Data Visualisation Designer Reporter

BBC Studios Distribution Limited; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading media company in Birmingham is seeking a data designer to create impactful data visualisations. The role requires strong communication and problem-solving skills, along with proficiency in tools like QGIS and Flourish. This position offers the chance to work within a supportive team while exploring innovative data storytelling approaches. A competitive salary of £34,000 to £44,850 reflects experience and skills, complemented by benefits like flexible working and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

25 days annual leave

Defined pension scheme

Employee discounts on healthcare and gym

Qualifications

• Experience in fast-paced news environments.
• Strong knowledge of data storytelling techniques.
• Ability to collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Create static and interactive data visualisations.
• Develop ideas for data stories and investigations.
• Collaborate effectively to enhance user experience.

Skills

Data visualisation

Graphic design

Communication

Problem-solving

Collaboration

Creative storytelling

Tools

QGIS

Flourish

R

Graphics software

Job description

Role Overview

You will be a key member of a creative, supportive team of world‑class data designers and journalists, working together in a fast‑paced and inspiring newsroom. You’ll have the freedom to create sharp, on‑the-day data designs, alongside the time and space to explore more ambitious and challenging data‑led storytelling. You’ll continually grow and develop your skills, learning from the very best in the field, with your work reaching our huge global audiences.

Responsibilities

• Create best‑in‑class static and interactive data visualisations, and mapping across platforms.
• Be comfortable working in an exciting, fast‑paced news environment, usually within tight timeframes managing competing demands.
• Be as much a journalist as a designer – take a keen interest in the news agenda, and generate ideas for new data stories and investigations.
• Have strong communication skills, able to communicate ideas and design decisions to others.
• Possess sound problem‑solving techniques and the ability to explore creative solutions to design and storytelling problems.
• Follow a human‑centred approach, be the champion of the audience, constantly interrogating user data, to understand how people experience our content and how we can continue to improve this experience.
• Collaborate effectively with others ensuring you maintain excellent relationships throughout, whilst advocating for the user, design frameworks and our core design values.
• Expertise in data visualisation and visual storytelling – sourcing and processing datasets, and an understanding of techniques to tell stories with data clearly and effectively.
• Technical ability to design data visualisations using graphics software, programming languages and GIS software. QGIS, Flourish and R skills would be desirable.
• Experience working in multi‑disciplinary teams including, for example, journalists, designers, project managers and developers.
• Experience of working to a range of timeframes, from high pressure tight deadlines to working on longer term projects, investigating data, exploring design solutions, testing and delivering final design solutions.
• Demonstrable interest in news, current affairs and storytelling, including generating new ideas.

Qualifications

• Experience working alongside data journalists, data scientists, reporters, infographic designers, product designers and web developers.
• Strong knowledge of data storytelling and data visualisation techniques.
• Technical skills in QGIS, Flourish, R, graphics software and GIS software.
• High‑pressure, fast‑paced news environment experience.
• Excellent communication and collaborative skills.
• Human‑centred design mindset and audience championing.

Salary & Location

PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: £34,000 – £44,850 depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

BBC Group and Public Services, Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, United Kingdom, W1A 1AA. BBC Studios Distribution Limited, company no: 01420028, registered address: 1 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, United Kingdom W12 7FA.

Benefits

• Fair pay and flexible benefits including a competitive salary package, a flexible 35‑hour working week, 25 days annual leave with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care and gym.
• Excellent career and professional development.
• Support in your working life, including flexible working which you can discuss with us at any point during the application, selection or offer.
• A values‑based organisation where the way we do things is important as what we do.
• Benefits may vary if you are joining on an FTC basis or on an orchestra conditions contract. Learn more about life at the BBC and our values in our candidate pack.
• You belong. We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual’s unique contribution, so all our employees feel that they can belong, thrive and achieve their full potential.
• We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to join us. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.
• We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio‑economic background, religion and/or belief. Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below. Disability confident.

Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

The BBC is committed to diversity, inclusion and belonging. We welcome the most diverse range of applicants and are excited to join a passionate, talented, creative community that is able to respond to our audiences in all their diversity. Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below.