strategy is to:

• Strengthen UNOPS role in operationalizing the Sustainable Development Goals with particular emphasis on health, environment and economic development.
• Position UNOPS in the Balkan sub-region, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
• Strengthen the implementation of ECR global and regional programmes, with revitalized partnerships in infrastructure, procurement and project management.

ECR operates global portfolios from offices in Geneva, Brussels and New York, and country-specific programmes from its operations and project centres located in Eastern Europe and Central Asian countries.

Based in the New York, the UNOPS Development Group Cluster supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. For example, within the United Nations Development Programme, the Cluster works with the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support and the Office of South-South Cooperation.

The cluster also supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as a broadening community of other New York-based United Nations organizations in the delivery of project management and implementation services