Visual Designer

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has established a Centre for Humanitarian Data in The Hague, the Netherlands to help increase the use and impact of data in the humanitarian sector. The vision is to create a future where all people involved in a humanitarian emergency have access to the data they need, when and how they need it, to make responsible and informed decisions.

The Centre will focus on four areas: data services, data policy, data literacy, and network engagement. The Centre’s data services work includes direct management of the Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX) platform and the Humanitarian Exchange Language (HXL) data standard. The data literacy work will focus on in-person and remote training programmes as well as a Data Fellows Programme with the first class of fellows expected in The Hague mid 2018. For data policy, the Centre will work with partners to develop institutional agreements for sharing data in crisis settings. Finally, the Centre will further build and engage an active community in support of its mission and objectives through a number events and communication activities.

The Centre requires the support of a visual designer to develop design assets for HDX, HXL and the Centre for Humanitarian Data properties, in line with the existing visual identity that has been established. The visual designer will also support a number of communication products such as one pagers, brochures, impact stories, posters and presentations, among other assets.

We are looking for a designer who is self-motivated and can thrive in a remote, international, multidisciplinary team. The right candidate has the skills to balance great design with short deadlines and loves collaborating and learning about humanitarian data. We are product and service oriented team; web, software, app-based work should be the core of your portfolio.

Reporting Relationships

The consultant will report to the lead for the Centre for Humanitarian Data, who is based in The Hague. He or she will be expected to work closely with the Centre’s team including the product manager and technical lead for HDX and the head of the data partnership and data systems teams. 

The consultant will be responsible for the following:

●     Develop materials to explain and promote Centre activities to key audiences; develop consistent branding and visual assets for the work.

●     Create design and visual communications for the Centre for Humanitarian Data properties (HDX, HXL, Centre for Humanitarian Data) including web and print. 

●     Work closely with the HDX product manager to deliver new features and improvements for HDX.

●     Create assets (illustrations, icons, templates) and style guideline documents for use across the team.

●     Support team’s advocacy work for events and conferences including but not limited to posters, presentations and handouts.

●     Support communications team with newsletters and user engagement through email channels and social media.

●     Represent the Centre for Humanitarian Data at meetings and events; participate in partner calls and team meetings as required.

Education:

An advanced university degree in graphic design, human-computer interaction or a related design discipline is required. An undergraduate degree in related field with additional two years of experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Experience in designing visual language systems for digital products and services in design consultancy or in-house environment is required.
• Experience with understanding user behavior and experience as it relates to design.
• Qualified candidate’s portfolios must demonstrate visual designs that effectively communicate product function and brand identity, including the design and production of screen layouts, color palettes, typography, user interface elements, and icons.
• Familiar with responsive design and proficiency with relevant design software packages such as AdobeCC, Sketch and InVision.
• A strong understanding of how comps translate to code.
• Familiar with agile development and prototyping.
• Strong knowledge of capabilities and limitations of Web technologies such as HTML, JavaScript and CSS.
• Motion graphics and animation skills are optional but a plus.
• Experience with designing for social impact a plus.

Language:

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• 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 New York, the UNOPS Development Group Cluster supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. 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.