Graphic/Data Visualization Designer

About WestEd

As a community of over 900 researchers, practitioners, consultants, and administrative professionals from all backgrounds and life experiences, we are committed to making a qualitative difference in the lives of youth, children, and adults. We conduct and apply research, develop evidence-based solutions, and provide consulting services across the country in both rural and urban communities to improve equitable outcomes for individuals from infancy through adulthood. Serving as trusted partners in the areas of education, health, and justice, our teams enhance capacity within communities and school districts to prioritize impact — asking the right questions, customizing methodologies, developing relevant tools, and implementing best practices specific to a diverse range of stakeholder needs.

Furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion is core to who we are and how we work. We are committed to working with our clients to illuminate and address disparities, value and elevate diverse voices, and ensure equitable access to our resources and services. Please review our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Come and join us!

SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING THE WORK LOCATION OF THIS POSITION—Although WestEd provides the option of working at one of its facilities for employees, many roles allow employees to choose to work remotely for their own convenience. The decision to allow remote work at the employee's convenience is based on the requirements of the position or project in question.

The Role

WestEd is seeking a creative, energetic, proactive, and detail-oriented graphic designer with deep expertise in data visualization, specializing in presenting complex data in visually compelling, understandable, and informative ways. This role is responsible for executing all phases of the design process, from project intake to finished product, while working closely with multiple stakeholders, including project leads, researchers, authors, and other members of the team. The ideal candidate must be able to thrive under tight deadlines, have superior time management skills as well as the ability to juggle multiple concurrent projects. The work encompasses a range of design tasks with a heavy focus on education data visualization and infographic development, which includes (but is not limited to) graphic representations of data and data sets, conceptual frameworks, and other highly complex information. In addition, the person in this role will also be responsible for the design, development, and layout of briefs, reports, flyers, and templates.

With a firm grasp of design principles, color theory, and typography – along with a mastery of design tools and software – the ideal candidate will elevate the content they are given to create unique, meaningful, and impactful designs that are targeted to the needs of the intended audience(s).

This role will directly support the design needs of several of WestEd’s federally-funded centers. As such, creating and ensuring that all designs comply with funder brand guidelines and are accessible to everyone, following federal section 508 compliance guidelines (under the Americans with Disabilities Act), will be a critical component of this role. Therefore, a strong grasp of compliance processes is highly desirable, but minimally, the individual must be interested in building their knowledge in this area through training, mentorship, and self-learning.

**Applications submitted without an attached (or linked) cover letter, resume, and portfolio will be rejected.

Responsibilities:

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  Work closely with WestEd researchers and authors to uncover content and data that lends itself to compelling data visualizations and infographics.
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  Design and develop easy-to-understand, eye-catching, audience-focused data visualizations, infographics, conceptual frameworks, and other graphics that represent multi-step or stage processes. Designs can and should include things like:
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    Illustrations (original and stock)
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    Photography
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    Iconography
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    Interactivity (when warranted and/or possible)
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  Participate in intake meetings focused on gathering project specs, information related to the goals and intended audiences of the project, and any other relevant details necessary to launch and complete the work.
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  Develop production plan including timelines and manage production plan from intake meeting to completed project.
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  Develop and be prepared to present multiple mock-ups and/or design options with the ability to effectively communicate to the team your design rationale and approach for each option.
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  Design and develop templates for things like briefs, reports, and presentations.
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  Design, develop, and lay out briefs, reports, information flyers, and presentations.
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  Design and develop materials focused on visibility and dissemination, including social media posts, email newsletter designs, brochures, etc.
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  Design and develop materials for events and conferences (virtual or in-person), including physical environmental displays and/or posters.
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  Ensure a consistent look and feel across the work being developed for each of the centers that also reflects and upholds the WestEd and funder brand.
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  Gather design feedback and exhibit flexibility and willingness to integrate changes to improve the work.
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  Connect and collaborate with other designers and communicators across the agency.
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  Understand and work within the design constraints for accessible documents and graphics.
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  Manage budget and time allocations as specified.

Qualifications:

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  Bachelor's degree in graphic design, marketing, communications, web design, advertising.
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  3+ years of professional agency or in-house experience in a graphic role that heavily focused on data visualization and infographic development.
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  Strong knowledge of design principles, color theory, and typography with the ability to put that knowledge to use in your work.
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  Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite and Adobe Acrobat DC.
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  Strong proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint and Word.
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  Working knowledge of and experience with creating accessible designs and ensuring the accessibility of existing designs is strongly desired.
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  Familiarity with the field of education is an added bonus.

Additional Skills:

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  Personal commitment to education and WestEd’s mission to build a more equitable society through research, development and service.
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  Ability to calmly juggle and navigate multiple projects at once.
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  Flexibility and ability to adapt to shifting priorities and timelines.
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  Excellent oral and written communication skills.
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  Superior attention to detail.
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  Strong organizational skills.
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  Intellectual curiosity that fosters creative thinking and problem-solving to arrive at unique solutions to design challenges.
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  Ability and willingness to take initiative and work independently.
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  Ability to receive and integrate constructive design feedback to arrive at solutions that meet client needs and expectations
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  Ability to approach design work in a way that balances the pragmatic with the interesting and unique.
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  Flexibility to adjust and adapt workflow processes when needed to meet a deadline
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  A sense of humor and the ability to work well with many different types of personalities is a must

• Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Successful candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

SALARY AND BENEFITS: The salary for this role is competitive, set at a WestEd Level F, and commensurate with experience. WestEd offers a very generous benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage, as well as Life, AD&D, and Disability insurance. We also offer various retirement plan options and Flexible Spending Accounts for medical, childcare, and commuter expenses. WestEd offers generous paid holidays and paid time off (PTO), among other benefits.

Committed to the diversity of race, ethnicities, perspectives, and opportunities, WestEd offers a variety of social and professional learning communities, such as Employee Resources groups, the Data Intelligence, Insights, and Innovation PLC, and the WestEd Parent Community, just to name a few. We hope you’ll consider joining us to build better schools, communities, learning pathways, and more! #LI-Remote #LI-Hybrid #LI-Onsite

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)