Consultancy: Data Visualization Lead: Design & User Experience - D&A, DRP - NYHQ, Requisition# 508204

As an integral part of the data hub, you will create and oversee the creation of effective visualizations to drive insights, to make our stories more compelling, to drive change and ultimately create value for children. You will help build systems that grow the section’s capabilities beyond the standard charting techniques.

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Background & Rationale

Problems that go unmeasured often go unsolved and we believe that smart demand, supply and use of data drives better results for children. When the right data are in the right hands at the right time, decisions can be better informed, more equitable, and more likely to protect children’s rights. To further this objective and to increase the accessibility of data for children, the section is spearheading the creation of a data visualization hub which facilitates the use of data for advocacy, actionable insights and evidence. The data visualization consultant will work across the organization to understand how data visualization can be best leveraged to increase the impact of UNICEF’s work and to coordinate the creation of data visualizations.

Purpose

As an integral part of the data hub, you will create and oversee the creation of effective visualizations to drive insights, to make our stories more compelling, to drive change and ultimately create value for children.  You will help build systems that grow the section’s capabilities beyond the standard charting techniques.

This position will range from project support to owning projects and seeing them through to completion. You will have a passion for data visualization with a specialization in visual storytelling and a portfolio which demonstrates strong UI and UX skills and design aesthetics. You have a technical and design background working with news agencies, academia or the private sector to develop web front-end visualizations (graphs and dashboards). This is a multi-faceted effort involving an array of visualization tools such as D3.js, Tableau and more. Travel will not be required.

Expected results: (measurable results)

• Working with the various teams within UNICEF to understand key objectives of the pipeline items in various thematic areas, and how data visualization can be leveraged to make outputs as compelling as possible.
• Research and prototype innovative visualizations, detail various options within the restraints of the publishing environment, recommend tools for key projects.
• Producing visualizations (infographics, charts, diagrams, mock-ups and wireframes for microsites, and dashboards for different projects, as necessary)
• Overseeing and managing vendors for complex data visualization projects, coordinate review and feedback process between vendor and project owners.
• Conduct webinars and ad-hoc training to increase data visualization capacity across the organization.
• Helping instill a culture of data creativity within UNICEF by documenting, publishing and sharing past, current, and future data-viz projects.
• Providing recommendations on templates, documentation and presentation methods.

Duty Station

New York Headquarters. The consultant is expected to work on site.

Timeframe

Start date:   1 January 2018                  

End date: 31 December 2018      

Key competences, technical background, and experience required

• BA/BS in Computer Science, Art, Design, Data Journalism, Graphic Design, or other technical or visual-related fields.
• 5-7+ years working in data visual design, data journalism or related fields with news agencies, academia or in a related industry
• Technical data visualization experience utilizing D3 (and similar libraries) for interactive web graphics and dashboards
• Experience working with various data APIs and tools for data transformation
• Extensive knowledge of design platforms like Adobe Creative Suite
• Development experience, e.g. Python, Node.js, React, JavaScript
• Strong analytical skills; ability to analyze raw data, draw conclusions, and understand how best to visualize.
• Experience with data journalism including writing and analysis.
• Visual portfolio required
• Project management skills including task prioritization, budget monitoring, and results driven strategies
• Fluency in English
• Ability to work with a diverse team in a rapidly-changing work environment.

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable).  Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.

Remarks

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.   

The selected candidate must have current health insurance coverage in place at the time the contract is awarded. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.