Associate Data Visualization Designer

Center for Strategic and International Studies, Inc.; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 55,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Center for Strategic and International Studies, Inc. (CSIS) seeks an Associate Data Visualization Designer to translate datasets into graphs and infographics for CSIS publications and CSIS Charts.

You will process data and rapidly produce visually engaging visualizations for web and print, collaborating with editors, researchers, and producers. The ideal candidate has strong data visualization and design skills, plus experience with web tech and Adobe Creative Cloud.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in data visualization, graphic design, CS, or related field.
• 2+ years of experience in data visualization design.
• Strong understanding of data viz best practices and design principles.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator) and web tech (HTML5/CSS3/SASS).
• Experience coaching teams through design processes to surface data stories.
• Strong visual design skills: composition, layout, typography, color.
• Ability to work across web and print media.

Responsibilities

• Design data visualizations using Flourish and Datawrapper; create infographics.
• Help researchers and partners communicate findings with data.
• Collaborate with editorial designers to merge visualizations with publication layouts.
• Advise programs toward optimal data visualization solutions.
• Gather client feedback to improve products and tools.
• Support design, layout, and illustration for print and digital materials.
• Identify CSIS Charts objectives with stakeholders and design visualizations for that stream.
• Present concepts and design thinking to non-designers.

Skills

Data visualization

Adobe Creative Cloud

HTML/CSS

Flourish/Datawrapper

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in data visualization/graphic design

Tools

Flourish

Datawrapper

Adobe Creative Cloud

HTML/CSS

Job description

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a non-profit, bipartisan public policy organization established in 1962 to provide strategic insights and practical policy solutions to decision makers concerned with global security and prosperity. Over the years, it has grown to be one of the largest organizations of its kind, with a staff of some 275 employees, including more than 120 analysts working to address the changing dynamics of international security across the globe.

The Associate Data Visualization Designer will translate datasets into graphs, charts, and other data visualizations to be featured in CSIS’s premiere product – our publications. The core of this position is to process data and quickly produce relevant data visualizations.Second to this is creating data visualizations outside of the publications process, including but not limited to CSIS Charts, data visualizations for newsletters, and data visualizations for web based digital reports.

You will work in a creative environment with other editorial designers, editors, developers, and producers who are eager to bring information to life on the web and across platforms, partnering with some of the most respected foreign policy experts and researchers.

The ideal candidate has solid design, technical, and communication skills. They also bring a passion for bridging the intersection between data, design, technology, and foreign policy/national security.

The successful candidate will be eager to improve their skills and contribute to CSIS’s vision of telling dynamic fact-based public policy stories. The candidate will have strong problem-solving skills and independent self-direction, coupled with an aptitude for design and collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team.

Additionally, the candidate will be a team player, possess outstanding communication and project management skills, and the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced and innovative environment while meeting tight deadlines. We’re looking for someone who is eager to improve and keep growing their skills and knowledge, including by staying current with the latest trends in data and design.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Design data visualizations using Flourish and Datawrapper. Create infographics.
• Help researchers, analysts, and non-technical partners to effectively communicate their findings using data.
• Work closely with editorial designers to merge data visualizations with the layout of publications.
• Work closely with publication team editors to help advise programs toward optimal data visualization solutions.
• Support the team to gather feedback from clients and partners to continually improve the products and tools we create.
• Support the design, layout, and illustration of communication materials for print and digital platforms, including reports and presentations.
• Work closely with program stakeholders and relevant iDeas Lab staff to identify CSIS Charts objectives and audiences, and design data visualizations for this product stream.
• Prepare and present concepts/work to stakeholders, articulating design thinking and decisions to non-designers and content experts.
• Support the team to gather feedback from clients and partners to continually improve the products and tools we create.

KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• A./B.S/A.B. in relevant field (data analysis, data visualization, computer science, graphic design) or other relevant experience, including bootcamp training or freelance work.
• 2+ years of experience in data visualization design.
• Solid understanding of data visualization design best practices and general design principles.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud applications (Illustrator), HTML5, and CSS3/SASS.
• Experience coaching a team of researchers, analysts, and non-technical partners through the design process to surface data stories.
• Solid command of visual design capabilities, including composition, layout, information hierarchy, typography, and color discernment.
• Ability to create in a wide range of media especially web and print.
• Experience in receiving feedback gracefully, knowing how to respond appropriately to client concerns and how to iterate and improve designs based on feedback.
• Strong interest in global affairs and public policy.
• Illustration skills are a plus.

SOME TECHNOLOGIES WE USE

• Flourish and Datawrapper
• Adobe C Suite, JS libraries and frameworks like React, Vue, Highcharts, D3, and jQuery
• Figma
• Mapping tools like Mapbox, Leaflet and Carto
• Content management systems (WordPress, TinaCMS)
• GitHub
• Shorthand

You don’t need to be proficient in all of these, but familiarity with some is a plus, and a willingness to learn is key.

Salary Range

$55,000 - $62,000 USD

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK CONDITIONS

The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee working in an office environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Equal Opportunity Employer.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Center for Strategic and International Studies, Inc.’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.